Why Book a Bridal Session Before Your Wedding Day
What Is a Bridal Session?
If you’ve never heard of a bridal session, you’re not alone. It’s one of those Southern-rooted traditions that’s evolved into something modern and incredibly useful—especially for today’s busy brides. So why book a bridal session?
It’s a separate portrait session focused solely on you, the bride, in full wedding-day attire. Think: hair, makeup, bouquet, veil, and the dress. It usually takes place a few weeks to a few months before your wedding day, often at your venue or another location you love.
It’s like a dress rehearsal—but make it editorial.
And it’s not just about the photos (though those are reason enough). There are so many practical and emotional benefits to having this time carved out just for you.
You Get to See the Full Look Before the Wedding
This might be the biggest game-changer for why you should book a bridal session. Most brides don’t get to see everything fully put together until the day-of, when nerves are high and time is tight.
During your bridal session, you’ll see:
- How your hair and makeup photograph in different lighting
- If your veil style works with your hairstyle
- Whether you love the shape of your dress in photos (and what poses are most flattering)
- If your bouquet feels too large, too small, or just right
This is your chance to make adjustments before you’re walking down the aisle. And let me tell you—tiny tweaks like changing the curl pattern in your hair or adjusting how your dress is bustled can make a big difference in how confident you feel on the actual day.
You’ll Be More Comfortable in Front of the Camera
Unless you’re a professional model, it’s completely normal to feel a little awkward during photos at first. That’s part of what makes bridal sessions so helpful: they give you a low-pressure environment to get comfortable in your dress, your skin, and the rhythm of being photographed.
You’ll learn:
- What poses feel natural to you
- How your photographer works (this is especially helpful if we’re meeting for the first time at your session)
- What angles and movements photograph best
It’s basically a confidence-building session with amazing lighting. And when wedding day comes, you’ll be able to relax into the moment instead of worrying about how you look.
It Saves You Time on the Wedding Day
Wedding timelines are tight. Even with the best planning, things run late—hair and makeup take longer, or someone forgets their shoes. Suddenly, the 30 minutes we had for solo bridal portraits turns into 8 rushed minutes before the ceremony.
Bridal sessions give us the space to slow down and create intentional portraits of just you without the pressure of a timeline or guests waiting on you.
This means:
- Less stress on the wedding day
- More time for couple and family portraits later
- A fuller, more diverse gallery of your full bridal look
It’s like buying yourself more time—and more beautiful photos.
You Get a Creative, Editorial-Style Set of Photos
While I love candid, real-time moments on wedding days, there’s something special about having time set aside for elevated, artistic portraits. We’re not rushing. You’re not worrying about the next event on the schedule. There’s space to play, pose, move, and lean into the beauty of the moment.
If you’ve been dreaming of magazine-worthy bridal portraits with soft natural light, flowing veil shots, or dramatic staircase moments—this is where they happen.
You get a gallery that’s:
- Focused entirely on you
- More styled and artistic
- Printed beautifully for gifts, albums, or framed heirlooms
Many brides use these photos in their home, on their wedding websites, or as part of a bridal album gifted to parents.
It Can Double as a Hair & Makeup Trial
If you’re planning on doing a hair and makeup trial anyway, this is the perfect time to schedule it. You’re investing in that service either way—why not put it to use?
It’s a great way to:
- Make sure your glam team’s vision aligns with yours
- See how the look wears throughout the day
- Get feedback from your photographer (I’ll always tell you if something needs adjusting!)
Plus, you’ll walk away with beautiful photos instead of just a few selfies in your bathroom.
It’s a Chance to Include a Sentimental Location
Your bridal session doesn’t have to be at your venue. It can be at your childhood home, a historic estate, a private garden, or even in-studio. I’ve photographed bridal sessions in hotel suites, greenhouses, and modern architectural spaces depending on the bride’s vibe.
This is your chance to make it personal.
If there’s somewhere special that won’t be part of your actual wedding day but still means something to you—let’s use it. We can create a set of photos that feel entirely yours, separate from your wedding but still connected to this season.
It Honors a Beautiful Tradition with a Modern Twist
For generations, bridal portraits were a right of passage—formal, posed, framed for parents’ walls. Today, they’ve evolved into something more creative, expressive, and personal.
You can still honor that tradition while making it completely your own.
Maybe you love the idea of a printed portrait at your reception or giving one to your mom as a gift. Maybe it’s just about taking a breath and having a moment to soak in everything you’ve dreamed of before the whirlwind of the wedding begins.
Whatever your reason, a bridal session is your moment to pause and celebrate you.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been on the fence about booking a bridal session, I hope this gives you clarity.
It’s not just a photo shoot. It’s a confidence booster. A time-saver. A memory-maker. And it’s one of the best ways to feel fully prepared and truly present when your wedding day arrives.
Whether you want something timeless, editorial, playful, or all of the above—I’d love to help create something that feels uniquely you.
Let’s make this moment count.
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