Wedding photogs - How would you handle this Bride?

[Ultra]

How would you handle this Bride?

We have a client who has booked us for a wedding in April and we've been discussing doing her bridals in downtown DC. She really likes the idea of steps, cement & brick (older buildings), "neat" architecture. She has really good ideas and we've come up with some great locations + time of day to avoid much distraction or people in the way.

Theres one problem, she's extremely worried about going out, getting great pics then at the end of the shoot/day she finds that shes gotten her dress dirty.

While I totally understand that and not want to push her out of her comfort zone I know that we can get her some great shots and she knows this as well. Plus she'd rather take her pictures alone than have formals of herself the day of. I feel like a few comforting words from us would help but I'm at a loss as to what to tell her. Because as careful as my girlfriend and I can be we cant guarantee 100% that 'something' might happen - I would also feel EXTREMELY bad and guilty if she did get her dress dirty. We would have towels, sittings mats etc - things to basically keep separation from her and dirt, but we all know nothing is full proof in that department.

SO...

Have any of you had to deal with this? What did you + Bride do?

Have you ever had a bride get her dress dirty during bridals which was PRIOR to the wedding? What happened?

thanks in advance.

[Rachel B]

not done a wedding shoot, but I was recently a bride, I did not have any pre wedding shots but wore my dress twice. ( i had a wedding in the US and a reception in the UK)

Cleaning the dress is a pain, and expensive, maybe shoot the pictures after the wedding day? becasue no matter how careful you are, white dress on a dirty street moving in and out of cars will get dirty.

[John Mireles]

If you're at all moving around, the dress will get dirty. Depending on the style, the bottom of the dress and the crenalin may get ripped. I've see the bottom of dresses get black from walking on supposedly clean high-end resort sidewalks.

Most wedding dresses aren't designed for much movement. If you're running around a city with a big ol' princess gown, it's gonna get worked over - especially if the bride is big and the dress tight.

I don't do bridal portraits since that's more of a southern thing. My guess is that there's some cleaning and repair work to be done to the dress afterwards though. You might talk to a cleaner about what can be done with a dirty dress.

John

[Ultra]

Thanks for the replies, I actually dont know the style of the dress so I'll need to get that info from her and will make a decision from there.

[HuskyKMA]

It's going to be essentially impossible to run around a city taking pictures and not get the dress dirty or cause damage to it. Either you're going to have to have it professionally cleaned and repaired after the photo shoot, or shoot the bridals after the actual wedding. I'd recommend the latter.

[John Mireles]

I just posed this question on another forum. Seems that it is possible to do a shoot without having the dress cleaned. You just need to be very careful especially when moving in or out of cars. Stay off grass and away from dirt. Keep the dress up when moving it around - you'll probably want help.

John

[TXLEBER]

I've got my first bridal scheduled for next month. Wedding is in April as well.

The bride had the same concern. So we're going to do an indoor bridal shoot. I'll bring my lights and backdrops to her house. I plan on doing some portraits w/ the backdrops and then we'll use what's available in her house. I figure I'll get a couple of window shots, some of her on her extra large chair, and a few on her stair case. She's looking to display some of these pics at the reception.

[Stephanie Miller]

i would suggest having the bride wait till after the wedding to do her formal shoots. That way the pressure is off everyone about the dress getting dirty. If everyone is worried about the dress getting dirty, just imagine how stressed everyone will be trying to do these pre wedding shots....YIKES.....

[sapearl]

Hi Ultra - D.C. is a terrific place - my daughter lived there for 3 years and we loved visiting her.

About your dilemma, it's guaranteed she will get some sort of dirt on that pretty white dress, especially in April. You're coming in out of winter with all the salt, crud, dirt and other stuff that has been splashed everywhere from the roads and the spring rains and tourists haven't "wiped" things off yet. This is does not mean you should not do it - just be aware that the dress will have to be cleaned.

Do the shoot after, or have her sit on cloths or plastic.... but those will likely show. Good luck; there's the potential for a lot of great shots there. :D- Stu

[WannaLearn]

Came across this recently. Totally ceative idea!

http://www.trashthedress.com/info.php

[tim]

Came across this recently. Totally ceative idea!

http://www.trashthedress.com/info.php

It was new, cool, and creative a few years ago... and probably not recommended before the wedding!

[cdifoto]

Change it to an e-session.

[Teachflute]

Last fall I had post wedding bridal session. I asked the bride when she mentioned these concerns if it was more important to have her bridal pictures before the actual wedding, or more important to have a spotless dress. For her, the importance was on having a perfect dress on her wedding day. So, about 2 weeks after she returned from her honeymoon we did her bridals. I tried to convince her to do a TTD session because I've never done one, but she didn't quite want to do that. However, because she waited, we were a little more brave than if we had done the bridals before the wedding. She also looked very relaxed in the pictures and I don't think she would have if she had been worrying about her dress.

[canonloader]

especially if the bride is big and the dress tight.
Thanks John. You just made my whole day, and that of my brother and niece. :mrgreen:

[Dorman]

Do an E Session, shoot the bridals/trash the dress after the wedding, or do bridals with enough time that she can get her dress cleaned before the wedding.

[Welby]

The dress is going to get dirty. My wife's still has tyre shine on it after getting out of the car some 5 years on.:lol:

[wet frog]

If the bride is concerned at all now then you risk her falling out with you big time should something happen to the dress. From a brides perspective then nothing is lost by waiting until after the wedding for these shots. guessing she'll be dry cleaning it and packing it away afterwards anyway... Just have the shoot prior to that.
Imagine the recommendation she be passing round should she slide by a car which hasn't been washed all winter? I'm guessing if she's concerned about privacy on the shoot your window of opportunity won't be massive and you'll be wanting to move around quickly.
It's all about the shots I know, but to her it's all about that magical day.....

[TSEE]

I'd do it after the wedding.
Did this for my BIL/SIL when I did their wedding 3 years ago. We didn't do as bad as the "trash the dress" sort of stuff but yes even with blankets and mats etc her dress got dirty but since she was having it cleaned and preserved afterwards anyways she said the hell with it. If she wants a few shots to display at the reception maybe do a coupla "formal" ones inside a studio, and do the downtown stuff after the wedding sometime? That would be me, then the pressure is off everyone.

[zorz]

After the wedding, obviously. My last contract is just about that way. No TTD, just unrushed, artistic and unrestricted portraiture.

[Burrelly]

If I were you I would shoot after the wedding.

[S.Horton]

Unlimited budget: Have a second train made.

[Ultra]

Thanks for all the replies!

I found out from the Bride that the dress is only down to her feet with no train. She also surprisingly stated in her last reply "I won't stress out if it gets dirty. I can always get it cleaned." However my partner and I will do everything in our power to not let that happen.

We've decided to do two locations, one on a high roof top/balcony overlooking the city and the other will be either the steps of the Capitol or of the Lincoln memorial. Other than from the car to actual location there wont be much "walking around" looking for a shot, we'll have exact locations for her planned as well.

Wish us luck :) and thanks again!