A pre wedding photoshoot is not something every couple needs to book. Plenty of couples meet me on their wedding day and settle into being photographed very quickly. For others, having a session beforehand removes some of the uncertainty and makes the whole experience feel much more familiar.
You may both dislike being photographed, one of you may feel more nervous than the other, or you may simply want a set of photographs together somewhere that feels personal to you. Whatever the reason, the session gives us time to work out what feels comfortable without guests waiting or a wedding schedule moving around us.
These are ten of the reasons a pre wedding photoshoot can be worthwhile.
Many couples tell me that they feel awkward in photographs or worry that they will not know what to do. That is understandable. Most people are not used to having a camera pointed at them while they walk, talk or stand close together.
The first few minutes of a pre wedding session may feel a little unfamiliar. I do not expect you to arrive knowing how to pose or where to put your hands. I will give you enough gentle direction that you are not left wondering what to do next, while keeping things moving so that nothing feels formally posed.
We might begin by walking, talking and stopping in a few places where the light works well. Easy, simple and relaxed in style with the emphasis always being about you interacting with each other rather than looking at me.
A large part of feeling nervous about wedding portraits comes from not knowing what will be expected of you.
Relaxed and laid back does not mean I do not simply stand back and hope something happens, for a couple who feel nervous, that would only make matters worse. Instead, I may suggest where to stand, which direction to walk or how to make the most of the light. From there, I allow you enough space to interact with each other naturally, prompt you when required and quietly capture the result, often from a distance. This could be something as simple as standing together and admiring the view or resting your heads together in a peaceful moment of calm.
By the time your wedding arrives, you will already understand how I work and what my directions mean.
Your photographer is around for a large part of your wedding day, often from the preparations in the morning through to the celebrations in the evening. Feeling at ease with that person matters more than most people think.
A pre wedding shoot gives us more time to talk than we would usually have during a planning meeting. You can tell me about the parts of the wedding you are most looking forward to, anything you feel unsure about and what you normally like or dislike when you see photographs of yourselves.
It also helps me understand how you are together. Some couples are openly affectionate, while others are more comfortable laughing, chatting or quietly leaning into one another. I do not want every couple to look or behave in the same way.
Sometimes one person is more nervous than the other. Sometimes both people would happily avoid the camera altogether.
The purpose of a pre wedding session is not to turn you into people who love being photographed. You may still prefer being on the other side of the camera, and that is perfectly fine.
It simply gives you the chance to discover that the experience can be straightforward and far less uncomfortable than you expected. There are no guests watching, no important moments being delayed and no pressure to create every photograph within a short part of the wedding day.
We can take our time, adjust the way I guide you and work out what feels most natural for both of you.
On the wedding day, I usually photograph couple portraits in short sections rather than taking you away from your guests for a long photoshoot.
A pre wedding session helps because we already know how to work together. You will recognise the kind of direction I give, and I will know whether you respond better to movement, conversation, clear instructions or a little more space.
That familiarity allows us to work efficiently. You can enjoy a few quiet minutes together, create a varied set of photographs and then return to your guests without feeling that the photography has taken over the day.
Your pre wedding photographs do not need to be taken at your wedding venue or somewhere grand.
You could choose the place where you first met, a favourite walk, the countryside near your home, a family farm or simply somewhere you both enjoy spending time. A familiar setting can make the session feel easier because you are not also trying to adjust to an unfamiliar location.
The setting should suit the two of you rather than following a particular idea of what an engagement shoot is supposed to look like.
A pre wedding session can include parts of your life that may be difficult to bring into the wedding day itself.
You might want photographs with your dog, your horse, at your family farm or somewhere connected to a hobby you share. These details make the photographs feel personal because they show something about your everyday life together, rather than only the plans you have made for one day.
Many couples realise that they have plenty of phone pictures and holiday photographs but very few photographs of themselves together that they both genuinely like.
A pre wedding shoot creates a set of photographs that show you as you are now, without wedding clothes or the formality of the day itself. They can become a record of the period before you were married, not simply a practice session for the wedding.
You may choose to display them at home or use them as part of your wedding, but they also have value simply as photographs of the two of you.
A professional set of photographs can be useful if you are creating save the date cards, invitations, a wedding website, a welcome sign or a signing book.
Some couples use one or two images throughout their stationery so that everything feels connected. Others prefer to keep the photographs separate from the wedding plans and enjoy them privately.
There is no expectation that you need to turn them into anything. It is simply an option if you would like photographs that feel more personal than a stock design or phone snapshot.
A pre wedding shoot does not need to look like a smaller version of the wedding day.
You could choose a different season, a contrasting location or a time of day that gives the photographs their own atmosphere. A couple planning a summer wedding might choose an autumn woodland session. Someone marrying in winter might prefer blossom, long grass or a warm evening later in the year.
We also have more freedom over timing than we usually do at a wedding. We can choose the session around the light, walk a little further or wait briefly for changing weather without worrying that guests are waiting for you.
The result is a collection that feels separate from your wedding photographs while still belonging to the same part of your story.
A typical session is fairly simple. We meet at the agreed location, have a quick chat and begin with something easy, usually walking or standing somewhere with good light.
I will look for uncluttered backgrounds and places where the light is flattering. I may ask you to walk in a particular direction, pause somewhere or adjust how you are standing. You will not be expected to come up with poses or entertain the camera.
As the session continues, I will vary the photographs. Some will include more movement and conversation, while others will be quieter and more composed. I will also take a mixture of closer portraits and wider photographs that show the location.
You do not need to spend the entire session laughing or pretending the camera is not there. The photographs should reflect the way you are together, whether that is affectionate, playful, reserved or somewhere in between.
Choose clothes that feel like you and that you can move comfortably in. You do not need to dress formally unless that suits your style or the kind of photographs you would like.
Your outfits do not need to match. It usually works better to choose colours that sit well together without being identical. Neutral tones, softer colours and simple textures tend to photograph well, but the season and location should also influence what you wear.
Large logos and very bright colours can draw attention away from your faces. It is also worth avoiding anything you will need to keep adjusting throughout the session.
Most importantly, wear something in which you still feel like yourselves.
You can arrange your session on the same day as a hair or make up trial, and it may be useful if you would like to see how everything photographs.
However, a relaxed date and suitable conditions are more important than trying to combine everything for convenience.
The weather does not need to be perfect. Cloudy conditions can be very flattering, and light rain may still be workable if you are comfortable continuing.
Heavy rain, strong wind or unsafe conditions are different. In those circumstances, we can look at a sheltered location or rearrange the session rather than pushing ahead when neither of you will enjoy it.
Because the session is not tied to a venue schedule, we have more flexibility than we would on the wedding day.
No. You do not need a pre wedding shoot in order to receive natural, flattering wedding photographs.
Many couples first experience being photographed by me on their wedding day and are completely comfortable with that. I will still guide you, work around the pace of the day and make sure you are not left wondering what to do.
A session beforehand is most useful when one or both of you feels particularly apprehensive, when you would like more time to get to know me or when you genuinely want photographs together before the wedding.
Its value is not in learning a set of poses. It is in removing uncertainty and helping us understand how to get the best from the two of you.
Wedding planning comes with enough things that can begin to feel compulsory. A pre wedding photoshoot should not be another item you book because you think you are supposed to.
It can be a very helpful experience if you are nervous about the camera, would like photographs in a meaningful location or want a little more familiarity before the wedding day. It can also simply be an enjoyable hour together during a busy period of planning.
For the right couple, it makes the wedding photography feel easier. For others, it is perfectly reasonable to wait until the wedding day.