Getting Ready

Bridesmaids in matching sage green floor-length dresses walk along a brick pathway holding white bouquets.

Getting ready. The quiet build up.

The getting ready part of the day is where everything begins to feel real. It is slower. A bit messy. Often full of nerves, laughter and those moments that slip by if nobody is paying attention. This is where I love to start telling the story.

While you are having your hair and makeup done, chatting with your favourite people and slowly stepping into the day, I am quietly capturing what it actually feels like to be there.

Not posed. Not staged. Just as it unfolds.

What getting ready photos are really about

Prep photos are not about perfectly tidy rooms or matching outfits. They are about atmosphere and emotion.

The look between you and a parent.

Your friends helping with buttons or ties.

A nervous laugh. A deep breath.

That moment where everything suddenly goes quiet.

These are the images that bring you straight back to how the day started.

How I work during prep

I blend in and keep things calm. Most of the time you will barely notice I am there.

I am looking for moments rather than directing anything. Light falling through a window. Hands adjusting a dress. Someone wiping away a tear and pretending they are fine.

If there is space to gently guide something that will help the photos, I will. If not, I let it be exactly as it is.

If things feel a bit chaotic or emotional, that is completely fine. Some of the best moments live there.

What helps make great prep photos

You do not need to do anything special, but a few small things can help.

Natural light is always a win, so rooms with windows are perfect.

Try to keep everyone you want around you nearby.

Do things slowly and do them together where you can.

And if the room is full of half packed bags, coffee cups and clothes everywhere, do not worry. That is real life and it is part of the story.

The details that matter

This is not for everyone but if you want I can I also photograph the details that help tell the full story. Dresses hanging in window light, shoes waiting patiently, jewellery laid out, handwritten notes, and the little touches you chose carefully. These details help bring the gallery together and give context to the day as a whole.

I photograph these naturally as they are, without over styling or moving things unnecessarily. Everything stays true to how it felt in the moment.

Including both sides of the morning

If you are both getting ready at different places, I am always happy to split time so each side of the story is covered. The energy is often totally different and that contrast works beautifully when the day is told in full.

Quiet nerves in one place. Laughter and chaos in another.

Both matter.