There's an increasing trend in wedding photography both in and outside of Utah to include the groom in the traditional pre-wedding bridal shoot. It appears that the old superstition of it being bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding is fading. As a photographer, I love this! It's a great opportunity to get photos of the bride and groom in a comfortable setting, at a time of the day with good natural light, and in different and fun locations. The couple isn't stressed about making it to the luncheon / dinner / reception, there isn't a huge and distracting crowd of people behind me with cameras of their own, and we can often bring along lighting equipment and other setups that aren't as practical on the wedding day.
The problem is, what should I call the photos??? The bridal photos are almost universally known simply as "Bridals". However, when you throw a groom in the mix, it's really not just a "Bridal" shoot anymore. Several photographers I know and other photogs I see around the internet have taken to use the word "Groomals". Other photographers label the pictures as a "Bride and Groom" shoot. I, along with a few others, usually label them "Formals".
What should it be? What sounds the best, and what describes the pictures most clearly? As a wedding photographer I want to be able to label photos in a way that is easily understood. When you see the word "Formals", does it convey what the shoot is about, or does it conjure up images of stilted prom photos in front of an ugly backdrop? "Groomals" seems to be the most common, but it just sounds weird to me. "Bride and Groom" could work as a category, but it doesn't really seem specific enough.
Let your opinion be known! Rock out on the poll and elaborate on your vote in the comments. I'd love to hear what seems the most natural and intuitive label.
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