Basic bridal portrait procedural info needed

Hi, I'm new to this forum so go easy on me.

A friend asked my wife and me to shoot her daughter's wedding. We have never done a wedding before and suggested she hire a professional. Long story short, she hired another amateur at extremely low cost for the ceremony and reception.

I am considering approaching the MOB about doing some outdoor bridal portraits (not on the wedding day). Since we do aspire to shoot weddings someday, I thought this might be a logical stepping stone and valuable addition to our portfolio. None of that wedding day stress with time constraints or "one chance to get it right" scenario. I believe I have the skills and the gear to do a good job with this.

So, my question to the wedding shooter types is, when do you normally do the bridal portraits? Before the wedding day or after the honeymoon?

I welcome any advice you have to offer with regard to this particular opportunity.

Having lighting gear and experience is great, you just can't take it all with for a wedding. I share the same pain as I love lighting and weddings are the perfect opportunity to use it.

In my opinion bridal portraits are done either before or during the wedding. Doing it afterwards means somebody screwed up royally!

And as far as the pressures involved in wedding, this is what separates the pro's from the ameture. Taking lighting and using it on the fly as well as playing the director role, because some people want to steal that from you.

Thanks, Randy.

I've seen lots of bridal portraits that were done in a studio or in a natural setting. So I'm assuming that at least some of these were not done on the wedding day.

Then of course there is the recent "trash the dress" fad. While I have no interest in trashing dresses, I can only assume these are done after the wedding day.

Curtis N wrote in post #5268089
Thanks, Randy.

I've seen lots of bridal portraits that were done in a studio or in a natural setting. So I'm assuming that at least some of these were not done on the wedding day.

Then of course there is the recent "trash the dress" fad. While I have no interest in trashing dresses, I can only assume these are done after the wedding day.

I guess if they take it after the wedding then you better be prepared to take lipstick stains, tears, spilt drinks as well as amything else that occurred out of the shot by PP.

I also think Brides are fired up before and sort of difficult to get them fire up afterward to put that dress and all the make-up back on again.

Well, I think sales are better if you do it before the wedding. I realize that you may be giving them a "deal" or whatever, but I would plan to knock it out of the park and sell 'em a gorgeous wall sized portrait that they can display at the reception. Good for them, good for you, good for your portfolio... Everyone wins!

collierportraits wrote in post #5268148
Well, I think sales are better if you do it before the wedding. I realize that you may be giving them a "deal" or whatever, but I would plan to knock it out of the park and sell 'em a gorgeous wall sized portrait that they can display at the reception. Good for them, good for you, good for your portfolio... Everyone wins!

So why can't you knock it out of the park prior to the wedding?

Ooops, sorry I thought you were the OP.