It's Halloween. Fall in beautiful still-sunny Central Oregon.  As a youngster in this part of the world trick-or-treating was always a delight, where weather was never an issue to be reckoned with.  I don't remember having to run through neighborhoods in the rain.  There were cold nights of course, but nothing that couldn't be overcome with warm long johns under my witch's skirt.

The past few weeks I've been keeping a keen eye on the weather forecast.  I won't be out in the elements on Halloween, but my thoughts are on an outdoor wedding Studio Jay will be photographing the first week of November.  Rarely will we encounter rain, but I'm concerned with the comfort of the bride as we spend an hour or two outside with the pre-wedding shoot.  The wedding couple have their hearts set on images on the golf course, in the aspen trees, and in the pines.  The bride's wedding dress is elegant but gauzy and sleeveless.  What a challenge it is to produce beautiful images of a bride who's shivering with chattering teeth and goose bumps.  A miserable bride on an otherwise amazingly wonderful, memorable day.

I recently clicked on an internet post of "modest wedding dresses" with images of classy beautiful gowns with sleeves and higher necklines.  As I viewed the modest wedding dress slideshow, my thoughts drifted to "warm bride on a chilly day".  Some of these modest dresses make much more sense for the bride who's planning a fall, winter, early spring or cool summer evening wedding.  

Irregardless of weather conditions, from a photographer's point of view modest wedding dresses are a welcome site.  The majority of wedding dresses are sleeveless.  Unfortunately bare arms often appear heavier in photos than they really are and can be a challenge for the professional photographer whose personal goal is to make every bride look stunning.  Even short or cap sleeves make a huge difference in images.  Wedding gowns that are both sleeveless and strapless are generally quite snug and consequently will often create skin rolls at the back and underarms that are not attractive and must also be dealt with at editing time.   

Shopping for a wedding dress?  Sincerely consider a classic, vintage look.  Think beauty, think comfort.  Select a gown that you will feel elegant in outdoors, indoors, and dancing the night away.  

Marlise Jay

Studio Jay Photography