I am going to start sharing tips from the perspective of a photographer–both for taking images of your own kids and making the most of your wedding day coverage.
For my first installment of my #DarbiGWeddingTipOff (a better hash tag is in development, lol): Let’s talk #GETTINGREADYpics. In the decade I’ve been shooting weddings, I’ve experienced…and sometimes the better term would be “endured”… a variety of getting-ready locations. I am not a photographer who will push you into getting HOURS of coverage of the preparations so that I can get all creative with hundreds of macro shots of your eyelashes and each stage of your primping. I’d rather use my time and your time wisely, and I instead try to be there for the most important part: the 45 min before the bride puts her dress on, and then the 15-20 min after she’s all dolled up. But other than adequate TIME, there are other elements required to get frame-worthy prep shots.
Like…lighting. Natural lighting is my preference–GIVE ME AT LEAST ONE WINDOW, PUH-LEEEEZE? (insert puppy dog face here) Turn off the lights overhead. I don’t need ’em. But a window is a must.
I also don’t need a glamorous room, but if you want getting-ready images like the below triple-threat of Emily and her best gal pals (and me!! Can you see me??? lol), then take the reins on where you get dressed and choose a place that isn’t decorated with outdated furnishings, or cloaked in horrid wallpaper or enveloped in dark wood-paneled walls with flickering fluorescent lights overhead. Even if you’re religious, getting ready in a green-hued church rectory with bookcases full of dusty faith-based reads or in the church basement where the worn out tables and chairs, combined with the concrete walls painted a once-virginal white, will not be flattering to you, and will be detrimental to your prep photos.
If you can’t go for luxuriously amazing, then SIMPLE is best. Your childhood home is a great idea if it’s adorned with a nod to THIS decade and isn’t cluttered with signs of life. Your current abode may work if you have the right light and decor. Send me pics in advance and I’ll tell you if I can make it work! Hotel rooms work just fine in most cases. But a double plus if your venue has a bridal suite that is designed with beautiful photography in mind–which is the case with several venues around town, such as this one at NOAH’S Event Venue .
Let’s say you nail the room choice…don’t ruin it by letting your ladies strew their goods all over the place. Instead, instruct them from the get to keep all of their belongings in ONE corner on the opposite side of the window. This includes waterbottles, makeup, bras and the like.
And if there is a (movable is even more fun!!!) mirror… or three… well…you might just end up with an image that reflects (see what I did there?) more than you thought was possible.
Here are some more of my favorite getting-ready pics. The ones with more dramatic of light had not much window light, so I instead embrace the contrast. Well lighted rooms with bright wall colors are my favorite though.
What do YOU prefer? The high contrast/dramatic images or the bright, fresh ones? 
