When I see a bride all prettied up with a veil or long dress, I think Cinderella. And I don't know why I think Cinderella because she didn't have maids. She was a maid, whose step sisters treated her like crap.

But Cinderella did have helpful fairy godmothers and birds who magically whipped together a stunning gown and made sure Cinderella was perfect, and I guess that's where my idea of people fussing over the bride comes from. Plus, it's something bridesmaids actually do.

Let That Veil FlyBridesmaids have fun with the bride's veil at Richfield Historical Park, captured by Milwaukee wedding photographer Joel Nisleit. joelnisleitphotography.com

So the backlighting is on purpose for a couple of reasons. One, it's easier than trying to light a group of people any other way. Direct sun causes dark, squinty eyes, and big lights take time to set up.

Second -- and this is the best one -- backlight emphasizes texture in translucent objects (like veils), plus it provides a dramatic pop against a dark background. That doesn't mean I always shoot a veil backlit. In fact, I try to incorporate the veil many different ways.

Fluffing That Dress OutBridesmaids have fun with the bride's veil at Richfield Historical Park, captured by Milwaukee wedding photographer Joel Nisleit. joelnisleitphotography.com Many photographers use backlight to get flare in their images, either out of ignorance or on purpose in an attempt at something artistic of fashionable, but most of the flare I see is just classically bad photography that people will regret 20 years from now, so I avoid it when possible.

Joel Nisleit Self PortraitSelf portrait of studio owner Joel Nisleit. Joel's skills enable him to capture portraits like this in any location, from home to a parking garage.

Joel Nisleit photographs people from all walks of life who would like their wedding photographed as a fairy tale instead of a documentary. Contact me today so I can serve the aesthetic and historical significance of your wedding.