Bridal Portraits by Merrick Photography

Take a moment to think about how long you've dreamed about your perfect wedding… remember the time, effort and money that you've invested in the search for your beautiful wedding gown…

Now imagine what you would like your bridal portraits to look like.

I know that you want to capture the beauty and elegance of it all in your bridal photographs, but do you know the great secret to creating amazing wedding gown portraits like the ones you might see in the bridal magazines?

Have you ever looked at a friend's wedding photographs and secretly wondered where all the gorgeous portraits of her in her wedding dress were?

Well, the answer is actually quite simple:

The best and most beautiful bridal gown portraits are not created on the actual wedding day.

That's right. Instead, those fantastic images you find in magazines are created either several weeks before the wedding, or after the wedding itself, on a completely separate day.

Why Create The Portraits Away From The Wedding?

Simply put, the wedding day itself is far too crammed with events and time constraints to be fully conducive to creating those memorable bridal portraits. There are the preparations to photograph, the groomsmen, bridesmaids, the flowers and other details, the ceremony, bridal party & family photographs, the reception, cake-cutting, garter & bouquet throwing, the dancing and final departure… and much more.

Most photographers make the mistake of trying to produce the bridal portraits on the same day, while everything else is going on, but the results are often less than perfect.

I like to do things a little differently…

You're probably already aware of my 100% money-back guarantee. Because of this, and because I focus my business philosophy on achieving as close to perfection as possible in everything I do, I separate myself from the other photographers by creating the bridal gown portraits either before or after the wedding, whichever is most convenient for you.

To make the photographs as perfect as we can, we choose a day when the weather is calm, at a time when the light is subtle and glowing, and in a location that shows off you and your wedding gown in the best way possible. The choice of location is entirely up to you, or we can go to a local park or even downtown.

With all this, you might imagine that there's a lot of cost involved in doing it this way. But, in fact, I believe so much in the necessity of creating beautiful bridal portraits that they are included as standard in all of my wedding collections at no additional cost.

Bridal Portraits Tips & Tricks:

To help your bridal portrait session go smoothly and result in high-quality portraits, I have prepared some brief tips and suggestions:

• To produce flattering, beautifully-lit portraits in your wedding gown...
• We can choose an ideal location...
• Eliminates the pressures of time constraints...
• Guarantees perfect light and weather...
• To reduce the time we spend creating photographs on your wedding day...
• The bridal gown session is an opportunity for you to become used to the camera...
• It's a good time to identify any last-minute alterations of your wedding gown...

• As well as being uncomfortably warm, direct sunlight produces harsh shadows and can overexpose a white dress. I therefore usually schedule my portrait sessions in the late afternoon or early evening.
• Your session time allows about 45 minutes to change into your wedding gown. If possible, bring at least two other people who can assist you.
• Consider bringing a bouquet to add an authentic touch to the portraits. It need not be as sophisticated as the one you will have on the wedding day.
• Bring comfortable footwear, as these will mostly be concealed below your dress. By all means bring your wedding shoes if you wish.
• Also include a hairbrush, make-up, tissues, and bobby pins.
• Avoid cigarettes, as these pose a serious hazard to your wedding gown!

Plan to spend approximately 1½ to 2 hours for the session. I will usually choose several different settings at your chosen location in which to work.

Regarding the actual photography, the bridal gown portrait session is intended to be a relaxed and fun experience for you. I will capture a variety of poses ranging from head & shoulders, half-length, two-thirds and full length poses. We are looking for a range of natural expressions, so there's no need to "smile" for every portrait - the most successful bridal portraits are often the more candid images. Additional flash lighting may be added to supplement the natural daylight and to highlight the wedding gown.

If there is a specific look or pose you would like to try for your bridal portraits then by all means let me know - I'm always open to your creative suggestions and welcome any input you would like to make.

If you have any questions please feel free to call or email at any time. I look forward to making your bridal gown portrait session something you will remember for a lifetime.