If you’re in the wedding industry you would have probably heard the phrase Trash The Dress. This new craze, which started in the US, is quickly catching in the UK and it is bound to make an impact on today’s wedding photography!
What is Trash The Dress?
Trash The Dress is a post wedding photo shoot with the aim of creating stunning, unusual and creative photos. The official blog at www.trashthedress.com describes it like this:
Trash it. Get it dirty. Get it wet. Roll around in the mud. Drench it in the ocean. Totally trash it.
Why? … Why not? You’ve made a commitment to your husband. He’s your one and only true love, right? Then you’ll never need the dress again. And no, your daughter won’t wear it in 20-30 years.
The best way to know what Trash The Dress is all about? See some photographs. Below are some of my favourites taken from the Trash The Dress Europe website. (click on each image to see full size)
Are you a UK Trash The Dress Photographer?
If you offer Trash The Dress photography and are based in the UK, leave a comment at the bottom of this post or even get in touch. Send me some pics and I’ll post them on this blog. It would be great to see some cool Trash The Dress photographs from Britain and show the US that we can do it too!


20 comments ↓
I love the Trash The Dress concept and I’m really truly hoping that this will be the year I’ll be able to do some, none of my clients have been brave enough yet but I’m holding out hope for this wedding season!
Hi Mandy,
Good luck, I hope there are some brave Brides in the North East willing to take you on!
Maybe if you showed your clients some of the amazing examples out on the web, they may be persuaded? Just a thought.
Christian
Hi Christian,
I’ve just noticed one of my Trash the Dress image on the blog and I just wanted to let you know that you just made my day!
If any of you brides and groom are up for some fun don’t hesitate to contact me to book your TTD session!
Best wishes to you all.
Pascale
Only just noticed this post, Christian! The most creative Trash the Dress Image I have ever seen was published during a seminar I attended so I don’t hve a copy to show you. It was of the bride with her arms outstretched and her dress hal on fire! Yes with real orange flames climbing into the air to the side and above her! The photographer created this image out of two shots: the first was with the bride wearing the dress - but the second one with the flames, was with the dress on a plastic dummy…. Just amazing! There were also some fascinating shots of another bride floating in the water of a river or lake, looking like a Dante Gabriel Rossetti painting, with her hair floating around her, as if dead….
Ooops = the typo that says “hal” should read “half”… sorry!
Wow, that image sounds exciting! That really is taking trash the dress to the extreme!
Elaine - that image was the very famous image created by John Michael Cooper of Alt-F - the man who can have single handedly claim to have created ‘Trash the Dress’.
I think the trash-the-dress is a great concept and chance to take some creative photos of the newly weds without the stress of the day.
We offer trash-the-dress and look forward to more couples taking the plunge.
You can see a couple of my photos from one session at: http://www.patb-photography.co.uk/trash-the-dress/
Well, the first two pics you’ve posted are mine so it’s nice to know you like them. I since done another TTD style shoot in Brighton -
http://henryaarvoldphotography.blogspot.com/2008/10/trash-dress-shoot-amy-stuart.html
I different feel to the one above but still good fun.
Cheers
Henry
Great work Henry.
My particular favourite is this one:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ll56M2T7yV4/SP8G7bajE1I/AAAAAAAABpI/xeo0RFsEHjA/s1600-h/199.jpg
Some great work above, I’ve only had the opportunity to do one TTD shoot so far, some pics on the link below:
http://trashthedress.eu/2008/12/03/kjp-images-uk/
Hi Kris,
Thanks for your comment.
Love the photo in front of the Lifeguard tower.
Good work
Some fantastic images there. Started some TTD myself, but nowhere near as good as those!
Christian Thank you! I just noticed you have linked to one of my photos. If any readers fancy a session just get in touch. I love doing these as they are so much fun.
Margaret
Just started to get on the band wagon with the “Trash the Dress” concept. So much so that I got my wife to dig out her dress from the loft and off we went in search of some good locations to shoot my wife lol. http://www.markburton.biz/trash/
I think its a fantastic idea which does not have to stop at Wedding Dresses, what about Prom Dresses and Ball Gowns etc?
Hi Mark,
I agree, Ball Gowns and Prom Dresses would also work well.
Some great locations for your shoot by the way.
Hi guys I’m not a photographer but love the trash the dress concept and I am getting married in Dorset but instead of the boring old wedding shots want to book a trash the dress shoot! Are any of you in the local area?
Lucy
Hi Lucy,
You could try Greg Thurtle, I know he does trash the dress shoots:
http://www.thurtlepower.com
Any one else want to help Lucy out?
Hi Lucy,
I am based in Surrey but I cover most of south England if that is any help to you. I do an “All - In” package rather than packages with a set number of prints. Please take a look at my website and drop me an email if you are interested.
Mark
Thanks Christian - i’ve got something on my blog here:
http://www.thurtlepower.com/blog/trashthedresshampshiredorset
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