Should you Trash the Dress?

Firstly what is "Trash the dress"?

Quite simply it is a generic name given to a photoshoot where the Bride (and possibly groom) get a chance to dress up in their wedding finery once more.

It's a chance to get more creative, a chance to be a little more risky, I've shot trash the dress sessions by rivers with the dress being rather wet by the end of the day (don't worry the dress was fine once it was cleaned and dried) Now there are many reasons why you'd choose to do this, personally I find that on a wedding day the pictures the couple often come to treasure is ones of themselves.

Now this can often be at odds with the wedding itself - for a variety of reasons. Let me explain.

A typical wedding day can be like a military event - things can often be planned from arrival to the first dance.

Now I always ask where possible to plan in time for some awesome bride and groom portaits and this is not always possible.

It's always worth making time to get those special moments just after being married, of course in the UK if half an hour is allocated to bride and groom portraits then it's a good day.

A Trash the dress session allows this time to be extended, also maybe taking in a second location and this brings us to the next reason for a Trash the Dress session.

Location.

Location wise you can be constrained when you choose your venue - maybe you have too many guests? or too few? or your favourite place or location just doesn't do weddings, some locations have real significance to couples and this makes a great location for a TTD session.

One of the most popular locations for my Trash the dress shoots is the beach. Have you ever tried to get married on the beach in the UK?

It's not allowed by law. So unless you are lucky enough to find a venue close enough to the beach then this may not be an option on your wedding day.

This is when a TTD session can again come into it's own.

What should I look for?

So you're convinced to give it a try, what should you look for?

Well in many ways it's like choosing your wedding photographer, in fact assuming your wedding photos turned out how you expected then your first point of call should be your wedding photographer.

Find out if they offer TTD sessions as an option. Depending on where you are in your planning ask if that is included as part of your intended package? Can you include it later?

The other option is to go to someone who offers TTD sessions you really like. Again you should feel comfortable with the photographer to get the best out of you.

In many ways TTD is different to a wedding. At a wedding a lot of people like the photojournalistic approach which is largely unposed and undirected - a TTD session obviously requires a little more direction, so make sure that you can find a photographer who makes you feel at ease and is able to give you some direction as to what the session will be like.

One other important aspect is the level of "trashing" you're happy to go to.

A quick search on the internet will see images ranging from bride and groom stood in their wedding dress with a magnificant location to a bride with her dress on fire or floating in a rock pool.

Will you be happy if you are doused in petrol? or would you prefer a nice walk in the woods, a TTD session is as personal as your wedding and you need to think about what you are looking to get out of it too.

Finally what are you looking for as the end result?

Are you looking for an album? framed prints?

acrylics? Images on a DVD?

You may want a combination of these - make sure you can get what you want out of the session too.

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