How much time should a bride allot for her morning “prep” look?
First, quick context. The “prep” look (aka hair-down/pre-gown shoot) is the bride's portrait session before she wears her ceremony gown, and before her hair gets styled into the traditional bun. Different outfit, softer vibe, more relaxed energy.
Now as a wedding photographer, here’s my honest answer: it depends on what you value most.
Some brides love it and want plenty of time for it. Others would rather skip it altogether. Me? I'm somewhere in the middle.
I enjoy shooting hair-down portraits. They give the bride space to move freely, breathe, and ease into the day before the structure of the gown changes how she walks, sits, and poses. It feels light, effortless, and fun. It also adds a nice variety to the overall wedding gallery.
It's a good thing.
But too much of a good thing can quietly take away from some things that are sooo much better.
I’ve seen this segment stretch past more than an hour, and when that happens, the time for what truly matters starts shrinking. Family moments. Candid entourage photos. And bridal portraits in her actual wedding gown, the dress she chose, the one she’ll remember forever.
But this isn’t just on one specific person or wedding vendor, we wedding photographers/videographers are a big part of this too. We can get so carried away with taking beautiful shots, and before we know it, we've taken up too much time. We forget that there are far more meaningful moments to capture once the bride is in her gown.
Prep photos are beautiful. It's a great bonus. But it's not the core memory.
The moments with the people who matter most? Those are irreplaceable.
So if you’re planning your timeline, give the prep look space, just not at the expense of the moments you’ll treasure most.
#polkstudiosph
What an afterparty!!!
Ben & Shane didn’t just end their wedding day, they sent it off with a bang! From overflowing dance floors to nonstop laughter(and maybe a few happy tears), the celebration was nothing short of electric.
Sharing more photos from their wedding real soon. But for now, here’s a little peek at just how wild their afterparty was ✨🥂
#polkstudiosph
