Pre-wedding photos are nothing new, but in recent years, this idea of taking some pre wedding pictures has really grown in popularity, and in my opinion, it’s a really good idea!
There are lots of reasons why I think indulging in pre wedding photography is a good idea, but if I wrote them all down, you’d be reading forever, so here are just some of the main ones.
Reasons why pre-wedding photos are a good idea.
1. You can use the photos taking during your pre-wedding photography session to create save the date stationary, photo walls, guest books and other decorations for the main event itself: your wedding day!
2. Sometimes your perfect wedding venue won’t be pet appropriate but for your pre wedding photoshoot, you can make sure any four-legged friends are allowed to attend – and we’re not just talking about dogs here, it could be cats, rabbits, lizards, horses, ducks, chickens, you name it, it’s all possible in a pre-wedding photography session.
3. You can choose a location that really means something to you both as a couple (that doesn’t need to accommodate 50 – 200 guests!). This gives you a chance to capture some photos of you guys as a couple in a different style and space to the photos you’ll get from your wedding day.
4. If you believe, like I do, that life’s like a documentary, then these moments are well worth capturing and it’ll create even more fun and meaningful memories you can look back on in years to come. After all, how many chances do you have in life to take professional photos?
5. And last, but by no means least, it’s very good practice for having your actual wedding photos taken on the big day. It gives you a golden opportunity to work with a professional photographer, or better still your actual wedding photographer, to work out what kind of photos work for you. You can practice different poses and different photo styles to learn what you like and what you don’t. You can get to know your wedding photographer a little better, remove some barriers and get to know each other so there’s a little more familiarity with each other on the big day, and remove any early nerves you might have and if nothing else, it’s a chance to have some fun!
So now you’re fully invested in the benefits of having a pre wedding photoshoot, let’s have a little look at what you should do to prepare for your pre wedding shoot, so you can really make the most of this opportunity.
My top three tips to help prepare for a pre wedding photoshoot.
1. Pick the perfect location that’s right for you. The world really is your oyster here, but what often works best is choosing a place that’s meaningful to you both as a couple, like where you first met, a favourite shared place, your own home or maybe even where the proposal happened – it’s whatever works best for you as a couple and failing all of that, just picking a place you both like is a great idea too.
2. Pick the time of day that works for you too. Some people (like me) love a sunset shoot and making the most of the golden hour but for others is the first light of morning that they love most. It also plays a big role in the look and feel of your final photos too, so it’s definitely worth giving this some consideration. If you’re not sure, your photographer of choice might be able to help you choose too and you can always look at their pre wedding photoshoot portfolio to see what you like best.
3. Plan your outfits. Now I’m not saying you need to spend hours and hours carefully curating a catwalk worthy look, but what I am saying is think about it just a little bit. Ideally you want to wear outfits with complementary colours, you don’t want to clash when you’re standing together (but that doesn’t mean you have to wear matching outfits unless you want to). Thinking about how formally you want to dress is a good idea too and where you choose to have your pre wedding shoot may be a factor here. If you’re heading out into the countryside then weather appropriate clothes are worth it, you don’t want to be stood shivering in your photos and equally, wearing comfy clothes you can climb and jump around in can help create some really fun photos. Bonus tip: think about opportunities for a well-timed outfit change too! Who said there’s only one outfit allowed?
So there you have it, my take on why pre wedding photography is well worth it and how to prepare for yours once you’ve booked it.
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