Wedding photography tips :: The importance of hotels

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01 March 2010

I was meeting with one of my out-of-town clients on Friday, when she and her mother asked me for hotel recommendations. I had been meaning to write a post about great hotels and the impact they can have on your photography, and our conversation was certainly a great impetus to revisit this.

The photography is one of the most important parts of the day to my couples, and many of them also love the “getting ready” photos as much as I do. This is always one of my favourite times to shoot during the day—there is a wonderful sense of anticipation, things are still a little calm, and it is generally a wonderful opportunity to take beautiful images of the bride and her details. That said, the room where she is getting ready can really make or break these images!

I always recommend that brides consider getting ready in a room that has, primarily, great windows! Natural lighting will really make you look beautiful and also provides great options for creative detail shots without the use of flash. Another reason to maybe think about your getting ready hotel is because a wonderful lobby or restaurant can also serve as a nice location backup should it be a rainy day (as can happen in Chicago).

Here are some of my favourite hotels and suites in Chicago for getting ready. All pictures via their site unless mentioned:

The Trump (401 n wabash // 312-558-8000)

The new trump tower has beautiful rooms with great modern textures and colours, wonderful lighting, and a beautiful terrace overlooking the river.

The Elyisan (11 e walton // 312-646-1300)

This is a brand new hotel and it is just so stunning. Inspired by the designs of Coco Chanel, the rooms all have a lovely, feminine, European flair to them, and the lobby and grounds are absolutely breathtaking. The spaces here would be a stunning backdrop for romantic and modern photographs, rain or not!

Hotel Monaco (225 n wabash // 312-960-8500)

While many of the rooms here are a little overstylized for my tastes (simple is often better!), the “Tranquility Suite” here is just gorgeous and one of my favourites in Chicago. The corner suite is bathed in shades of white, ivory and champagne with window seats a plenty, and is the perfect location for a bride and her girls to get ready (so much prettier than the photo below)!

Four Seasons (160 e pearson, 312-280-8800)

If you want beautiful views, it is hard to beat the bridal suite at the Four Seasons.  Julie got ready here in June and the pictures were wonderful!

Hotel Sax (333 n dearborn // 312-245-0333)

The Hotel Sax is an old favourite of mine in Chicago. The suites in particular have wonderful light, and all have visually interesting rooms with lots of texture, and a sexy baroque feel (no pictures available unfortunately!). It is also home to the sexy Crimson Lounge and right outside Marina City, both great settings for romantic and urban images.

With that said, you certainly don’t have to get ready in a luxe hotel. I’ve seen girls get ready from everywhere from a small room in a church to the basement in a wine bar, and whatever you choose, the anticipation and the emotion are always the most important facets. But if you do opt to get a hotel room and will already be spending the money, as so many brides or couples do, consider looking into an option like those above, as a beautifully styled room with ample lighting will generally lead to better photos than  a dark corporatey room!

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