Note: Photographers’ Friday is a weekly blog series directed toward professional photographers, and in some instances, serious amateur photographers. All Photographers’ Friday blog posts will assume that readers have a basic working knowledge of digital SLR cameras, but if you’re left with questions or don’t understand any of the information, don’t hesitate to ask. We love e-mails!

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I’m going to admit, here and now, that when a bride gets into her wedding gown, it’s one of the most nerve-wracking parts of the wedding day for me. There are so many things to consider. I don’t want to photograph her undergarments . . . or worse. I want to make sure I don’t shoot up or down the bridesmaids’ dresses, too. There are usually a lot of people in a very small space; zipping the gown inevitably happens incredibly fast; and all the while I’m trying to make sure the lighting is beautiful and dreamy.So here’s what I do to get the best shots I can.

1. Turn off all the lights whenever possible and shoot with only natural window light.
2. Make sure the bride knows I’m not going to start shooting until she’s modest — that helps her relax and keeps everyone acting naturally without fear of the camera.
3. Position and re-position the bride and bridesmaids as often as needed to make sure the light is falling where and how I want it.
4. Ask the bridesmaids/mother of the bride to zip/button/lace the gown slowly.
5. Remind the bride — and everyone else — to keep smiling.

While photographing the bride getting into her gown can make me nervous, it often results in some of my favorite photographs from the wedding. So I just try to follow my own advice and work to get photographs that are as elegant as the bride wants to feel on her wedding day!

~ Laura