2. Get Your Details Ready in Advance
Your dress, your shoes, your jewelry—those little details you spent ages picking out—they deserve their moment in the spotlight too. When your photographer arrives, have these items ready and laid out neatly. It’ll save time and allow them to snap some gorgeous shots before the hustle and bustle kicks off.
And don’t forget those meaningful personal touches! Maybe it’s a piece of jewelry your grandma gave you or a note from your soon-to-be spouse. Including those little details adds so much sentiment to the story your photos will tell.
3. Don’t Rush—Give Yourself Time
This one’s big. One of the best ways to ensure you get amazing getting-ready photos is simply to have enough time. You don’t want to be stressing about running late. When you’ve got enough time, everything feels more relaxed. That’s when the best photos happen—the real, genuine moments.
Make sure to build a bit of a buffer into your schedule so you can enjoy the moment. You’ll appreciate having that extra breathing room, and your photographer will have time to capture the candid shots that really show how you were feeling in those last moments before the ceremony.
4. Let the Candid Moments Happen
We all love a good posed photo, but some of the best wedding shots are the ones you don’t plan for. It’s the way your mom looks at you when she’s helping with your dress, or the laughter between you and your bridesmaids. Those moments can’t be forced—they just happen naturally when you’re relaxed and enjoying yourself.
So let the day unfold. Your photographer will be on the lookout for those emotional, real moments, and trust me, they’ll end up being some of your favorites.
5. Pick a Getting-Ready Outfit You Love
You’re going to be in your getting-ready outfit for a good chunk of the morning, so pick something that makes you feel good. Whether it’s a fun robe, matching pajamas for you and your bridal party, or something simple and elegant, you’ll want to look back at these photos and think, “Yep, I loved that!”
It’s a small detail, but it can really add to the overall look of your getting-ready photos. Plus, coordinated outfits just look super cute in pictures, don’t they?
6. Share the Moment With Loved Ones
Getting ready is more than just putting on a dress. It’s about the people around you—the ones who’ve been with you through everything. Whether it’s your bridesmaids, your parents, or even your childhood friends, these are the people who make those final moments before the wedding truly special.
Having them with you will naturally bring out those big emotions—laughter, maybe a few happy tears—and your photographer will be there to capture all of it. These are the moments you’ll cherish forever.
✨ Why “Getting Ready” Photos Tell the Real Story
Your wedding day doesn’t just start at the ceremony. The story begins much earlier, in the room where you’re surrounded by family, friends, and all the anticipation of the day ahead. For me as a wedding photographer in Cork and Kerry, the “getting ready” part of the day is where the most authentic moments happen.
These are the photos that show the nervous laughter, the proud glances from parents, the jokes between bridesmaids, and the quiet reflection before walking down the aisle. They’re the moments that remind you how the day really felt — not just how it looked.
📌 Why Work With JOD Photography?
When couples book me, they’re not just booking a person with a camera. They’re choosing someone who will blend into the background and capture the day as naturally as possible. My focus is on candid, storytelling photography — and that begins from the very first minutes of the day.
This isn’t about stiff poses or rehearsed smiles. It’s about capturing what really happens when you’re surrounded by the people who matter most.
💬 What Couples Say
“Hiring James was the best decision we made. His natural energy put us at ease, and the end result was the most incredible photos that truly captured ‘us’.” – Hollie Inger
“James is absolutely gifted, it’s plain and obvious. He made my bride feel so beautiful she wanted to print photos of herself on canvas — something she never thought she’d do.” – Stuart Hunter
🌿 Linking
What makes these photos even more powerful is how they connect with your venue. Imagine bridal prep in the light-filled suites at The Brehon in Killarney, or candid morning laughter in a Georgian room at Maryborough Hotel Cork.
That’s why I built my venue hubs:
When you’re planning, these hubs help you see how “getting ready” moments fit seamlessly into the flow of your day.
🔗 Bringing It All Together
Your wedding photos shouldn’t feel like a checklist. They should feel like a story — beginning with the nerves, excitement, and laughter of the morning. By linking together documentary getting-ready coverage, the best venues in Cork & Kerry, and my wedding packages, I make sure your photos are complete from start to finish.
Every time you open your album, you’ll not only see the ceremony and the dancing — you’ll also relive the way the morning unfolded, step by step. That’s why “getting ready” photos aren’t just extras. They’re essential chapters in your love story.
👉 Contact me today to check your date and let’s make sure those first chapters are captured the way they deserve.
