What are the benefits and advantages of having a shoot before your wedding? – Sometimes called an engagement shoot or even a practice shoot!
What is a Pre-Wedding Shoot Anyway?
Different photographers refer to them by other names, but in general, they all describe a photo session with the couple outside of their wedding day. This is usually done before the wedding, sometimes even as the couple is engaged, and they use the images to announce the good news. However, it can also be done after the wedding, and we will touch on a post-wedding shoot at the end.
Because it is fun, honest.
I know. It doesn’t sound like it would be to most people. Going out for no actual reason to have someone you barely know point a camera at your face?
I promise that it is, it is. Even when couples (or one of a couple) are exceptionally nervous or dislike having their picture taken, we always end up laughing and joking our way through the shoot. The initial awkwardness is soon overtaken by the enjoyable moments that we create. On occasion, we genuinely have to pause shooting while we all fall about in laughing fits.
“I cannot believe how much we enjoyed this session with you Esmé! We were dreading it a little in all honesty and both felt so nervous! But we had so much fun with you, both our bellies hurt from all the laughing and we cannot wait to see the pictures!!!” – Ellie and Graham
To help alleviate worries
This isn’t too different from the above point, but is worth mentioning as some people are very afraid of having their picture taken. They really, really do not enjoy it and the thought of having a photographer with you all day on your wedding may see a little overwhelming and cause some anxiety. The pre-wedding shoot is my chance to show you that you have nothing to worry about, it’s my chance to show you what my camera and I can actually do! So much of my job is actually observing my clients and couples, I watch them to see the best angles and their most ‘them’ features, its always these things that I am looking for and by doing a pre-wedding shoot, I can get a lot of practice before the big day.
Please let me know if photographs make you feel any anxiety, we can work together to help to alleviate any worries that you may have, utter bonus if anyone starts to feel better about themselves throughout the process!
“Ah, we’ve just looked through and love them! I cannot believe how nervous I was before this session, I didn’t tell you but I felt really sick on the drive over. Then we enjoyed it, but I was still dreading seeing them. I think we actually like every single one!” – Jemma and Sarah
We all get to know each other a little
I can be formal when it is required of me, but it’s not my nature. I love getting to know my couples better on these no-pressure photo sessions! We are usually somewhere fabulous, with all of the time that we need and it gives so much freedom to these sessions. We often time the shoot with the pre-wedding meeting for the convenience of my couples, which is when we go through the timing and details of a wedding thoroughly together. I don’t think a pre-wedding shoot is essential, but possibly for this reason above any other, I do, personally think I get slightly better images on the wedding day if we have done a pre-wedding shoot beforehand.
“We had a lovely time! It was so lovely to get to know you before the big day!” – Lisa and Anthony
You can involve the family.
Well, perhaps not extended, but when the couple has children, I am always happy for them to come along to the pre-wedding shoot. Just like with the couple, it gives the children a chance to get to know me better (and vice versa), allowing them to relax and feel comfortable having their picture taken. This massively increases the chances that the kids will be up for photos on the wedding day. I have my kids at home, and with all the portrait work we do, I’m pretty good at getting little ones on side!
If nothing else, a fantastic way to get some fresh family portraits at a great value!
Your four-legged friends
I love the gently worded emails I sometimes receive before a pre-wedding shoot, such as, “Umm, would it be ok if we can bring our dog with us, pretty please?” I love it because it’s such an easy email to answer: yes! I welcome any opportunity to meet your four-legged friends; I love including them in these photo sessions, as they are an integral part of the family. Sometimes, couples have their dogs in attendance on the actual wedding day. However, if your venue doesn’t allow this, having them in these photos can be a great way to include them instead. Of course, if you can include your four-legged friend on your wedding day, check out this great info by the Dogs Trust on having dogs at your wedding.
Somewhere/Something Special?
Generally speaking, my packages often include a pre-wedding shoot due to the numerous benefits it offers. These are local shoots, and I have many stunning local locations that we can head to at almost any time of the year. I explore my area with my dog on expeditions to find secretive and lovely spots to capture the best images, including bluebells, wildflowers, and autumnal scenes. There is almost always something gorgeous to find in nature.
But you might want to do something special with your shoot? I have been asked before to do pre-wedding shoots at the location where the proposal and engagement took place, or at the spot where the couple met at the beginning of their journey. If you have an area with personal ties that you would like to include, please don’t hesitate to contact me here to discuss. If it’s something unique that I haven’t done before, then I may only ask for my travel expenses to be covered. So, please feel free to ask – London, the Peak District, Paris, or Amsterdam for the day? Why not!
It helps with planning if required.
I am familiar with many venues locally and nationally, having spent 15 years in the industry; however, I have also visited many others that I have never been to. This is not something that worries me; in fact, I thoroughly enjoy visiting new venues. Finding new light, places, and perspectives for shots is terrific and always inspiring. I usually research this online before the day and speak with the wedding coordinator; however, on occasion, my couples would like me to visit their venue with them, and I do offer this service.
This allows us to explore the venue together and discuss the flow of the day, as well as allowing me to see what your favourite features of the venue are. Whilst we gather the information, we can also stop here and there to get your pictures done. It can be beneficial, especially if you have particular concerns, however it is not something that I would say is essential.
“One of my big worries with our wedding photos was that (selfishly!) I wouldn’t photograph well – having a pre-wedding shoot put my mind completely at ease! We had an enjoyable and relaxed time, and some beautiful photos to show for it! It also confirmed to us that Esmé was the lady for the job!” – Lindsey and Nicholas
Using the pictures at the wedding
A natural side effect of having a preceding shoot done together is that you would then have a lot of lovely pictures of yourselves. You will soon have your wedding pictures to enjoy, but what will you do with all of these? Some of my couples have thought up excellent solutions for this, and I have made a little list of some of my favourite uses:
Using them to announce your engagement can be very cute
Using pictures tastefully on invites can look really lovely and very personal
Pictures from the pre-wedding shoot as canvases or posters, and used to decorate the venue
You could use them to accompany the table numbers on each table
One couple used them as the design for cards for a special ‘wedding guest’ quiz that they had created
You can have a personal signing book made for you from your images, which are tasteful and meaningful (but you may need to expect a couple of moustaches to appear).
“We had a pre wedding shoot with Esmé and it was so beneficial. It gives you a chance to get to know the photographer and for them to understand the types of pictures/poses you like and are comfortable with. It saves time on the day as everyone understands what they need to do. It really helped us feel more relaxed on the wedding day too as you know what to expect, especially if like us you are new or unfamiliar with having your picture taken!” – Amy and Will
