As a wedding photographer I always start the wedding day with the bridal preparation….

Before I start, not every wedding runs this way. Every wedding and every bride are different, I don’t always start with the bridal preparations, although, in 8/10 weddings this is a usual wedding start for me :)

Bridal preparation is usually manic with make-up artists and hairdressers messing the room up with their errm…… make-up and hairdressy bits and bobs, unlike us neat photographers! Then there’s the children running a riot and a very stressed, nervous bride. You always feel like you’ve hit the ground running at such a frantic pace.

As a photographer there are certain aspects of this part of the wedding day that’s on my mental capture list.

The bridal make up as one, I love to capture some close shots of the bride while she’s getting her make-up applied. It’s such an intimate photograph almost entering the brides eyes as she stays as still as she can. I try my hardest focusing the images around the eyes and lips. Although, I do make a personal challenge at most weddings to capture the mist being dispensed from a can of hairspray.

Then there are the room details that perhaps the bride, who is wrapped up in the whirlwind of emotion, wont remember need documenting. I always feel so nosy poking around someone else’s home or hotel room looking for those tiny details. Wine glasses (usually empty), balloons, congratulations cards, flowers for the day ahead, gifts from the groom, …most importantly the rings if they are available to capture. I like to capture the rings in some nice natural light and make a little set up on a window sill or outside.

The next photograph I like to capture and the one of the main parts of the wedding day, is the dress. I like to use as much natural light as I can, simply having the dress hanging nicely somewhere. Capturing the detail, the fine embroidery and of course the special lacing up by the mother of the bride. I love to be inventive with these shots and try different angles. It’s usually all arms, hands and bodies.

Once the bride is all sorted and ready to be unleashed on the world, I love to capture the reaction of her father and the bridesmaids as she makes a grand entrance. It’s usually one of surprise, shock and usually a few tears… we love tears! The whole day is based on emotion, that emotion I capture through my camera lens.

Not only do I capture the wedding I usually become part of the day as well. During the preparation, I’ve been know to run around the venue looking for sewing kits and safety pins. I have helped locate flowers, sorted button holes and even transport bridesmaids to the venue from the brides home.

Finally I like to grab a few images of the bride and her fabulous entourage, before dashing off usually about half an hour before the ceremony to catch the guest and a usually nervous groom.