To Veil Or Not To Veil?

That is the question. With a variety of styles available for every bride right now, the options are infinite. Some brides even opt out of wearing one. I’m not here to tell you what kind of veil you should choose. Or whether to wear one at all.  Whatever veil you choose, I’ll photograph your wedding nonetheless.  But I’m here to tell you why you might want to consider one.

For wedding photographers, a bride’s veil is a tool.

I get excited when my brides wear longer veils because it gives an ethereal quality to the image. Whenever I place the veil over the shoulders, the focus then goes to the bride’s face because the veil softens out everything else.  When there’s a breeze, I can play with the veil to show movement. I can even put the veil in front of my lens to create a texture that would make an image even more interesting.

But what most people outside our industry probably haven’t already realized is that, we (wedding photographers) use veils to flatter your body.

Don’t get me wrong. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. As a woman, I do have my own insecurities and I don’t want to be reminded of those on my portraits. So when I photograph my brides’ portraits, I try my best to pose them in the most flattering way I can.

By placing the veil over your shoulders, your arms get covered as well. If you’re self-conscious in that area of your body, wearing a longer veil with a length at least down to your waist is going to help.  A veil can also cover up your back if you’re worried about that too.

You’re probably asking, “well can’t you just use Photoshop?”

We could. Using Photoshop to shape your body does involve time. And time is money. Depending on your wedding photographer, it might cost you. That or you’re going to receive your wedding photos later than your photographer’s usual delivery time.

In the end, it’s up to you whether you should wear a veil or not. Don’t let me tell you otherwise. I’m just here to give you an insight from a wedding photographer’s perspective. We’d be more than happy to photograph your wedding regardless of what veil you choose. It’s not a deal breaker. I mean it is your wedding day. You should do what pleases you!