Helpful Tips on How to Make Your Pre-Wedding Photoshoot Amazing

Let’s talk all about pre-wedding shoots and how to make your own photoshoot amazing!

A pre-wedding shoot is just a fancy term for a couple photoshoot that takes place before a wedding. It can be a way to celebrate an engagement or just to ease nerves before your wedding day. Either way, they are great fun and a great way to make your wedding photography experience last even longer!

Stick around and in this blog post you’ll find lots of helpful tips and ideas for your pre-wedding session, but first, let me tell you why they’re so important and why I think every couple should have one!

3 Reasons You Should Have A Pre-Wedding Shoot

You might not fancy having a pre-wedding shoot at all. You may not have even thought about it before! Maybe you considered it and quickly decided it was not for you. That’s ok! Pre-shoots aren’t for everyone, but in my experience as a wedding photographer, I think the benefits are huge.

So here are three big reasons to go for it and book a pre-wedding shoot today!

1. Meet Your Photographer

The number one reason to go for it and have a pre-wedding shoot is to meet your photographer! It’s a great way to get to know each other and learn what to expect from them on your wedding day.

When you’re planning a wedding and booking suppliers, it’s not always possible to meet them face-to-face before booking. We all know how to use Zoom by now, but it’s just not the same as having a proper conversation and a laugh with another human being!

Meeting up with your photographer for a photo shoot before your wedding is a really great way to chat about wedding plans and get excited for the big day ahead.

You’ll get a real feel for how your photographer works, and it will put your mind at ease ahead of the wedding.

Here’s what a couple said after their pre-wedding shoot with me:

“We knew when we booked Jenna that she took exactly the type of pictures that we would be wanting, and once we had seen our pre-wedding photo shoot pictures, we were certain we had made the right choice!”

2. Feel Comfortable in Front of the Camera

A huge positive and the second biggest reason to go ahead with a shoot is that it will help you relax. 

Having a pre-wedding shoot is the best way to help calm the nerves you have about being in front of the camera.

A lot of the couples I speak to always say they hate being in front of the camera because they feel awkward. Well, I’ll let you into a secret, I feel exactly the same way! There’s a reason I’m behind the lens and not in front of it! But trust me, after spending an hour in the spotlight, just the two of you, you’ll soon forget your fears and start to have fun and enjoy the experience.

I love being able to capture smiles and laughter and capture natural emotions from my couples. Nothing is ever forced or fake or overly posed. All I’m there to do is position you both in various places and let you do your thing.

Once your session is over, you’ll be totally confident and fully equipped to ignore my presence on your wedding day and just be in the moment. And that 15-minute couple portrait session after the ceremony will be a total walk in the park – maybe even literally.

3. Get Awesome Couple Photos!

We often underestimate how hard it is to get a half-decent picture of ourselves and our partners. That’s why the third reason is the most obvious one of all. You’ll get a gallery full of great photos of the two of you. What more of a reason do you need?

Just think for a second. Remember that one time you both dressed up and went out? You spent ages trying to get a selfie good enough to post, but your arms were too shaky and short to get a good photo. So instead, you handed your phone to a friend and they took literally the worst full-length photo ever?!

Yeah, I’ve been there, it’s tough. No matter how many IG filters you throw on top, it won’t save the fact that it was taken with direct flash and your eyes look like they’re on fire.

That’s why we all know that getting that rare shot for the gram is worth its weight in gold alone.

Now you know why pre-wedding shoots are a great idea, you can find out more about the pre-wedding package I offer below!

8 Tips to Get the Best Out of Your Pre-Wedding Photographs

So now you’ve read all about the benefits of an engagement shoot, and you’ve booked your session, let’s talk about how to get the very best photos out of your shoot.

If you follow my advice, you’ll have the best experience, and you’ll end up with beautiful images you absolutely love.

Here are my absolute top tips to make sure you nail your pre-wedding photoshoot!

1. Choose the Perfect Location for Your Shoot

Your pre-wedding shoot is all about the two of you. The location you choose can say a lot about who you are as a couple and what you value in your lives together. There’s no right or wrong answer here, but the more your location means to you, the more you’ll cherish the photos.

You might choose to revisit where you first met or where you had your first date. A popular choice for my couples is to have their shoot where they got engaged.

If nothing springs to mind straight away, another option is to think about your favourite things to do together. Are you the adventurous type? Do you enjoy a good hike on the weekend? Would you rather take a leisurely stroll in the park or visit your favourite coffee shop? It’s completely up to you to decide, so get those thinking caps on!

If you’re looking for more variety in your photos, then aim for somewhere with multiple locations within a walkable distance, such as a city centre.

In need of some location inspiration? No problem! Here are some unique locations that I personally think would be perfect for any pre-wedding shoot.

• Sheffield – Botanical Gardens, Winter Gardens
• York City Centre
• Leeds City Centre
• Manchester’s Northern Quarter
• Temple Newsam, Leeds
• Pretty much anywhere in the Peak District – see Peak District location ideas!
• Otley Chevin
• The lighting aisle in B&Q (ok, that one is a joke, but I’d still do it if you asked)

2. Pick the Ideal time for Photos

The look and feel of the final images in your gallery will be totally different depending on your chosen time. The best time for photos usually depends on your location.

For example, if you fancy having your pre-wedding shoot in a city centre, then an early morning or weekday evening would be best to avoid angry high-street shoppers. Similarly, if you’re looking for a super romantic Peak District session with epic landscapes, then early morning or late evening would be perfect to capture that natural golden hour light after sunrise/before sunset.

If you plan your timings right, you’ll be able to get the best of both worlds! The two photos below were from the same pre-wedding photoshoot with less than an hour between. If you’re not sure when the best time would be for your location, ask your photographer!

3. Wear Clothes That Complement Each Other on Camera

This is a less obvious tip, but it can make a huge difference to the end results, trust me! Wearing outfits complimenting each other in style and colour will translate well in your photos.

As a general rule, it’s best to avoid obvious brand logos or large text. Wear something that will contrast with your chosen background. If you’re having your shoot somewhere with lots of greenery, choose bright colours that contrast!

Remember to keep it simple and be true to yourselves most of all! If you’re not the type to dress up, then embrace a more casual look instead. As long as you feel comfortable with your outfit choice, whatever it is, your confidence will shine through and the photos will look amazing!

4. Consider the End Goal for Your Pre-Wedding Photos

You might be looking to print and frame or hang your pre-wedding photos at home. If you have a colour scheme you love, then making sure everything ties in nicely together is really important!

This thought might end up influencing your wardrobe decisions and even your choice of location. Especially if it’s important for you that everything matches and looks totally on point.

5. Leave All Your Baggage at Home

The last thing you want is to be weighed down on your session. Your pre-wedding photoshoot is an amazing time to be totally free from the outside world and completely focused on you. I mean, how often do you get to escape hectic daily life?! So my advice would be to leave the phones and bags at home or in the boot of your car, and just enjoy an hour or so of peace. After all, you don’t want them to be on show in your photos anyway!

If you do need to have some things to hand, then your photographer will happily help out. I’ve been a fantastic bag and phone carrier in my time. Just don’t let me walk away with them at the end of your photo shoot!

P.S. carrying duties also extend to weddings and include but are not limited to: veils, trains, bouquets, bags, shoes and glasses of Prosecco!

6. Bring a Friend

When I say bring a friend, I don’t mean bring someone to join as a third wheel, I mean your four-legged friend! Our dogs are a huge part of our family. They’re more like furry children really, aren’t they? Unfortunately, it’s not always possible for your fur babies to join in the fun on your wedding day. However, you can absolutely involve them in your pre-wedding shoot! That way, they’re not left out and you can have some lovely photos as a family.

Some wedding venues allow dogs which is amazing, but even if they do it’s not always practical to have them there. If your dog is anything like mine, it’s probably best that they’re not on the guest list! My dog is way too enthusiastic and dopey to be around lots of people. He’s definitely too excitable and jumpy to be around an expensive wedding dress too! Having your dog with you at your pre-wedding shoot means you get the best of both worlds. They get to be part of your celebration and there’s no added pressure to keep an eye on them on your wedding day.

If you have a willing family member, it would be ideal to have a short session with your dog at the beginning or the end of your shoot. Your helpful family member or friend could then look after your dog whilst you enjoy the rest of your session.

7. Turn Your Engagement Shoot Into a Practice Honeymoon

Forget date night, how about date day! Have a honeymoon practice run and pretend that you’re on holiday! Take the whole day for yourselves to be together. Why not stay overnight in a hotel somewhere? You could go to the spa or take a long hike in the hills. Go out for a slap-up meal or pub lunch and a drink.

Lots of my couples also choose to tie their pre-wedding shoot in with their trial with their makeup artists. This is a great tip as you can see exactly how you’ll look on the big day.

8. Be Yourselves

My final top tip for your pre-wedding shoot is the most important of all. Be yourself. It’s as simple as that! The absolute best advice I can give is for you to relax and have fun in your session. Be true to yourself because that makes for the best photos. Don’t worry about the camera, just embrace the fuzzy feeling of love and enjoy!

My goal as a wedding photographer is to provide a safe space for all my couples to have fun and enjoy their experience. The best wedding photos will always come as a result of people having a great time.

So in summary, choose an epic location that is meaningful to you, know what time to pick for the best light, wear comfortable, complimentary clothes. Be yourselves and you’ll enjoy the whole experience!

What’s the Difference Between Pre-Wedding and Engagement Photography?

I bet you’re thinking, aren’t they just the same thing? Well, pretty much. The main difference is when your shoot takes place.

If you’re newly engaged and you haven’t even thought about wedding planning yet, then an engagement shoot is a really great way to trial a photographer you like the style of and get the ball rolling. Engagement shoots are generally done soon after when you’ve still got that fuzzy feeling and you want to let everyone know about your new fiancé. Whereas a pre-wedding photoshoot tends to happen a lot closer to the wedding date, six months or less usually and more often than not with the same photographer for all those lovely reasons I listed above.

Whatever you like to call them, the end result is pretty much the same. You get a full gallery of gorgeous images to look back on when you’re finally married. If you’re thinking about booking a pre-wedding photoshoot or an engagement session, then get in touch I’d love to hear from you!

Ideas to Get the Most Out of Your Pre-Wedding Photos

Lots of my couples find a way to incorporate their pre-wedding photos into their wedding. So here are a few ideas!

• Print them out for your guestbook so people can sign around them.
• Use them as part of your save-the-date or wedding invitations.
• Pop them onto your wedding planning website.
• Use the photos to accompany numbers on your table plan.
• Turn them into a jigsaw for your wedding guests to do during the evening reception.

The possibilities are endless!

Ready To Book Your Pre-Wedding Shoot?

I hope you’ve found my tips and advice on pre-wedding shoots helpful. If you’re looking for a photographer, I’d love to hear from you!