THE BENEFITS OF BOOKING A PRE WEDDING SESSION
If I had a dollar for every time after a shoot, a couple I photographed said “thanks so much, we ACTUALLY enjoyed ourselves!”, I could buy more photography equipment that I probably don’t need.
Want to know my biggest disappointment when I get this feedback? It’s that, at least in early stages of the shoot and perhaps also in the days leading up, most couples don’t expect to enjoy being photographed. Why? Because they’ve already convinced themselves that their shyness in front of a camera will result in awkward photos and that every physical insecurity they have will stand out like a sore thumb. With an internal dialogue like this, of course you would dread being photographed!
Now imagine having that dreadful feeling of being photographed pop up on your Wedding day. Like there’s not enough going through your mind already! The good news is that those restless camera nerves can be calmed and will be one less thing you have to worry about on the big day, and it’s all with the help of just two words: Johnnie Walker. Sorry, I mean: Pre-Wedding Session.
What’s a Pre-Wedding Session (aka Engagement Session) ?
A Pre-Wedding Session (aka Engagement Session) is a photo shoot that a couple has with their photographer, usually in the months leading up to a wedding.
“We’re already taking photos on our wedding day, why take more on another day?”
Good question – let’s get into it:
8 REASONS TO HAVE A PRE WEDDING / ENGAGEMENT SESSION
1. FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
“People fear what they don’t understand…” – Andrew Smith
Let’s face it, staring down a camera lens can be all too intimidating. That’s exactly why an Engagement Session in the months approaching your wedding is perfect. It’s a valuable opportunity for you to become familiar with what it’s like in front of a camera. I like to start with some basic shots, build your confidence and then get more creative. Most couples imagine standing in front of a camera and smiling through an awkward silence but in reality, I provide plenty of direction while shooting so you don’t have to worry about a thing! The benefit of digital photography is twofold; you not only can view the shot immediately and ease your concerns about how you’re looking but also the ability to preview is also a great tool to help me point out how sometimes, we can make the shot even better by repositioning an arm or adjusting posture. Being able to preview images also allows you to let your photographer know what you want more of and what you can do without. Your Engagement Session will make you realise that like most things in life, the more you know, the less you’ll fear.
2. GET TO KNOW YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Your Wedding Celebrations can last up to 12 hours (sometimes more!). From photos of hair and makeup followed by the ceremony, right through to the end of the reception, it’s no surprise that a wedding photographer is someone that you will see the most on your wedding day. As with any relationship, the more time you spend with someone, the more comfortable you become. Your Engagement Session can be used to get a feel for how I work and most of all, make you realise that I’m open to collaborating with my couples – if there’s a shot you’d like to try, just ask! If a pose doesn’t quite feel right for you, just say so! Getting to know each other and becoming comfortable with your photographer is essential as it gives you the trust and confidence in knowing that your wedding photography is in good hands.
3. USE IT OR LOSE IT (to a folder somewhere on your hard drive)
So, we’ve captured some amazing portraits from your Engagement Session. What now? Use them of course! The photographs from your Engagement Session are perfect to be used in your ‘Save the Date’ cards and invitations, as a feature in your Guest Sign In Book or even as a Canvas display at the entrance of your reception. After your wedding, you can use the canvas as wall art in your home!
A lot of wedding couples choose to share the hype online and on social media as their big day approaches. Whether it be a couple website for guests to view the wedding itinerary or a countdown on social media with an ingenious couple hashtag, portraits from your Engagement Session are a great accompaniment to boost the excitement for your special day.
4. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
Engagement Sessions are great to get to places that you may not be able to travel to on your wedding day. See this beautiful couple above with the stunning waterfall behind them? Guaranteed, this would not have been a practical location for wedding photos. Especially considering the hike to get to a spot like this – not advisable in a wedding dress! More often than not, your wedding day can come with certain limitations. The time and location of your Ceremony is locked in, much like your Reception. So, when it comes to choosing a location for your Bridal Party photos after the ceremony, we need to work within these constraints. The beach may be one of your favourite places but if it’s located in the opposite direction of your ceremony and reception, is a really likely to happen? (Spoiler Alert: No, it’s not)
5. TESTING ONE, TWO…
I rarely come across a bride who is willing to take the gamble and not complete a hair and makeup trial before the big day. You invest on a trial to make sure you’ll look just as you imagine on your wedding day. Have you thought about how this look will appear in your wedding photos? Scheduling your Engagement Session for the same day as your hair and makeup trial is the logical option. This way, you not only can see in advance how you’ll look in person, but also how you’ll come across in photos. A win-win situation!
6. THE PREQUEL
You’ve booked a wedding photographer to capture the story of one of the most important days of your life and you’ll share photos from this day as an heirloom with your kids and future generations. What about the story of how you got there? Where did you meet? What common interests did you have? How did the proposal go down?
Engagement Sessions are a perfect way to tell this story. Dress up in something more casual. Choose a location that’s special to you both. Design the shoot around your common interests and capture the story of what brought you two together so it doesn’t become a distant memory!
7. FURRY FRIENDS WELCOME
Pets can be an integral part of your family. Unfortunately, due to restrictions at venues, they may not always be allowed to attend so why not capture them in one of the most important stages in your life and bring them along to your Pre Wedding Session?
8. LET’S GET (MORE) CREATIVE!
More time allows for more epic shots! Sometimes, due to other factors in the day, the window between the conclusion of your ceremony and commencement of your reception is not always significant. This can limit the duration that’s possible for your couple portraits. Unlike the whirlwind of a wedding day, an Engagement Session does not have the same time pressures so we can get more creative to capture and perfect images that you may not have the opportunity for on your wedding day (like jumping in the water in the photo above!)
…and there you go! I hope I’ve been able to give you an insight into the many benefits of a Pre Wedding Photography Session.
Hey! I’m Ian Coomar, a Melbourne based Wedding Photographer. Click on the button below to get to know a little about me and
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