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Wedding Portrait Venues

From the time you get engaged and purchase your dress, you begin the search for the perfect place for your wedding portrait to be taken. A lot of thought goes into this. Sometimes In fact I think the bride spends more time choosing this location than her wedding venue. Some things to consider are:

o How early do I need to schedule this? The earlier the better. Your photographer may get really busy depending on the time of year and usually do not do weekend shoots. They are busy with weddings.

o Do I want it to be fun and casual, or serious? This is a matter of personal style and taste.

o Do I want my picture made at the venue I am getting married at? If it is at a golf course, on a lake or at a museum or historic building, they will usually allow you to do this with your booking.

o What time of year will it be? Lighting is a big factor on bridal portraits. You don’t want to take outdoor pictures in the heat of the summer or in the snow in the winter. Photographers like early in the day or late in the afternoon for the best lighting. If you are outside in the fall, remember there will not be a lot of color and hot spots through the leaves are sometimes a problem. I could go on and on about doing portraits outside and the problems that can surround that, but if that is where you want them, then your photographer should be able to help you with that.

o Do I have additional money in my budget for a place that charges to do this? Most places (hotels, museums, old buildings) require a fee of $50 up to $500 to do a photoshoot at their location.

o Do I want a public garden setting? If I do, do I have a backup plan for that day if it should rain.

o Do I want an urban setting? Are there places to change clothes or will I be changing in the car in my wedding dress?

o Do I want to do the chair in a pasture type shoot? What kind of logistics and care will I need for my dress in order to do this.

o Did I remember to put the price of an additional bouquet in my floral budget? This is usually a little less that your day-of bouquet but can add a few hundred dollars to your shoot.

Best suggestions are the one’s that your photographer will give you. If they are a good photographer, they can tell you all the best places to shoot your portraits and what time of day. Be sure to leave plenty of time to get your portrait back for the wedding. 4-6 weeks out, which means your dress needs to be in and altered 8 weeks out. Be sure to make that hair and makeup appointment for that day. You might want to do a trial run. Remember to put that in your budget as well. Hair and makeup can be anywhere form $75-$225.

So here are some of my lovely brides and their bridal photo shoots! You will notice most of them are at the McKinney Cotton Mill. This seems to be a great spot for bridal portraits. There are spots for great outdoor pictures, door pictures, window pictures, old rustic attic pictures. Something for everyone!