A hen party or bachelorette weekend goes by very fast. Brunch, the beach, dinner, dancing, and suddenly everyone is at the airport again. Most photos from those days are blurry phone pictures, and the bride is missing from half of them.
One or two hours with a photographer, and the group has real photos of the bride with her friends. Here is one of my favourite sessions, at Grand Hotel Centenari in the centre of Valencia.
Black pyjamas, red roses and a veil
The session started in the hotel room. Grand Hotel Centenari is a 1925 Art Deco building on Plaza del Ayuntamiento, with warm wood, soft light and geometric lines. A perfect background for a party that still looks stylish.
The friends came in matching black pyjamas, the bride in white, with a veil and a big bouquet of red roses. Then the rose petals came out. The girls threw them over the bride, over the bed, over each other. I did not need to direct much, my job was to catch the moments: petals in the air, the bride laughing with her eyes closed, a friend fixing her veil.
Three looks for the bride
White pyjamas with her friends in black
The hotel room, the veil and the red roses. The most playful part, full of energy.
Red pyjamas and a gift from the groom
A quieter, more personal part. These are the photos she will want to show him later.
A white dress on the rooftop with friends
Her friends in black dresses, the city below. The most elegant part of the session.
If you plan several outfits, tell me in advance. I build the timing around the changes, so nobody waits and we do not lose the best light.
On the rooftop above Plaza del Ayuntamiento
The hotel rooftop on the seventh floor looks over the square and the roofs of the old town. After the cosy room, a completely different mood: open sky, the bride in white, her friends in black around her.
We did a group portrait, a toast, the bride walking towards the camera with the girls behind her, and a few quiet photos of her alone, almost like a portrait of the bride session inside the party.
Planning your session
I am the photographer, not the organiser. You plan the weekend, and before the session we talk in messages about your plan: where you stay, how many outfits, when you go to dinner. Then I suggest the timing.
My favourite time is the first afternoon or early evening, when everyone has arrived and the energy is high. In summer, the last two hours before sunset. Just avoid the morning after the big night.
For outfits, one simple rule works best: the bride in white, the friends in one colour. Black is easy for everyone and always looks elegant.
Planning a hen party in Valencia? Write to me on WhatsApp with your dates and the size of your group.
Explore More Photoshoots in Valencia
Planning something beyond the hen weekend? I also photograph birthdays and private parties, create video portraits and offer women's portrait sessions in Valencia all year round.
FAQ: Hen party photoshoot questions
How long is the session and how many friends can join?
One to two hours, and as many friends as you like. You receive an online gallery 2 to 4 days after the session.
Can you photograph our dinner or party too?
Yes, I can stay for part of the evening. We plan it separately, as event photography.
How much does it cost?
Every hen party is different, so the price is on request. Tell me your plan and I will prepare a proposal for your group.
What if it rains?
Rain is rare in Valencia, but I always plan part of the session indoors, so we simply spend more time inside.