Trash The Dress At Addie’s Bridal Session

Posted on November 7, 2007

It took some time to schedule this shoot being that Addie is from out of town, but we had something special in mind so the conditions had to be just right.

You might remember seeing images of Kevin and Addie from their Engagement Session a while back. Somehow I knew she’d be up for something like this. But first, we had to do the traditional bridal portrait session.

Instead of meeting around sunset which is the norm, this one was scheduled for 30 minutes before SUNRISE. For someone to do hair, makeup, and get into a wedding dress before sunrise, it takes a bit of dedication to the cause. Fortunately, Addie and her entourage were up to it. Mom, Sister, and future Mom-In-Law were present for the session.

I was glad, because I was going to need lighting grips, hair brushers, dress changers, and mobile dressing room blanket holders.

First, the traditional bridal session. (you have to eat the green beens before the dessert it’s sometimes said right?)

Now, we had phase one of this shoot “in the can” so to speak. I had plenty of traditional images to choose from and present as final edits. Now it was time to do something different.

I’d seen and heard about “Trash The Dress” shoots. Naturally, I wanted to do one. (sounded right up my ally) So, what we had to do was enlist the help of a “stunt dress”. This dress would never see an aisle. (poor dress!) But, it would be used this once, and it wouldn’t be usable again (without a cleaning and repair cost that would exceed the cost of the dress itself).

I was able to find the one we used on the “final rock bottom low price before we burn it to save room” rack at a local bridal shop. It was the size Addie said she was. So, it had to be tried on. On the beach. So, with the help of the entourage, a few blankets, and some quick “superman in the phone booth” moves, she took the real dress off, and put the stunt one on.

IT FITS! ON TO PHASE TWO!

How’s the water Addie? “Warmer than the air!”

Now, You CANNOT get shots like this one below.

Without stuff like this happening. Many people have tried to pause the ocean. I haven’t heard of anyone being successful thus far.

I shot close to 300 frames during these concurrent sessions. I got over 130 keepers. These are just SOME of the sequences. I think Addie deserves a standing ovation for being an “A #1 Trooper” on this. YAY!!!!!

She wasn’t the only one that got wet though. I was soaked to the skin up to my waist. I got my very very very expensive camera wet and I had about 20 pounds of wet sand in my pants and shoes. But, it was worth it.

Kevin and Addie are getting married toward the end of December! Can’t wait for that one!

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