5 Reasons you should book in for a Pre-Wedding Photoshoot.
Are you in the process of planning your wedding, booking your suppliers and now on top of that wondering to yourself, “should I book in for a Pre-Wedding Photoshoot?”
In short, my personal answer as a wedding photographer to that question is always YES!
But I’m obviously a little bias, so let’s delve a little deeper into why it is a great idea for you to book in a pre-wedding photoshoot with your wedding photographer.
1. Perfect Practice for Being in Front of the Camera
Let’s face it, unless you’re a model or an influencer, you’re probably not used to spending much time in front of a camera. A pre-wedding photoshoot is the perfect opportunity to get comfortable with the experience.
And yes, it is totally normal to feel a little scared, anxious and nervous about having your photo taken by someone you may not know that well.
BUT I promise you, it isn’t as scary as you think it is. In fact, I often find that my couples find it an enjoyable experience in the end.
During the pre-wedding photoshoot, your photographer should aim to create a safe and comfortable environment for you while guiding you through the session with prompts or poses.
Plus, if there are any poses/movements such as dips or lifts that you wish to try out ahead of your wedding, it’s a fantastic time to discuss this with your photographer and give it a go!
This "practice run" can be invaluable for your big day, helping you feel at ease when it’s time for the real deal. Particularly if in the end you only have a small amount of time in your wedding timeline for couple portraits. So, ultimately if everyone knows the drill, on the big day it tends to go a lot smoother and you can get back to the party sooner.
2. Get to Know Your Photographer Better
If you’ve already booked your wedding photographer you should have spoken to them during the booking process and done a vibe check to make sure you gel.
This is a super important stage when booking your wedding photographer as they are going to be your new honorary best friend for the wedding day and with you for a lot of it.
A pre-wedding photoshoot gives you the chance to connect with them even more in a low pressure or stress environment. And hopefully you can spend the session laughing while getting to know each other better!
3. Extra Opportunity for Lovely Portraits of You and Your Loved One
A pre-wedding shoot isn’t just about practicing or getting to know your photographer, it’s also the perfect opportunity to get some super lovely portraits of you and your partner before the big day.
And again yes, of course I’m super pro this… you can never have too many gorgeous photos to cherish with your partner!
Plus as an extra bonus you can even use these photos for save-the-dates, wedding websites, or displays at your reception. How fun is that!?
4. A Chance to Visit a Special or Sentimental Location
Another fun thing about booking a pre-wedding shoot is that it allows you to choose a location that’s meaningful to you as a couple or even visit somewhere new that you always wanted to visit.
Personally, I love outdoor locations for pre-wedding photoshoots because you have the freedom of space to move in which helps getting you comfortable in-front of the camera. Plus, it’s easier to avoid people if you’re worried about people passing by and watching. And most of us portrait & wedding photographers have a range of recommended locations for shoots if you don’t have anywhere in mind you’d like to go for the photoshoot.
I do also love visiting sentimental indoor locations where you went/go on dates together such as a coffee shop or art galleries etc. But be mindful that indoor locations will require you to get permission to use the space ahead of the photoshoot and there tends to be more people around.
5. Creating Memories in a Less-Stressful Environment
Weddings are magical but can also be hectic, most of the time your timeline will fill up pretty quickly and be more compact than you’re expecting.
Sometimes this might mean you only have 20 minutes for couple portraits which goes much faster than you think. Though I do recommend allowing for 45 minutes for your wedding couple portraits if your timeline can accommodate this so you don’t feel like you are rushing around.
However, usually a pre-wedding session is longer than you have on a wedding day for couple portraits, so it’s a nice chance to slow things down and ask any questions you may have regarding the wedding or being in-front of the camera.
Plus, it’s really nice to think of a pre-wedding photoshoot as a date, make some memories and have some fun with it! It doesn’t all have to be focused on ideas for what prompts/poses might be utilised on the wedding day.
To sum up…
A pre-wedding photoshoot is more than just a chance to get really lovely pictures of you as a couple. It’s about building confidence, strengthening your connection with your photographer, and creating cherished memories before the whirlwind of your big day.
So, if you’re on the fence, my advice is of course to just go for it!
You’ll have a new fun experience with your partner and feel even more prepared for your wedding which can only be a positive.
Let’s create something magical together!
For my current wedding couples, simply send me an email to get the ball rolling.
If you haven’t booked me for your wedding, why not check out my packages & pricing.
