Wedding photography is the hype. It has become one of the most profitable ventures in photography.

When planning weddings, most people invest lot of money and time into their wedding photography (and videos), which is well worth it, as this will be the most accurate memoir you have of your special day.

In this part of the globe, with the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding, a whole lot of details get lost in the rush as everything is carried out in a haste.

When picking a wedding photographer, a number of issues should be tabled, and not just the costs. One of the most overlooked aspects of wedding photography in Nigeria is the bridal portrait.

For advanced wedding photography, the photographer should visit the venues beforehand, in order to stake out the venues and get a good feel of them. This way, your photographer takes test shots and determines the best angles and spots from which to take the perfect shots.

Bridal portraits are usually planned with this in mind. They are not just about taking a picture of the bride smiling into the camera (as seen in most wedding photographs of stressed harried brides flashing fake smiles in deceptively serene poses).

A bridal portrait should be a well-planned, thought-out picture, which can be either posed, taken naturally, or a combination of both, giving the bride freedom to pick which she prefers.

This portrait should be a reflection of an aspect of the bride’s life and personality. It could be taken with a favourite parent or grandparent in the background, or taken in her childhood room, giving the reflection of the transition from childhood into womanhood and from one stage of life to a new one.

A good picture is worth a thousand words, and a lot of emotions could be captured in a bridal portrait.

It could be the wistful nostalgia passing over her face as a cousin tells a long-running family joke about the bride. It could be an unguarded moment of sadness or thoughtfulness as she reflects on all the changes the day will bring into her life; the naughty smile as the bride plays a prank on her best friend, or takes a peek at the groom on his way out.

Essentially, taking a great wedding photo is not just about a photographer using good equipment to capture a moment correctly, it’s about capturing the right moment, and framing them to tell the story of that day to the generations yet unborn.

Posed photographs are good and necessary, but nothing beats the truth and beauty of raw emotions in those unguarded moments of play or introspection. Capturing a moment like this may give the bride the one picture that helps her remember all her feelings and emotions of that day and put them in perspective.

This might be the picture that opens up a conversation between mother and daughter or grand-daughter in the future, about her own struggles in life.

So, while being carried away in the whirl of your wedding planning and activities, do not forget to plan a shoot with your photographer, while letting him know the places and people that mean the most to you. And RELAX, your day is gonna be brilliant, take a moment to enjoy yourself and live in the moment, so you can have a happy story to tell of your day, as it is saved for the future generations.

Source: http://owanbeparries.com/2017/02/15/plan-bridal-portrait/