Trash the Dress

After viewing this free lesson, be sure to check out her showcase page, as well as her Web Photo School lesson on boudoir photography.

Cherie is part of the Photoflex Pro Showcase. Click here to view her portfolio.

Cherie’s professional websites: www.cheriefoto.com
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Cheriefoto Blog

This lesson is structured as a Question and Answer Interview between Photoflex Lighting School editor Kate Fleischmann and Guest Contributor Cherie Steinberg Cote.

Kate: One of the photography offerings of Cheriefoto is the “Trash the Dress” shoot. When and why did you start this product offering and what has it done for your business?

Cherie: We started offering these packages because the shoots are so much fun! It’s a great add-on. It really helps us bond with the client and become friends. We’re able to add a different set of shots capturing the event. We shoot after the wedding day. So the bride and groom aren’t working at a hustle pace. They’re relaxed. The “big day” already happened. It’s just about them and we get to explore and go to interesting locations in addition to wherever the ceremony and reception took place. It’s all about fun!

Also, many brides get all dolled up on their wedding day. A Trash the Dress day gives a bride the opportunity to have a slightly different look. Maybe her hair is down or more natural. Maybe no jewelry—or maybe more! It just gives the bride freedom to have a totally different set of shots. A more casual look.

K: What are some interesting/wild shoots you’ve done for Trash the Dress?

C: We recently shot at the Observatory in L.A. that was really fun and we just did one at the refinery in Long Beach. Very cool location: mixing a gritty oil refinery location with a prim and proper wedding look. I love mixing themes! It keeps the images real and that way they don’t mimic every other shoot done before.

A word to the wise: Don’t forget to get a shooting permit! You don’t want to be on your hands and knees pleading with management to let you finish a shoot. [Not that I’ve ever been in that situation before!]

K: How do you pick your location for Trash the Dress compared to a typical bridal shoot?

C: I look for the most interesting places I can go, no matter what it is. Sometimes the bride has an idea in mind. Other times, we brainstorm a new location. It’s great taking a fancy bride on the subway or into a dark alley. But sometimes we’re in a nice field too. It all depends. I simply recommend experimenting, having fun, and being confident that it’ll be a great shoot.

I love shooting in the Los Angeles area--you can always find a new location! Can you believe this is the wall in an alley? [figure 1]

K: Do you direct these shoots or does the bride typically have an idea of what she wants to do?

C: I am open for ideas. This is a collaborative thing. I am open to all ideas, but usually I come up with the stuff!


K: Do you ever get them to truly “trash” their dresses?

C: Not yet. I am really not into that, actually!

K: Why did you add the LiteDome xs Kit?

C: The LiteDome xs is great for adding light right where we need it. And when we’re on location, it really helps to have a small setup. We can set it up in a minute and easily carry it around if we’re walking to a different spot at the location. [figure 2]


K: What benefit does this light setup provide?

C: Obviously, on location you don’t always have a power outlet, so pairing this with my Nikon Speedlight is the perfect easy-breezy setup. Having these really helps so that whether I’m dealing with a cloudy day, or happen to be in a little shadow, I can position the kit to cast the perfect amount of light to add to the scene.

C: Here is a selection of results from the shoot. The bride and I were really happy with the dramatic results. We were able to capture the great beauty of her dress! And really, that's what it's all about, right? [figures 3 - 5]