I was invited to participate in a post wedding bridal session. Frequently referred to as a Trash The Dress or Anti-bridal session, these shoots aren’t really about the dress. The goal is to make some interesting images of the bride or bride and groom in a setting not usually associated with wedding portraits. If the dress gets a little soiled in the process… well, oh well! Honestly these things rarely result in the dress being truely destroyed, but I’m sure it’s happened. The real idea is to get some fun, playful, maybe even sexy or romantic photos of the bride or bride and groom. The location can be some place they think would be cool. Or it could have some special meaning to the couple. While these shoots frequently involve water shots there’s no reason that they have to. It really depends on what the bride and groom wants and how “playful” they’re willing to be in front of the camera.
So why put the dress at risk? Of the three “brides,” two were already married, one soon to be. For one of the married ladies it “seemed better than letting it hang in the closet drawing dust.” For another (paraphrasing), “I’ve been married 9 years, had two kids and have worked very hard to get back to a size that I was when I got married. This is a celebration of that accomplishment.” And for the bride to be? Well after purchasing the dress she found another she liked better. No one seemed to want to buy it on Craigs List so she figured what the heck, might as well have some fun!. Hope you enjoy the photos… oh and “no brides were injured during the making of these photographs!” Want to see more? Here’s the This Old Dress Slide Show
