Bridal prep has to be one of my favorite parts of the day. As a former bridesmaid, I can so relate to the giddiness and excitement of getting all glammed up to celebrate your best friend.
And, as a filmmaker, bridal prep gives me the chance to capture that emotion — not to mention glamour shots of the gorgeous bride. I devote about two hours to bridal prep, and during that time like to focus on:
Bride prep shots:
Hair and makeup:
From the first sprays of hairspray to the last dab of lipstick, the bride’s primping time makes for incredible wedding film footage. While I like to capture as much as possible, I don’t start filming this part until she has most of her makeup on and her hair in a good place (this isn’t a makeover film!).
Lounging with the girls:
The girls have an entirely different prep vibe than the guys; instead of teasing and joking around, the ladies are ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the beautiful bride to be. Similar to groom prep, I like to capture candids of these moments so they can relive the giddy morning vibes.
Detail shots:
While I don’t always select these shots in post, I like to capture all the details — think invites, rings, shoes — in case I decide to use them. I usually prefer shots with more movement, but every so often I need these “scene establishers,” so it’s better to capture everything in the moment to be safe.
Getting dressed:
There’s nothing like a bride in her dress for the first time. At surface level, the shots are downright stunning, but even more so it’s about the reaction when she first sees herself — and the months and months of planning that have led to this moment.
Dad’s first look:
Just when you think it can’t get any better, her dad sees her for the first time – and it does. Cue the waterworks. I focus on really candid shots here so she can remember it exactly as it was.
How to shoot:
Similar to groom prep, I like to stay on my 55mm for mostly all morning shots, especially for details like lipstick application or the girls cheers-ing in their robes. For the dress, I alternate between a wide angle lens on one camera and the 55mm on another so I can capture the full dress — while still getting those crisp, tight shots of the design. And, as she’s putting on the final touches — her shoes — I use a slider to add a smooth, cinematic touch to the prep.
I use the wide and 55mm lenses for the dad’s first look as well; I aim to film the full scene while still getting the tight reaction shots. To capture audio of the dad’s first look (as well as bridal prep), I rely on my on-camera microphone.
See these shots in action, as well as other must-get shots here:
Kate + Mike Wedding Highlight Film | Pen Ryn Estate | Philadelphia Wedding Video from Stephanie Vermillion Studio on Vimeo.
