7 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A PRE WEDDING / ENGAGEMENT SHOOT
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve photographed many couples for the first time on their wedding day and the results are always great. However I do think that pre wedding shoots (or engagement shoots as they are sometimes called) are often dismissed for the wrong reasons.
“It’s not very us”
“A waste of wedding budget”
“It’s a bit indulgent”
‘We’d rather spend the money on booze”
Sound familiar? Although it’s certainly not essential to book a pre wedding shoot, over time I’ve come to realise these sessions are invaluable for a number of practical reasons. Reasons you’ve likely not considered.
OK hear me out…..
1 - TO BANISH YOUR FEAR OF BEING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA
At every meeting I have with new clients I’m told exactly the same thing. “I’m not very photogenic” or “I’m so awkward in front of the camera”. First off, this is all nonsense. Believe me, these same clients are the couples you see on my website and they all look pretty photogenic don’t they?
It’s likely you’ve never hired a photographer before and the thought of it may give you palpitations but trust me - the whole purpose of my job is to make people feel comfortable in front of the camera and to make you look your best. Sure, it can be a little awkward at first, but awkward laughs are great for photos anyway so it’s all good. Trust me, having this practice run before your wedding is only going to help you feel more confident on the day.
Here’s an email I recently received after delivering a set of pre wedding photos to a couple who didn’t feel “photogenic” and always felt “awkward” in front of a camera.
Hi Lee,
Sorry I know it’s late but I couldn’t not tell you immediately how much we love your photographs. They are absolutely beautiful and have captured us, the architecture and the light so so perfectly.
I’ve personally never felt prettier in photos and for me, being a bit self conscious, means the world.
Thank you so much.
Laura
2 - IT’S A PRACTICE RUN FOR THE WEDDING
Your pre wedding shoot is effectively a longer, more relaxed version of your wedding day portrait session. It will give you a real sense of what it’s like to be in front of the camera with zero time pressure.
We’ll shoot against different backdrops and try out various poses so you can get an idea of what what you like and feel comfortable with. If logistics allow we can even shoot in or around your wedding venue. Meaning we’ll know exactly what we’re doing on the day.
3 - IT’LL MAKE YOUR WEDDING DAY LESS STRESSFUL
I hate to think of anyone who’s camera shy stressing about their wedding portrait session. Clients who opt for a pre wedding shoot say they had no reason to worry and that they’re now actually looking forward to shooting the portraits on their wedding day.
I love hearing this because I genuinely feel the portrait session is such a unique part of a wedding. More often that not it’s the only chance you guys get to have some time alone, take a breather and absorb everything that’s happening around you. I want this time to be relaxing, enjoyable and a memorable part of your wedding.
With all this prep work in the bag your wedding portrait session will be a breeze. We’ve done all the hard work and you know what to expect so we’re already 10 steps ahead. We can even save some time by recreating shots you liked from your practice run.
4 - WE CAN RELAX AND BE MORE CREATIVE THAN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
We don’t have to rush back to your guests, stress about speeches or worry if Uncle Bob’s had one too many glasses of bubbly. We have all the time in the world so we can relax, experiment and more importantly go with the flow. It’s also a great opportunity to challenge myself creatively in a way that’s much harder at a wedding
Let’s be creative with your shoot location too. How about shooting somewhere completely different to your wedding venue to mix things up? Or maybe head to a part of town you once lived, met or went on dates? You could even jump on a train down to my neck of the woods to shoot on the hills of the South Downs or along the beach? The opportunities are endless.
5 - WE CAN RELAX AND BE MORE CREATIVE THAN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
When did you last have a decent photo taken of you both together? I bet it’s been years right? I hear it all the time. Being engaged is an exciting time in your relationship and life may look pretty different a few years down the track. Why not take this opportunity to document this part of your lives as a couple? After all, your wedding day is only a part of your story together.
6 - WE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER MUCH BETTER
This is a REALLY important one.
Nobody tells you this but the person you see and spend most time with on your wedding day is your photographer. I’ll most likely be there from start to finish. You’ll see me before you even set eyes on each other and I’ll be standing there right next to you both as you’re saying your vows. We’re pretty much getting married.
So far how much do we know about each other? The chances are you found me when researching online, we’ve probably chatted on Zoom, you may have even stalked me on instagram (good luck finding any photos of me btw). However nothing quite beats spending some time together in person does it?
When I arrive at a wedding after a pre wedding shoot we already feel like friends. We’ve shared some stories, laughs, we’ve chatted about your plans and you’ve already received a set of photographs you love. You trust me. A pre wedding session not only gives us the perfect opportunity to hang out, chat and get to know each other on a more personal level but it also allows me to get a feel of what you’re comfortable with in front of the camera. This will in turn help make the day run that little bit smoother.
7 - YOU CAN USE YOUR PHOTOS FOR YOUR WEDDING
Having a bank of recent photos of the two of you looking your best might come in handy for the wedding. I’ve known couples use these for their wedding websites, invites and guestbooks. You may just want to include them in your own photo album or gift them to your family.
I hope that if you’ve been in two minds about going ahead with a pre wedding shoot this blog post may have helped you decide.
For further engagement shoot inspiration click HERE.
Drop me a line using the contact form below and let’s look at dates.
Lee