H2ClickPix Photography

You’re gonna do what? Trash the Dress? Seriously?

That was pretty much my reaction when Laura and my daughter-in-law to be told me about their plans for the “after the wedding” photo session back in September. Seems the bridals before the wedding, and all the beautiful work done by Ginny Corbett AT the wedding would not complete the photo experience. There had to be a “Trash the Dress” session.

Of course, I still had no idea what they were talking about. “Trash the Dress” just didn’t sound like a good idea, at least not from my perspective. So I kept pestering everyone until they told me more. I even did a little internet research to get the full picture (no pun intended!).

This trend was started, according to most sources, back in 2001 by a photographer in Las Vegas by the name of Michael Cooper. Mr. Cooper reportedly was getting bored with the usual wedding photography, and convinced a bride and groom to do the TTD session.

The art of TTD really stems from the contrasts of the elegant clothing with an environment in which it is totally out of place. It is generally shot in the style of fashion and glamour photography.

While it usually is NOT the case, a bride, may effectively ruin the dress during the session by getting it wet, dirty or in extreme circumstances tearing or destroying the garment. The session may be done as an additional shoot after the wedding, almost as a declaration that the wedding is done and the dress will not be used again. It is seen as an alternative to storing the dress away, never to be seen again. It is almost always relaxed, going for the fun element, and full of spontaneous images.

All this said, I didn’t really appreciate the TTD session until I was looking at the photos Laura had taken of Tyler and Kelsey. It was obvious Kelsey had done some planning prior to the session. There were photos on the baseball field where Tyler had played so many games. The rolling on the sand took place at the river where he had spent so many hours swimming when he was a boy. And of course, the now infamous jumping into the canal shots (yea, they really did!) done at the same canal where Tyler’s mother had taught him to swim. The young bride may have been the focus of the session, but she did a great job at bringing her husbands interests to the event.

The photos are fantastic, and that contrast of images is at times shocking. I have to admit that one of my favorites happened to be spontaneous, The Rough Road sign shots. Gotta love that!

In the end, they brushed the sand off the dress, spent a little time washing it off, and took it to the dry cleaner. The dress came out of the ordeal totally unharmed and is now stored away. I’m not really sure who had more fun – Laura - or Kelsey and Tyler.

And I am sold on the TTD idea. It even got me thinking… what if someone wanted to do a session like this, but there aren’t any wedding bells planned in the near future?

Maybe you in and evening gown…

standing by the fence…

at a junk yard!

Now that might be cool…

(click image below to view album)