Marcia and I are friends from high school, and while we sometimes go for more than a year without talking, we always catch up eventually as though no time has passed at all.  I finally managed to make it down to her adorable little home in Pawley’s Island SC for a long overdue visit.  And since she’s engaged, a bridal session around Huntington Beach State Park was in order!  We shot many of the wedding portraits at Atalaya Castle and around the grounds.

Wedding Portraits at Atalaya Castle

It was just a beautiful day with the most gorgeous light!  Marcia’s husband owns a taxi company, so I actually got to drive Marcia around in a big bright yellow taxi van!  Her birdcage veil goes so well with her dress, and I think it adds to the whimsy of these portraits.  Marcia is so petite and adorable.  Huntington Beach State Park is a great park with so much variety.  We had fields, forest, the beach, Atalaya Castle, ivy covered walls, a boardwalk through the marsh, and amazing light.

Why Schedule A Bridal Portrait Session?

I started my business in North Carolina.  I’d say about 75% of my brides booked a bridal session with me.  When I moved to Oregon I discovered that most brides don’t even know what a bridal session is.  Although a bridal session is typically more of an East Coast and Southern tradition, there are lots of reasons to schedule one!

1. Have a trial run with your hair and makeup artist.
2. Also have a trial run with your florist.
3. You get to wear your dress and can see if additional alterations are needed, or to test out any foundation pieces, etc.
4. It gives you a chance to wear your dress for more than just your wedding!
5. It’s fun!
6. A bridal portrait makes a wonderful gift for your parents on the wedding day.

Seeing the bridal portraits afterwards will give you a new perspective to the full look.  You may decide you prefer a different hairstyle, or slightly different lipstick shade.  Perhaps you decide you’d rather have a larger bouquet.  You may realize that one of your foundation pieces doesn’t look seamless under your dress, therefore you’ll have time to find an alternative.