Dallas Wedding Photography: Super Sexy

There is a growing trend in wedding photography for images that just ooze sex. I'm being serious here! Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm not talking soft porn or just plan trash. I mean tasteful, provocative images that show how gorgeous every single bride is on her wedding day. Some will go a bit further and opt for a full boudoir session which may contain some partial nudity. I've shot some of those sessions (obviously those pictures don't go out to the public on my website or blog!) I have however shot a number of just sexy images with brides, especially during trash the dress sessions.

One of the things I try to do is keep an old wedding gown laying around. I usually pick one up from the local Goodwill. I have one in my storage unit right now. I find something of average size and length and buy it. You have to remember that these trash gowns don't have to fit perfect. We can pin them, cut them, stitch them, or whatever we have to. I love these sessions, and so do my brides. I want to show you a few images from two brides and talk about the making of them. (Caveat here that both of these lovely ladies have allowed me to use these images for portfolio purposes and to show public. I'd never betray anyone's trust on something like that)

First Image

This is a photo of Cicily (Who by the way is shaping up to be one heck of a wedding photographer herself in North Carolina. Visit her at www.stillheartphotography.com). The first thing to note here is that we cut a slit right up the side of the gown. All the way up to her hips. The lighting was just perfect without me having to do anything. There was a big frosted window behind her which just bounced right up off the floor to mostly silhouette her. So why does this image work? One word: Curves! You have to show off a bit. I mean gowns are gorgeous, but show some leg and watch your soon to be  husband go crazy! It is tasteful and a lot more sensual because she is mostly hidden in shadow.

Image Two

Here Cicily is again, same location, but now moved into the window. You can now see the slit, and of course those bright red hose and heels. So what really makes this image work? Contrast! The hard edgy light, deep shadow, and then POW and explosion of color leads your eye right to her legs. This was lit with one small flash unit.

Image Three

Say hello to the lovely Leigh. To say she worked on this gown would be somewhat of an understatement.....it used to have sleeves! Really she cut it down to the corset, and once on the beach I again cut slits up both sides to her hip. If you'll notice the gown became rather translucent once it was wet. Lady's please make sure you are wearing a nude colored bra that doesn't do that! Obviously the location here plays a huge roll, as well as the time of day. The ocean, the geometry of the piers, and that beautiful golden sunlight of late day. Needless to say we drew a crowd at Myrtle Beach, SC running around in the water, but we both had fun!

Image Four

Again with Leigh at the exact same location. This time in B&W. The thing I really love here is her hair. Totally wind swept, mysterious, and sensual. She looks like a maiden of the ocean walking onto shore. Again natural light, and Leigh just relaxing and letting herself feel as beautiful as she looks, just gorgeous.

I have to admit that when I do these beach shoots I often ask my brides to imagine they are in a Chris Isaac video; come on you know the one! ( I admit I think that way too! Hence a lot of black and white)



But really, these types of images are really catching on. They are very memorable for whomever you decide to show them to. You get to let go, have fun, and create some super sexy art!