If you’ve been deep in wedding planning mode, you’ve probably already Googled “what is a bridal portrait session” approximately forty-seven times. And somewhere along the way, a new question popped up: should I do my hair and makeup trial before or after my bridal portraits?
It’s a great question — and one I get from nearly every bride I work with. The short answer? Schedule your hair and makeup trial before your bridal portrait session. But let me walk you through exactly why, and share a few tips to make sure everything goes smoothly.
What Is a Bridal Portrait Session, Anyway?
For those who are newer to the tradition (especially here in the South!), a bridal portrait session is a dedicated photo session — separate from your wedding day — where you put on your full bridal look and we spend an hour or more capturing stunning, intentional portraits of you. No timeline pressure, no guests to wrangle, no distractions. Just you, your gown, and gorgeous light.
These portraits are incredibly special. Many South Carolina brides use them to display a large print at their wedding reception, send to family members who may not be attending, or simply as a keepsake of this season of life. As someone who has photographed weddings from Greenville to Charleston and everywhere in between, I can tell you — bridal portraits are one of my favorite sessions to photograph.
Why You Should Do Your Hair & Makeup Trial First
1. You’ll Know Exactly What You’re Working With
Your hair and makeup trial is a practice run — a chance for you and your hair and makeup artist to experiment, refine, and land on a look you love. Sometimes the style you pinned on Pinterest needs a few tweaks when it’s actually on your hair, your face, in real life. And that is completely normal!
By doing your trial first, you go into your bridal portrait session with a look that’s already been perfected. You know how long it takes to get ready, you know what products hold best, and your artist knows exactly what they’re doing on the day of your session (and your wedding!). No guessing, no surprises.
2. Your Bridal Portraits Deserve Your Best Look
Here’s the thing — your bridal portraits are going on your wall. They’re going to be treasured for decades. You want to look and feel absolutely stunning in them, which means showing up with hair and makeup that’s been thoughtfully designed and tested.
When brides skip the trial and come to their portrait session with a first-attempt look, sometimes things aren’t quite right — the lashes feel heavy, the updo needs more pins, or the lip color reads differently on camera than they expected. By doing your trial first, you’ve already ironed all of that out.
3. You’ll Feel More Confident and Relaxed
Confidence is everything in photos. When you feel beautiful — when you know your look is on point — that energy radiates through every single image. You’ll stand taller, smile easier, and feel free to be fully present in the moment instead of wondering if your hair is doing what you hoped.
Brides who have done their trial first always arrive to their portrait sessions with this incredible ease about them. That ease? It photographs beautifully.
4. You Can Give Your Artist Feedback Before the Big Day
What if you get to your trial and realize you’d like softer brows, a dewier skin finish, or a slightly looser curl pattern? Perfect — that’s exactly what the trial is for. You have time to communicate, adjust, and finalize before any photos are taken.
If you skip the trial and go straight to portraits, you won’t have that feedback loop. And you definitely don’t want to be figuring out your ideal look for the first time on your wedding morning.
A Few Tips for Scheduling Everything
- Book your hair and makeup trial at least 2–4 weeks before your bridal portrait session. This gives your artist enough time to source any products or make adjustments based on your feedback.
- Schedule your bridal portrait session 1–3 months before your wedding. This gives you time to receive and love your gallery, and plenty of lead time if you want to display a portrait print at your reception.
- Wear your actual wedding dress and accessories to both your trial and your portrait session. The full look matters — a veil, earrings, and shoes all change how you feel and carry yourself.
- Let your photographer know your hair and makeup timeline. I always work with my brides to build a realistic schedule so we can make the most of our time together and take advantage of the best light.
What If I’ve Already Booked My Bridal Portraits Before My Trial?
Don’t stress! You still have options. You could schedule your hair and makeup trial as soon as possible before your portrait session date, even if that’s just a week or two out. Talk to your artist about the timeline — most are happy to accommodate brides who need to prioritize getting their trial done quickly.
And if for some reason your trial has to happen after your portraits, all is not lost. We’ll still create beautiful images together! Just know that you may want to plan a mini follow-up session after your trial if you fall in love with tweaks that weren’t reflected in your portraits.
Let’s Capture You in Your Full Glory
Bridal portrait sessions are one of the most meaningful things you can do for yourself during the wedding planning season. It’s a rare chance to slow down, step into your gown, and simply be celebrated — before the big day chaos begins.
I’d love to be the one to capture that for you. If you’re a South Carolina bride planning your bridal portraits (or still in the early stages of figuring out what you even need!), feel free to reach out. I’m based in Anderson, SC and photograph brides across Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, and beyond.
Get in touch here — I can’t wait to hear from you!
