The Importance of Your Getting Ready Location
I bet you're wondering what in the world this has to do with your photography! Why does it matter where I get ready, so long as I have my photographer there?! That is the last thing on my mind!
I understand. It is a bit random, but let me show you why it is important and how to make sure you have the getting ready pictures you've always dreamed of. There are three essential things to ask yourself when thinking of where to get ready on your wedding day:
1) Is there at least one window lighting the room?
Lighting is essential in photography. Sure, there are photographers that have a whole lighting setup that they use, but realistically speaking, most wedding photographers work with the light they have while their clients are getting ready and during the ceremony. Off camera lighting is much more common at receptions, when the sun is down and the lighting is particularly low. A window in the getting ready area ensures you will have beautiful light for your getting ready portraits. As a photographer, I love a good picture of the bride getting her dress fluffed by her girls near the window. :) Sunlight is also proven to help lighten moods, as opposed to fluorescent lighting which can do the opposite! Finally, to get an accurate feel for your wedding makeup, it is important to be able to see yourself in sunlight as it will give you an accurate portrayal of what the final product looks like and if any changes need to be made or more shading/blending needs to be completed. Set the tone for the entire day by choosing a well lit room.
2) Is there enough room or more than one room so that my photos don't show all of the wedding clutter?
Let's face it. There is a TON to bring with you and remember to ensure you're looking your best on your wedding day. That is just for the bride...add in about 5 more girls, the mother of the bride, mother in law, makeup artist, hair stylist, etc and that is A LOT of things! It never fails- the mother of the bride is sitting there trying to remove all the things off the bed and out of the room before we take pictures of the girls getting ready. Of course there is not a whole lot you can do to ensure there is less stuff because most of it is necessary! One thing I would suggest is either having one location to put all of the stuff in the room, or having a separate room for stuff and getting ready, so that it is not visible in your pictures. It is a small thing, but it is worth the little extra effort required to make sure you have the pictures you want!
3) Will there be enough room for all of my girls to get ready? Is this location representative of my overall wedding theme?
This one is kind of self explanatory, but is the location large enough for your bridal party to get ready? Or do you need to square off one room just for your getting ready and another for the bridal party? It is essential that you have enough room for your stuff and keeping all you need in one location so you are not stressed on your wedding day! In addition to that, is the location you're thinking of in line with the overall theme for your wedding? For example, getting ready at home makes things a little easier and can be really sweet for pictures. If you're choosing a hotel room, be sure to visit before hand to ensure that the location is going to produce the type of feelings you want to have on your wedding day! Make sure it is somewhere you are comfortable and won't feel like you just want to be done so you can leave. The getting ready location sets the tone for the rest of the day. Make sure it is bright, airy, roomy, and beautiful so you can get ready with ease and be confident your pictures will turn out just as you want them to!
