Texas paints a picturesque backdrop for bridal portraits, capturing the timeless beauty of brides amidst the vibrant colors of all four seasons. This comprehensive guide offers advice from an expert bridal portrait photographer to mastering the art of bridal photography, providing insights, tips, and inspiration to make this special moment truly unforgettable.
The Right Timing for Bridal Portraits: Before or After The Wedding?
One of the biggest benefits of bridal portraits is capturing breathtaking photographs of the bride without any of the stress and chaos that she feels on the wedding day! Brides also love this opportunity to do a trial run for their hair and makeup and get comfortable wearing their wedding dress in front of the camera before the big day. If your dress has any limitations like a long train, a form-fitting style, or delicate appliques, you can use this opportunity to practice how you will walk down the aisle or greet your new in-laws. More importantly, bridal portraits taken at least a month before your wedding day can be used as a special wedding gift or displayed at your wedding celebration.
When schedules just don’t allow for a session before the wedding, it is possible to have your bridal portraits taken after your wedding. This great opportunity for the bride to wear her wedding dress again is another way to capture stunning photos of the bride or the newlyweds together without the stress of a wedding day schedule.
What Is the Best Time of Day for Bridal Portraits?
For outdoor bridal portraits session, photographers love the golden hour of the day which is an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset. However, any time of the day when the sun isn’t casting a harsh shadow on the bride’s features or causing her to squint or appear sweaty is good too. Indoor photographs may also have timing constraints; be sure to check if the location is open during your planned visit. Be sure to discuss with your photographer the theme or background you envision for your bridal photographer and they can provide guidance for the best time of day for your appointment.
Where to Take Bridal Portraits?
The location of the bridal portraits is 100% up to the bride! These photographs should capture the bride in love and full of happy anticipation for her big day, something she has been dreaming of for a long time! Not every wedding day has the time or luxury of traveling to a specific location for those special photographs showcasing the bride’s glowing beauty. These bridal portraits should represent a place that is important to her like her childhood home, the location of her proposal, or somewhere that indicates her passions and ambitions like a natural landscape or a cityscape.
We recommend taking bridal portraits near your wedding venue. Wherever it is, ask your planner or the venue property manager for advice. We can also help! The key here is that we want to make sure you get to experience your wedding — all of it — rather than straying too far. There is so much beauty at the venue you chose, and most importantly, the camera is focused on you! That said, we also recommend asking your planner to build about 20 minutes into your timeline so that we can steal you for sunset photos. We want to make sure you have bridal photography that is Pinterest-worthy, and there is nothing like a kiss with a sunset backdrop!
How Much Does A Wedding Photographer Cost In Frisco, Texas?
For high-quality bridal portraits, expect to see packages starting at around $850. There are a variety of things to consider that could affect the price, including:
- Do you want more than one photographer at your wedding?
- Do you want the photographers there while you get ready, and if so what time are you starting?
- Are you having a grand exit that you want photographed, and if so, what time does your wedding end?
- What comes with the package? For instance, do you get a book, or up to a certain amount of printed portraits?
- Will your photographer edit some or all of the photos?
- How far do the photographers need to travel to your wedding? If it is far enough and/or they need to stay overnight, transportation and lodging may need to be added to your bill. An easy way to avoid that is to look for a photographer within a 50-mile range from your venue.
While these things may add to your total cost for bridal photography, they can also be compromises you make along the way. In other words, having only one photographer could help save you money if you are willing to do that. Grand exits can be fun, but perhaps not necessary. Be sure to ask your photographer their opinion and perhaps to see some examples. If they don’t think they can capture great shots at your venue, that could be another place to cut corners and save a little money on your bridal photography.
What Are the Ideal Locations for Bridal Portraits In Frisco, Texas?
There are so many beautiful places around Frisco, TX for bridal photography, so think about what you want to get out of the photos. What type of people are you and your fiance? If you are outdoorsy, have your photographer come with you to the Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney, Rockledge Park, or Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. If you love beer or coffee, try cozying up in a corner of a brewery or coffee shop, or pose while playing a game of darts or billiards. There are no rules for your bridal portrait style but to make it your own! Reflections Gardens (part of Reflections Venue) makes for a super romantic location for photos, and Prairie Creek Park and Celebration Park are both excellent choices.
The Advantage Of Seasonal Colors For Bridal Portraits!
Fall colors provide the perfect backdrop for bridal portraits. The warm, festive fall colors allow the bride-to-be the focus of each photograph without the monotony some backdrops have. Spring and summer brides can take advantage of abundant color provided by in-season flowers. And even winter brides have options for beautiful backdrops that capture the essence of the season for their bridal portrait sessions. No matter the timing of your bridal portraits, there is a seasonal backdrop to complement the magic of the moment!
How to Prepare for Unexpected Weather for Bridal Portraits
Unlike your wedding, you can plan for a backup location (or a backup date) for your bridal portraits. A drizzle on the day of your session can force you inside, but so can bad weather on the days leading up to your session. Outdoor locations with mud and debris can threaten the integrity of your lovely dress. Discuss with your photographer ahead of time and come up with a backup plan. If the pathway to your favorite lakefront dock will compromise your safety or your dress, consider your bridal portraits on a covered porch or in front of picture windows with the lake in the background. The Natalie Roberson Photography studio also offers the perfect outdoor location, with 15 acres of beautiful landscape, with access to their indoor portrait studio should Mother Nature bless the day with rain.
Should You Have A Bouquet For Bridal Portraits?
Each bride envisions their bridal photography with specific backgrounds, bridal poses, and props. You’ll have pictures of you with your bouquet taken on your wedding day, so it is perfectly acceptable to either include a bouquet or not. Brides from places where bridal portraits are more common like southern states, Asia, and Indonesia often have elaborate decorations and typically include a bouquet. Brides attempting to replicate their wedding day image should also plan for a bouquet.
Why Choose NRP For Your Frisco Bridal Photography
Natalie Roberson loves capturing the joy and romance of each couple in their bridal photography. Oftentimes, that can be found right in their candor and personality, so be yourself! Natalie loves couples and feels honored to get to spend such an important time with you and your fiance. She is skilled at capturing those tiny details you might otherwise miss, like that little look he gives you, or when she beats you in a game of pool. Natalie knows how to find what is special inside each individual and each couple and snaps each of those shots for your bridal portraits for you to keep forever.
Natalie Roberson Photography Has Experience With Bridal Portraits In All Seasons!
Bridal portraits offer the rare opportunity to capture the timeless beauty of a bride in any season. Natalie Roberson Photography has the experience and vision to photograph each bride-to-be so that the fall, winter, spring, or summer season highlights her beauty, love, and happiness. Contact us today to learn how much smoother advance bridal portraits can make your wedding day!