Eight reasons why pre-wedding photos are so important | Wiltshire Wedding photographer |
Have you wondered if there’s any point in having an pre-wedding session? You’re going to have photos on your wedding day anyway, so why take time out from your busy planning and prepping? Well I’m here to fill you in on a few of the reasons why I think a pre-wedding session isn’t just a nice extra but an absolute essential.
1. Quality time
I don’t know about you, but the months leading up to our wedding were MAD. We were at work all day then came home to planning and prepping almost every evening and weekend. If it wasn’t creating invites it was picking songs for playlists, making centrepieces or working out guest lists and seating plans. My fiancé ended up feeling more like a planning partner than a significant other. Setting aside an hour where you have no excuse but to focus on each other gives you a chance to remember why you’re putting yourself through all of this!
2. Relaxed and laid back
Your wedding day will be beautiful, I have no doubt about that. You’ll have your perfect makeup and hair, hopefully your ideal dress and an awesome suit, you’ll feel amazing - of course we’ll make the most of that and get some stunning photos! But nothing can beat taking that full hour to just relax and be yourselves, capturing photos that really reflect you. The photos from our engagement session are still mine and my husband’s favourites - they’re just so much fun! You’re wearing clothes your comfortable in, there’s no one watching on with a camera phone and there’s no stress to get back to your eager wedding guests. These are photos you’ll want to use and share for years to come (we have a couple of ours up in our bedroom!).
3. Get to know your photographer
On your wedding, your photographer’s going to be by your side most of the day. They’ll be there tearing up at your ceremony, with you for those private bride and groom photos and smiling along with your guests during your first dance. You definitely want to have a chance to get to know each other in slightly less intense surroundings! There’s so much time during an engagement session to have all those conversations that’ll make you feel completely comfortable with them by the time you’re walking down the aisle.
4. Find out what to expect
If you’re like most people, you’ve never spent a day being followed around by a photographer! I can promise you that after your pre-wedding session you’ll be an expert. Mostly because you’ll realise just how easy it is! I know, it’s hard to imagine, but every single couple who’ve said to me, ‘We’re not very photogenic’ or ‘We’re not going to be easy to photograph’ has walked away knowing they’re going to be stars. It’s easy to believe you might be the exception, and this can lead to anxiety about the wedding day; pre-wedding sessions give you a chance to put this fear to bed - you don’t need anything more to worry about!
5. Photos for invites, save the dates and wedding displays
Having photos you can use for invites, wedding websites and decoration at your reception may seem like a very practical reason, but it’s a great way to personalise your day! You’ll often find your photographer offers printing services too, so you’ll save time on designing and printing them yourself.
6. A chance to be a little romantic…
Whether you’ve been together a little while or are still in that shiney new phase, having an opportunity to capture some of that young romance is unmissable. It’s easy for that side of your relationship to be pushed to the wayside in favour of wedding planning, house buying and other boring essentials; but it’s undeniably still important! No couple is going to regret taking an hour out of their week to celebrate and enjoy who they are.
7. Photos in a place that means something to you
Do you love going for forest walks together? Did your loved one propose on the beach? Pre-wedding sessions can give you a chance to have photos in that location, photos you can look back on in years to come and remember just how it felt to visit that special place.
8. Golden hour!
Your wedding day will be beautiful, but it runs on it’s own schedule. Every now and again there may be time at a wedding to run off and catch some photos at golden hour, but usually it’s just not possible. Golden hour is that magical time just before sunset where the light is soft, flattering and a little bit special - perfect for romantic photos! Your pre-wedding session will be planned to fall right in that perfect light for the very best photos possible.
That’s it!
Here’s a shot from our own engagement session back in 2015 by the wonderful Fern Photo! My husband and I love to go for walks, laugh together all the time and are super casual, so this sums us up perfectly!
Have I missed anything? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Hey! I’m Elise
Hoping to have a pre-wedding session or looking to tick ‘find a wedding photographer’ off your to-do list? I’d love to start chatting!