What to wear for a bridal photoshoot

By Mariya Harley · London · updated August 2026

What works for a bridal shoot specifically

Colour. Fixed — so the variables are the veil, the shoes and the jewellery. A veil is the only fabric in the session with a genuinely photographic property: backlit, it diffuses light around the face.

Fabric. Whatever the dress is, know whether it photographs warm or cool. Ivory under tungsten light goes yellow; pure white under an overcast sky goes blue. It is worth one test frame before the day.

Footwear. The actual shoes for the hemline frames, flats for everything else. Heel height changes the length of the dress in every full-length photograph.

The thing that ruins frames. Heavy jewellery in close portraits — it competes with the neckline and with the face. Save the statement piece for full-length frames.

Two rules that hold everywhere

• Steam it the night before — creases are the most expensive thing in any retouching bill and the cheapest to prevent.
• Bring options and decide on set, where you can see the light and the background rather than guessing at home.