A veil in wedding photography adds depth, drama and can help create some show stopping images. A bride wearing a veil on her wedding day is a centuries old tradition with varied meanings depending on the culture and/or religion. Whilst the meaning and symbolism of the veil may not be for everyone, modern day brides (and grooms!) are using contemporary veils as a powerful fashion accessory.
As a wedding photographer, I feel like a veil has the power to transform wedding photos in a more artistic direction. They add depth and elegance, give more freedom with artistic expression and can turn a great image into something extraordinary. A veil in wedding photography is a beautiful tool to add drama, complexity and an extra layer of emotion into images.
Here are some ways a veil can truly enhance your wedding photos.
Bridal portraits
After the anticipation and build up of getting ready on your wedding day, finally being fully ready to go to your ceremony is emotional. It’s also one of the last moments that you have to yourself as you embark on a whole new journey. This is a beautiful time to have bridal portraits – your hair and make up is fresh, everything is clean and the anticipation in the air is a beautiful thing to capture.
A veil in wedding photography gives us more to play with. A veil really adds to the emotion that’s already there. It gives you something to hold. It adds depth and contrast and elevates your images in an almost ethereal way. The draping or the sheer material of a veil can highlight the beauty of your dress, hair and make up as well as add in an extra layer of detail.
Details and close ups
During every wedding there’s the smaller details that truly tell the story of your wedding day. Chanel perfume, delicate heels, textured wedding invitations, beautifully crafted rings… These elements may seem small but these are the tiny details that make you and your wedding unique. Capturing these details helps to tell the story of your wedding day. A veil is a magnificent way to tie in all these elements and frame all these significant details.
Movement and expression
A veil in wedding photography is a beautiful tool to add movement and expression into images. It’s perfect for creating a frame around you and a veil floating in a soft breeze is just absolutely magical. That movement in a photo can be so powerful for storytelling. There are small moments with a veil that are truly beautiful. Someone holding your veil as you walk, your hands in the veil, you holding your veil as you’re about the put it on, the pinning of the veil into your hair, your veil floating through the air as you walk alongside your new spouse. A veil truly brings expression and movement into your portraits as well as a simplistic elegance.
Filling negative space
In the art and photography world, ‘negative space’ refers to the space around and between the subject of the image. Especially when it comes to landscape portraits, a veil filling some of the negative space creates an absolutely magical image that’s more like art.
We here at Norman Yap Photography got together with Dreamtime Designs in Perth to showcase some of the beautiful veils that they create. They are absolute experts in veils and can custom make one for you that suits your gown and wedding.
