How would you like to have an award-winning photographer shoot your bachelorette party—for free? Dina Litovsky’s bachelorette photography series has won international awards, including first place in the prestigious International Photography Awards (2011, Culture), for her exploration of this rite of female bonding and empowerment. Here’s how it works: Dina tags along on bachelorette parties in the New York and New Jersey area. (She’s open to other locations, but a travel fee may apply. Contact her for details.) The bride chooses which activities and events she wants photographed, be it just a couple of hours or every moment of the destination weekend. After all the festivities, the bride receives about 100 photos of the event, including group shots and details, and Dina uses one or two in her photography series. For further details, email Dina at dina@stregoica.com. Knowing that Dina has attended a lot of bachelorette parties, Ultimate Bridesmaid just had to ask for her take on what the bachelorette stands for—and how she got interested in photographing them in the first place!
UB: So, how did you first decide to start shooting bachelorette parties?
Dina: Even though I lived in NYC for more than 20 years, I never fully “Americanized” [Ed note: Dina’s originally from the Ukraine.] and I didn’t have a bachelorette party when I got married. I attended my first one shortly after and was really fascinated by it. Mixed with all the drinking and partying there were so many tender, emotional moments. That really drew me in.
UB: There’s this idea that the bachelorette party is a kind of “girls gone wild” event, often involving strippers and all kinds of craziness. Have you found that to be true in the parties you shoot? Or are we moving toward different kinds of bachelorette parties?
Dina: I have shot several parties with strippers, but I have also shot events with spa retreats and tea parties. I do see the bachelorette party’s main idea to push some boundaries. These boundaries are very different for everyone, for some girls getting a stripper is a natural thing to do while others would find it really unpleasant and getting a penis-shaped cake is as wild as they are willing to go. It’s really an individual decision.
UB: In your opinion, what’s behind the bachelorette party tradition or what should it be about?
Dina: It’s not a well-known fact but the bachelorette party actually has roots in the feminist culture of the 1970s. It is really the first culturally accepted ritual that celebrates a woman’s freedom and sexuality. Before this, women only had the bridal shower where they were given recipes, kitchenware and were advised on how to be a good wife. Men, on the other hand had the fun and wild bachelor party. Creating the bachelorette party evened out the playing field.
UB: All the personal photographs I have from bachelorette parties are notoriously terrible. It’s usually too dark to get a good picture or we’re in places that are way too crowded. Any tips for capturing great photos at night?
Dina: Flash is definitely a must when shooting an event like this. However I think most bachelorette parties are blurry or dark because everyone at the party is drinking! I can never take a good picture while drunk, that’s why I am the only one staying sober and shooting all the action.
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View more images from Dina’s award-winning bachelorette series here and contact her to set up your own free bachelorette party shoot at dina@stregoica.com.