One of the things I've always enjoyed about photographing weddings is getting to know the people I'm going to be spending the day with, and that's one of the reasons I like offering pre-wedding photoshoots. They're an opportunity to spend a bit of time together before the wedding, have a proper chat and take some photographs without having to worry about everything else going on around us.
Rick and Emma recently joined me for their pre-wedding photoshoot, and I thought I'd share a photograph of the two of them along with a few thoughts about why I think these sessions can be such a useful part of planning your wedding photography.
I've photographed weddings across North Yorkshire and the North East for the best part of two decades now, and although every couple is different, one thing I've learned is that getting along with your photographer makes a real difference. After all, you're inviting somebody into a very personal day, and I think it's much better when you've already spent some time together rather than meeting properly for the first time when the wedding is about to begin.
Rick & Emma's Pre-Wedding Photographs
One photograph I particularly like from Rick and Emma's session is this one of them sitting together beside a window, with Emma in a lovely colourful dress and Rick standing just behind her with his arm resting on the chair.
It's quite a simple photograph really, but that's part of why I like it. There's no dramatic scenery in the background, no complicated lighting arrangement and nothing particularly elaborate happening. It's simply the two of them together, with some lovely natural light coming through the window.
I think sometimes there's a temptation to make every photograph as dramatic as possible, particularly when you see so many heavily styled photographs on social media. There are occasions when that sort of image works really well, but I also think there's something to be said for photographs that are a little quieter and more straightforward.
For me, a photograph doesn't always need an enormous amount going on to be worth taking. Sometimes it's just about finding a nice bit of light, getting the composition right and letting the people in front of the camera be the most important part of the image.
That's something I try to carry through into my wedding photography as well, because when couples look back at their photographs in twenty or thirty years, I want them to recognise themselves rather than wonder why I had them doing something they'd never normally do.
Getting to Know Your Wedding Photographer
I spend quite a lot of time talking with couples before their wedding, whether that's during their initial consultation, the final meeting or a pre-wedding photoshoot.
I like finding out what they've got planned, how they met, what sort of wedding they're having and, probably most importantly, how they feel about being photographed. Some couples are perfectly comfortable with a camera pointed at them, while others would quite happily spend the entire wedding hiding from it if they thought they could get away with it!
A pre-wedding shoot gives us an opportunity to get to know each other without the distractions of the wedding itself. We can talk through the plans, take some photographs and get a better understanding of how everybody feels about the process.
It's useful for me as well because I get to see how a couple naturally interact. Some people are quite affectionate in front of the camera, others are more reserved, and neither is right or wrong. I don't want to photograph every couple in exactly the same way because their relationships and personalities aren't all the same.
I would much rather spend a little time understanding the people I'm photographing than work through a collection of poses that I use for everybody.
A Photoshoot Without the Wedding Day Timetable
Another advantage of a pre-wedding photoshoot is that we're not trying to work around the wedding day itself.
There isn't a ceremony about to start, a list of family photographs waiting to be taken or a room full of guests wondering where the couple have disappeared to. We can take things at a sensible pace, have a chat and work out what feels comfortable without constantly checking the time.
That doesn't mean a pre-wedding shoot has to become some enormous production. In fact, I generally think keeping things simple works much better, especially if the main reason for booking one is to become a little more comfortable in front of the camera.
We can choose a location that suits the couple, whether that's somewhere outdoors, a favourite place or an indoor setting where we can make use of the available light. I don't believe there's one particular type of location that everybody should use, and I'd much rather create photographs that feel personal than choose somewhere simply because it looks fashionable.
And the photographs themselves are a nice thing to have, particularly during that period when you're looking forward to getting married and everything is still being planned.
How a Pre-Wedding Photoshoot Helps on the Wedding Day
When the wedding day arrives, I want couples to be able to enjoy themselves without spending too much time worrying about the photography.
I'm going to be there photographing the ceremony, the guests, family groups and all the little moments happening around them, and there will be times when I need to give some direction, particularly with the more organised photographs.
But for most of the day, I'd rather people simply got on with enjoying themselves while I work around them.
If we've already spent some time together during a pre-wedding photoshoot, hopefully they'll have a better idea of how I work. They'll know that I'm not going to spend the entire day constantly rearranging them, and they'll have experienced what it's like to have me taking photographs while we're having a conversation.
I think that familiarity can be particularly useful during the photographs of the two of you together. Instead of worrying about what you're supposed to do, you can concentrate a little more on each other and let me take care of the photography.
And if something isn't working, I'll tell you. I don't expect anybody to turn up knowing how to pose, where to put their hands or which way to stand in the light. That's my responsibility, and I'll help whenever it's needed.
Making Something More of Your Pre-Wedding Photographs
One thing I particularly like about pre-wedding photographs is that they don't necessarily have to stay on a computer or phone until somebody happens to come across them years later.
I offer a Guest Signature Frame as part of my pre-wedding photography options, where one of the photographs from the session can be displayed at the wedding for guests to sign. Afterwards, it becomes something you can keep, complete with the messages from the people who shared your wedding day.
I've always liked that idea because it brings the time before the wedding and the wedding itself together in one keepsake. Rather than buying another decoration that gets packed away afterwards, you've got a photograph that's personal to the two of you and a collection of messages from family and friends.
Of course, there are other ways to enjoy your photographs too, and sometimes it's simply nice to have a few pictures together that aren't taken on somebody's mobile phone.
Pre-Wedding Photography in North Yorkshire and the North East
I photograph weddings throughout North Yorkshire, Teesside and the North East, and the same applies to pre-wedding photoshoots. There are plenty of lovely locations around this part of the country, from the coast around Saltburn and Whitby to the woodland, countryside and villages further inland.
But as Rick and Emma's photograph shows, we don't necessarily need a dramatic outdoor location to create a photograph that works. Sometimes a comfortable setting and some nice natural window light are all we need.
I think that's worth remembering if you're considering a pre-wedding session but aren't particularly interested in standing on a beach, wandering through a forest or climbing halfway up a hill for your photographs.
The location should suit the people being photographed, not the other way around.
Thinking About a Pre-Wedding Photoshoot?
If you're planning your wedding in North Yorkshire or the North East and you'd like to spend some time getting to know your photographer beforehand, a pre-wedding photoshoot is something I'd certainly recommend considering.
We can have a chat about your plans, choose somewhere suitable for your photographs and make the session as relaxed as possible. You don't need any experience of being photographed, and you certainly don't need to arrive with a collection of poses you've found online.
Whether you'd like some photographs together before your wedding, want to create a Guest Signature Frame or simply fancy getting used to having me around with a camera, I'd love to hear what you've got planned.
Ask Me About a Pre-Wedding Photoshoot or Check My Wedding Availability
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