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Proud pup mom, type A creative, lover of the outdoors, Top Chef fan girl, and wedding and portrait photographer. Welcome to the blog!
HI, I'M RACHEL!
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You guys, there are so many elements that can come together to create stellar wedding photos. I could talk to you about it all day! But I won’t… today I’m going to focus on telling you why to wear a wedding veil on your big day.
I used to think wedding veils were simply a personal choice. To wear one was the traditional ‘bride look’, and not to wear one was kind of bucking tradition. Since becoming a wedding photographer, I am now privy to the plethora of reasons why to wear a wedding veil! And there are a plethora of reasons, many of which I never thought of before being behind the scenes on wedding days. I’m excited to share my behind the scenes reasons about why to wear a wedding veil with you. Let’s go!
Enhance your details photos
This is totally spilling a secret, but that’s how important I think this is: I’m willing to share a secret with you! I use the wedding veil in almost all bridal details photos. Gasp! If you love that light and bright look in bridal details photos, ya gotta have a wedding veil. It’s the perfect airy backdrop for your shoes, rings, bouquet, jewelry, and it creates consistency throughout all those images. I even layer it on other fabrics or surfaces to create texture and layers. Plus, it’s a fun way to incorporate your veil, which is an actual bridal detail in and of itself, in your bridal details photos.
Get extra getting ready photos
I love taking photos of a bride getting buttoned into her dress, putting on jewelry and shoes, and having her family and bridesmaids help. This is just another reason why to wear a wedding veil – you get more touching moments (and photos!) with your friends/family as they help you pin in your veil.
Enjoy more variety in your bridal portraits and all portraits
Having a wedding veil to play with – putting it over your shoulder on one side, then on both sides, having portraits with the veil and without, having it splayed out behind you for a backside portrait, sweeping it in front of your face, smooching behind it with your new spouse, letting it drag behind you as you walk, carrying it as you walk, having it flow in the breeze. The possibilities are endless! You naturally get more portraits and more variety in your portraits when you wear a veil.
Get the famous ‘veil fluff’ portrait
This might be my favorite reason of all regarding why to wear a wedding veil! The famous ‘veil fluff’ portrait! I admit, when I first started out in the industry I did not understand this shot! I thought it looked photoshopped and I was confused why something so staged was so popular. But now – I’m obsessed!
This is always on my shot list when I see a bride is wearing a veil – and I could actually do a separate post on why to choose a long wedding veil, but all of the reasons would be the same: so you can get this shot! haha
I love the lead line it creates, and the romance and drama it adds to the image, and how it looks spontaneous and editorial at the same time. It’s a fun way to play and is one of my favorite shots of the day.
A veil adds drama and romance to your walk down the aisle
I absolutely love the photos my second shooter gets when the bride is walking down the aisle – the shots from behind when you can really see her veil flowing and/or trailing behind her. Love!
Add an extra element to your walk down the aisle after a first look
Last, if you want to add an extra element to make your walk down the aisle different and just as special as your first look, I recommend not wearing your veil for the first look, and only putting it on for the walk down the aisle. ** I only recommend doing this if you plan to do more love bird portraits after the ceremony so you can make sure to have portraits with your veil. (This wouldn’t work for a winter wedding where the sun sets after the ceremony and you’re doing all your portraits right after the first look.) **
Did this post get you excited to book your own wedding, elopement, or engagement session?! If yes, send me a note and we can chat about what you have in mind: contact me
Hi – I’m Rachel! A wedding, engagements, and headshots photographer in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and northern Virginia. I love taking photos of elegant people who love to laugh, as well as of much in-love couples. If you’re a dog owner, that’s a plus! I’m currently booking 2020 portrait sessions, as well as 2020 and 2021 weddings.
HELLO@RACHELEHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
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Rachel is a wedding and portrait photographer
Serving brilliant, elegant couples in Washington D.C. + Beyond
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