Pre-wedding photo shoot: tips for wedding photographers

A pre-wedding shoot is a photo session before the big day that allows couples to familiarise themselves with the photographer and the camera. It is also an excellent opportunity for the professional to observe how the bride and groom interact in front of the lens, identifying whether they are spontaneous, shy or more relaxed. This reportage not only helps to build confidence and comfort, but also becomes a key element in achieving natural and authentic photographs on the wedding day.

If you want more couples to book this service, it is essential that you know how to sell it. Many brides and grooms don’t know exactly what a pre-wedding session is, so explaining the benefits and options you offer will increase interest and bookings for this extra service. To stand out from the competition, you can prepare a small dossier detailing the different styles of pre-wedding shoot you do. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to add value to your pre-wedding photoshoots and make them an irresistible service for couples.

 

 

Gain the bride and groom’s trust with these ideas to make their pre-wedding photo shoot an unforgettable experience.

What does a pre-wedding reportage look like?

 

A pre-wedding shoot is a photo session that takes place a few weeks before the big day and aims to capture the essence of the couple in a totally relaxed and natural environment. In addition to obtaining unique images, this session allows the bride and groom to become familiar with the photographer, gain confidence in front of the camera and feel more comfortable and confident ahead of the wedding. In turn, the wedding photographer can observe how their clients interact, identify their level of spontaneity and adapt their style to achieve a more authentic and emotional wedding reportage.

Pre-wedding sessions offer multiple creative possibilities and can become an exclusive service that adds value to the wedding reportage itself. From themed sessions in special locations to more intimate captures in significant settings for the couple, these photographs can be used to personalise invitations, decorate the reception or even be projected during the celebration. In addition, for photographers, this type of photo shoot represents an excellent opportunity to differentiate themselves in the market and increase the budget of each wedding, offering a series of more complete and attractive packages for the bride and groom.

Pre-wedding photo shoot: Why should a wedding be a must?

A pre-wedding shoot can be very useful for both you as a photographer and the couple, as long as you know how to present it. Here are a few reasons why offering a pre-wedding shoot before the big day is a great idea:

• Connection between the couple and the photographer. One of the most important reasons to sell a pre-wedding shoot is because of the trust it builds between the bride and groom and the photographer. Explain to them that, after the session, they will feel much more comfortable with you and the camera, which will make it easier to capture more natural and spontaneous images on the wedding day.

• Personalisation of wedding details. Pre-wedding photos can be an excellent option for personalising elements of the event, such as invitations, decoration or the setting of special corners.

• Surprise for the guests. You can also suggest the creation of a slideshow with the pre-wedding photos to be projected during the banquet. It will be an emotional moment that everyone will remember.

• Disconnecting before the wedding. Beyond the photos, this session is an opportunity for the bride and groom to enjoy a moment together and disconnect from the intense wedding preparations.

Pre-wedding sessions help your clients get familiar with the camera, relax before the wedding and use these images in their celebration. Use these arguments to encourage couples to include this experience in their wedding reportage package.

Increase your income by offering pre-wedding sessions that are truly irresistible

 

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As mentioned above, one of the great advantages of offering pre-wedding sessions is the possibility of increasing the budget that the bride and groom allocate to your service. By incorporating this session, along with the post-wedding session, personalised albums and the sale of additional images through a private gallery, you will be able to generate considerable additional income for each wedding you cover. These extras not only benefit your clients by offering them personalised options, but also allow you to expand your offering and differentiate yourself from the competition.

In addition, to offer a service that is much more profitable, private galleries become an essential tool to maximise your revenue, as they allow couples to conveniently access their photos and purchase additional images. Selling extra photos through these galleries, for example to guests, can represent a steady stream of revenue after each wedding, offering your clients special memories while increasing your profitability.

In the following article, we take a closer look at the options you can integrate into your private galleries to make the most of their potential.

>> Private galleries: the best tool for delivering photos to clients

If you haven’t yet explored all the business opportunities offered by Arcadina’s image selling galleries, you can now try them out for 14 days completely free of charge. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover all they have to offer and take your business to the next level!

 

 

 

 Key tips to increase sales of pre-wedding sessions at your weddings

 

When “selling” these pre-wedding photo shoots, it is crucial that you explain in detail to your clients what the shoot is all about and highlight the benefits it offers to couples. Make sure you convey why other brides and grooms, like them, have chosen to enjoy this experience before their big day. Talk about how the shoot has allowed them to relax, gain confidence in front of the camera and make unique memories that they have been able to use for their wedding.

In order for the pre-wedding session to be much more than just a photographic reportage of the bride and groom, it is essential that you propose creative and personalised ideas that highlight their personality and style. Below, we share several ideas that can inspire you when creating a small pre-wedding dossier, which will allow you to show your clients all the possibilities and help them visualise what this special experience will be like for them.

1# Organise a pre-wedding session in a place that is unique and meaningful to the couple

If you want your pre-wedding photographs to reflect all the love and unique connection between your bride and groom, an excellent idea is to propose a pre-wedding shoot in a place that has a special meaning for them. It could be the place where they first met, the town where they spent their summers as teenagers, or even the city where one of them proposed to the other. This type of location not only adds a personal and emotional touch to the photos, but also makes the couple feel much more relaxed and comfortable during the session.

Moreover, being in a familiar environment full of memories, you will have the opportunity to capture authentic and romantic moments that would otherwise be more difficult to recreate. If you have a special place in mind, this proposal will surely delight you, and the result will be a pre-wedding reportage full of emotions and naturalness.

2# Destination pre-wedding session

If you are a photographer who enjoys the pleasure of travelling and you have availability, an excellent proposal that you can offer to engaged couples is to organise a pre-wedding session in a charming city outside Spain. Destinations such as Paris, the city of love, where you can capture romantic photos under the Eiffel Tower; Venice, with a gondola ride through its canals; or Marrakech, where you can immerse yourself in a unique experience full of colours, markets and exotic architecture, are perfect options for an unforgettable pre-wedding shoot.

This type of session has great appeal to more select clients, with a higher wedding budget, who are looking for something truly special and different. If you include this option in your wedding dossier, many brides and grooms will be tempted by the idea of enjoying a romantic weekend getaway before their big day. Furthermore, by offering this unique experience, you will be positioning yourself as an exclusive photographer, able to make their memories even more memorable.

3# Are you an inland photographer? Offer a pre-wedding session at the seaside

If you are able to travel but do not wish to go abroad, an excellent option is to organise a pre-wedding session on the coast. If you live in an inland area, this proposal will be a unique attraction for couples, as many of them will seek the beauty of the sea as a backdrop for their photos. In addition, the coast offers a great variety of landscapes and natural light that will make your memories even more special.

On the other hand, if you are lucky enough to have your photography studio near the sea, you can reverse the strategy and offer more inland locations, such as a lush forest or a quiet mountain trail where couples will enjoy breathtaking views. The key is to offer your clients something different and unique, something that stands out from the traditional pre-wedding shoots that your closest competitors are doing. In this way, you will give them an unforgettable experience and become a photographer who goes beyond the ordinary.

4# Discover charming locations near your city

If you prefer not to travel far to organise a pre-wedding shoot or the couple in question are not convinced by the idea, you can always choose to organise the sessions close to your studio. With a little research into the locations closest to you, you will discover both urban and natural locations that can offer a range of settings that will be perfect for the reportage.

The key is to present couples with several options nearby, highlighting the beauty and potential of these locations, which may even be places they already know and love. By showing them what the images can look like in these environments, you will get them excited about the idea and make them realise that you don’t have to travel far to get spectacular photos.

5# An urban pre-wedding session is always a good choice

Most couples who are organising their wedding are usually inclined to choose outdoor venues with large gardens and natural spaces where the ceremony and even the banquet will take place. That’s why proposing something different, such as an urban pre-wedding session, can be a very attractive option, especially if you know how to sell it to them.

You can suggest that they look for a more central urban area and take advantage of the city’s lighting at sunset, creating a unique reportage that contrasts with the more traditional style of their wedding. If you wish, you can even move the session to the Christmas season, taking advantage of the festive decorations and lights in the city centre to give a more special and magical touch to the photographs. This proposal will offer you a unique and different memory, capturing the essence of your love in a completely different environment to that of your big day.

6# Surprise couples with a pre-wedding session in abandoned settings

Although at first it may seem strange to some couples to have their pre-wedding session in an abandoned building, old train tracks or an old disused factory, the truth is that these places can offer unique settings full of personality. With the right light and a good artistic direction, it is possible to capture spectacular images, full of contrasts and with a cinematographic feel that will make your reportage really special.

To finish convincing your clients, an excellent strategy is to show them a small portfolio with examples of other couples who have opted for this type of pre-wedding. Seeing the final result, with stunning images that are different from traditional reportage, will help them visualise how amazing their session can be. When they discover the potential of these scenarios, they will be much more open to live this unique experience.

7# Pre-wedding session for couples with a passion for adventure and sport

Many couples share a passion for sport and nature, turning their training sessions or getaways into special moments. For this type of client, you can propose a pre-wedding session with an adventurous approach, where the reportage becomes a fun and meaningful experience for them.

One option is to plan an outing to the countryside with a simple hike that ends at the top of a mountain with spectacular views, capturing not only your love, but also your team spirit and your spirit of teamwork and self-improvement. Another alternative is to hold the session in a park where you can train together, whether it’s running, yoga or climbing, reflecting your active lifestyle and the complicity that unites you.

This type of pre-wedding will not only allow them to enjoy their passion, but will also result in a fresh, authentic and dynamic reportage, very different from the more traditional sessions.

8# A pre-wedding photo shoot with Holi powder

Including Holi powder in a pre-wedding photo shoot not only adds a vibrant and creative touch, but also turns the shoot itself into a fun and unforgettable experience for the couple. The explosion of colour and the spontaneity of the moment will result in images full of energy, dynamism and joy, perfectly reflecting their complicity and connection.

To make the session even more attractive and versatile, you can suggest to the couple a change of wardrobe. In the first part, they can pose in more elegant clothes for romantic and classic photographs. Then, for the second part, , the more casual and colourful part, they can opt for jeans and white t-shirts, an ideal look to highlight the effect of the Holi powder.

This type of session not only guarantees original and different photos, but also allows the bride and groom to enjoy a special moment before the wedding, getting away from the stress of the preparations and creating fun-filled memories.

9# Pre-wedding night: a magical photo shoot under the stars

If, in addition to wedding sessions, you enjoy night photography or light painting, you can offer your couples a unique pre-wedding shoot full of magic. This type of reportage is not only original, but also allows you to capture spectacular images that combine romanticism and creativity.

To make the most of the session, you can start at sunset with warm and emotional photographs, playing with the natural light and the golden tones of the sky. Then, as the evening progresses, you can move on to the light painting session, creating mesmerising lighting effects that envelop the couple in a dreamy atmosphere.

It is important to choose a location with little light pollution, such as a deserted beach, an open field or a mountain far from the city. These settings will not only enhance the quality of the photographs, but will also provide an unforgettable experience for the bride and groom, turning their pre-wedding session into a magical moment that they will remember forever.

10# Pre-wedding lifestyle session: natural and authentic photos in your own home

 

One of the main characteristics of couples who are organising their wedding is the lack of time. Between work commitments, wedding preparations and day-to-day tasks, finding time for a pre-wedding photo shoot can be a challenge. That’s why offering them a more convenient and practical option, such as a photo shoot in their own home, can be an excellent alternative.

A lifestyle pre-wedding session in your home is not only easier to organise, but also provides a much more intimate and natural environment where the bride and groom feel comfortable and relaxed. This type of photography captures genuine and spontaneous moments, reflecting their relationship in a more personal and authentic way. Also, being in a space they know well, the bride and groom will feel more at ease and the session will flow more organically.

This option is not only original, but also practical, as it fits perfectly into their schedules, giving them the opportunity to have a unique and meaningful report without complications.

11# Couple with children? Organise a more family-friendly session

If the bride and groom already have children, a wonderful idea is to transform their pre-wedding shoot into a family session. This type of session will not only allow you to capture the love and connection of the bride and groom-to-be, but also the special dynamic you have as a family. A sunset stroll around a location close to your studio can be the perfect setting for some photographs in a more relaxed atmosphere, where the children can enjoy themselves while you capture spontaneous and natural moments.

During the session, it is important to remember to dedicate time to take some photos of just the couple, so that they have a more intimate and personal memory of their pre-wedding, reflecting their complicity and love before the big day. This mix of family and couple photos will make the shoot even more meaningful, as it will allow them to have memories of their family life before they take the next big step in their relationship.

In addition, this type of session is an excellent way to involve the children in the celebration, creating memories that will be cherished by everyone over time.

12# Thematic reports to organise fun pre-weddings

Often, couples planning their wedding choose a unique and special theme that reflects their personality and interests, such as weddings inspired by famous movies, superheroes, Disney, medieval, fantasy, biker, retro, among others. To make this concept even more special, you can propose to help them organise a themed pre-wedding session that follows the same style of their future celebration.

This type of reportage is not only fun and creative, but also allows you to have images that fit perfectly with the aesthetics of the wedding and that you can use in the decoration of the big day. From the design of invitations to the creation of decorative details or even souvenirs for guests, themed photographs can add a very personal touch to the celebration.

In addition, doing a couple’s photo shoot with the same theme will give you the opportunity to explore your wedding concept further, in a relaxed and unpressured way. During this session, you will be able to experiment with ideas and elements that you are excited about, which you can then integrate into your wedding in a coherent way. This not only creates fun and unique memories, but also results in images that perfectly embody the essence of your love story and your vision for the big day.

13# Capture love as a family with a pet photo session

If the bride and groom are animal lovers, an excellent option is to offer them a pre-wedding session that includes their pets. Either in an environment surrounded by animals, such as an animal recovery centre, a shelter, or a horse farm, or even in your own home, where your pets feel more comfortable. This type of session can be a very fun and meaningful experience for all of them.

In addition to the traditional romantic moments between the bride and groom, a session with their animals will allow them to capture more spontaneous photos full of joy, laughter and affection, reflecting not only their love for each other, but also their love for their faithful companions. The games, licks and natural interactions with the pets will add an extra dose of authenticity and tenderness to the reportage, making it a unique and emotional memory to treasure forever.

By offering them this option, you will not only be offering a fun photo session, but also an opportunity for them to immortalise an important aspect of their life as a couple: their relationship with their pets, who are often considered key members of the family. Photographs that capture that bond will undoubtedly be a cherished memory for life.

14# A romantic experience on the water with a pre-wedding photo shoot on a boat

Whether you live in a coastal city or are willing to travel to one of them, organising a pre-wedding session on board a boat is an incredibly romantic and unique option for the bride and groom. The gentle rocking of the boat, the sea breeze and the endless views of the horizon will create a magical atmosphere that will bring a touch of elegance and freshness to the photos.

One of the best ideas is to take advantage of the last hours of the day, just before sunset, to capture images full of golden light and warm colours. You don’t need to go out to sea: it is enough to go a little further from the coast to enjoy a quiet and natural environment that highlights the complicity of the bride and groom. The views of the open sea, the nearby mountains or the horizon will become the perfect backdrop to immortalise the most intimate and romantic moments between the couple.

This type of session offers the opportunity to create original photos, with a relaxed yet sophisticated feel. The bride and groom will enjoy a moment of calm in the middle of nature, allowing them to connect in a special way while you capture those moments full of affection and spontaneity. Undoubtedly, an unforgettable experience that will be reflected in photographs that they will treasure forever.

15# Photos of a bride and groom in a vineyard

Photo shoots in a vineyard are a perfect choice for couples looking for a romantic, sophisticated and natural setting for their pre-wedding. A vineyard offers a unique setting, with its long rows of vines, rolling hills and golden light at sunset creating a magical atmosphere. Furthermore, this type of setting is ideal for capturing both the beauty of the landscape and the intimate connection between the bride and groom.

You can organise the session in a harvest season, when the vines are full of grapes, or at any other time of the year, as the beauty of the place changes with each season. During the grape harvest, for example, the couple can symbolically participate in the grape harvest, which adds a very personal and original touch to the reportage. You can also take advantage of the elements of the place, such as the barrels, the old casks or the wooden tables, to add unique details to the photos.

If you are looking for an extra touch of romance, organise the session during the last hours of the day, when the evening light bathes the entire vineyard, creating a warm and enveloping atmosphere. Photos taken at sunset have a very special feel and are perfect for highlighting the emotional connection between the couple.

16# Choose a season for the bride and groom’s photos

A great way to organise different pre-wedding packages is to offer four types of sessions, each inspired by a different season of the year. Here we propose four types of bridal photo shoots:

• Spring: so that it is not too close to the wedding day, you could suggest doing the session a year in advance. A good hook would be: “Can you imagine taking your pre-wedding photos just a year before you get married? In spring, look for locations such as olive groves in bloom, poppies or lilacs, ideal for creating natural and colourful photos.

• Summer: take advantage of sunny days to organise a session in cool places like the pool, the beach or a nearby stream. Photos in the water bring a lot of dynamism and freshness, perfect for capturing fun and relaxed moments as a couple.

• Autumn: the falling leaves in deciduous forests create a wonderful backdrop for a session. Proposing a walk in the forest, a leaf war or even an activity such as picking mushrooms in a pine forest can be the perfect excuse to create unique photos in this season.

• Winter: If you have access to a mountain destination where snow has already fallen, a pre-wedding session in the snow can be magical. Alternatively, a session in a winter landscape, with the couple wrapped up warm and surrounded by a snowy environment, can be very special.

This type of session is ideal for couples who book their wedding date in advance, as it will allow them to choose the pre-wedding option that most appeals to them.

17# Outdoor picnic for pre-wedding session

If you want to give a chic and unique touch to a pre-wedding in the countryside, an excellent idea is to surprise the couple by organising a picnic exclusively for them. This proposal not only adds an air of sophistication and naturalness, but also offers a relaxed and romantic atmosphere, ideal for capturing spontaneous moments. In this type of photo shoot, small details and accessories are key to creating the perfect atmosphere.

To achieve this, go for a red and white checkered tablecloth for a vintage and cosy feel, and pair it with a wicker basket to evoke that traditional picnic feel. Be sure to include a bottle of champagne and some elegant crystal glasses to add a chic and refined touch to the photos. Fresh strawberries or other simple details, such as wild flowers, can also add to the charm of the setting.

The most exciting thing about this proposal is to surprise the bride and groom with this idea. If you organise the picnic without them knowing, you will achieve a unique and memorable experience. The photos that result from this moment will not only be fun, but also full of authenticity and emotion, showing the couple in a relaxed and natural environment. Not only that, but if you manage to surprise them, they are likely to recommend you to their friends, creating a network of satisfied clients who value that personalised and creative attention. This surprise will be an excellent way to stand out as a wedding photographer and leave a positive impression on your clients.

18# Minimalist pre-wedding

If the bride and groom have a more avant-garde style and are looking for something different and modern for their pre-wedding session, an ideal option is to opt for a minimalist reportage. This style focuses on simplicity, but without sacrificing creativity and visual impact. To organise a minimalist pre-wedding, you can start by exploring the most avant-garde and original monuments or spaces in your city, those with modern architecture, geometric lines or unconventional elements. Scenarios such as contemporary art museums, buildings with innovative structures, urban parks or places with artistic graffiti can be the perfect place to capture unique images that reflect the couple’s personality.

In addition, the wardrobe is fundamental in this type of session, as the minimalist style is characterised by simplicity and elegance. You can advise the bride and groom on how to choose clothes that follow a neutral colour palette, such as whites, blacks, greys or pastel shades, and avoid flashy prints or overdone garments. Opting for clothes with simple cuts and modern designs, such as a straight-line dress or a clean-cut white shirt, will allow the photos to focus on the couple’s connection and the minimalist setting.

Without a doubt, a minimalist and avant-garde pre-wedding session can be the perfect approach for couples looking for something original and stylish.

19# Traditional and historical bride and groom photos

If the bride and groom are deeply linked to the historical traditions of the region in which they live, an excellent option for their pre-wedding photo shoot is to take the opportunity to dress up in their regional costumes. This will not only make the photos unique, but will also add a very special cultural and personal touch to the reportage.

Whether in the costumes of falleros, chulapos, sevillanos, joteros, or any traditional dress that forms part of your cultural identity, these garments bring a visual richness that is rarely found in a conventional wedding reportage. In addition, these photo shoots can take place in emblematic locations in your city or region, such as in historic squares, in the countryside or near local monuments, which adds an authentic touch to the images.

The emotional connection the bride and groom have with these traditions will not only be reflected in their faces, but also in the context of the photographs, making the story not only a collection of beautiful images, but also a true homage to their heritage and roots. This proposal will allow them to relive their own family stories, making the story have an additional sentimental and cultural value.

In addition, this session can be an excellent opportunity for the bride and groom to feel more comfortable in their environment, as being surrounded by elements that are part of their daily lives, the photos will come out more natural and spontaneous.

20# Stag and hen party and pre-wedding in one package

And to finish with this compilation of ideas for organising your pre-wedding photo shoot, let’s take a look at this idea for a stag or hen party session. For couples who decide to celebrate their stag and hen parties together, having a photographer to capture the most memorable moments of the party with their closest friends can transform that day into a unique experience. Not only will they be celebrating a special event, but at the same time, they will get authentic and emotionally charged memories of the day that is so important to them.

This type of pre-wedding is especially interesting for couples who are not entirely comfortable with the idea of a photo session just between them, either due to lack of time or the feeling of embarrassment that sometimes arises when getting in front of the camera. By integrating friends and family into the experience, it creates a much more relaxed and natural atmosphere that makes the bride and groom feel more at ease.

This session will also allow them to see how fun and spontaneous their wedding day photos can be. It will be an excellent rehearsal for the big day, where, by being surrounded by close people and enjoying a relaxed atmosphere, they will see that, as soon as they get used to your presence, they will not only lose their embarrassment, but will see you as just another friend. This, in turn, will contribute to the wedding photographs being much more natural and full of genuine moments.

Make your pre-wedding photo shoot a unique and memorable experience

As you can see, simply informing your clients about the possibility of a pre-wedding photo shoot is not enough to increase your sales. If you follow this strategy, it is unlikely that you will get more couples to book this service. Each additional session or extra service you offer should be presented in an effective way, highlighting not only what it includes, but also the benefits it will bring to the bride and groom.

It is essential that, when offering a pre-wedding shoot, you clearly explain how this experience will add value to their wedding, allowing them to have more personal and meaningful memories. You should also highlight the different alternatives you can offer, from special locations to original themes, so that the bride and groom feel that the pre-wedding shoot suits their personality and style.

Use these ideas to convince your clients that this additional session is not just a detail, but an experience that will further enrich their special day. This way, you’ll increase sales and improve your profits with every couple you book for their wedding.

And continuing with this dynamic, we are going to share with you some more ideas to boost the sale of post-wedding reports.

>> Would you like to sell more post-wedding photos? Discover 7 infallible tricks

This is a very good way to make your photography business grow little by little without having to hire more weddings per year and at Arcadina we also help you to have more visibility on the Internet, automate processes, sell more images and offer your clients a much more modern and up-to-date service. You can try all our services for free for 14 days and without permanence fees.

 

 

 Today we are going to share with you the interview of the wedding photographer David from Josan Fotógrafo.

>> Interview with David de Josan Fotógrafo: children’s and wedding photographer

And to finish this article that can help you to organise a pre-wedding photo shoot that is interesting for your clients, we would like to know: What kind of pre-wedding photographs do you most like to take? We’ll read you in the comments.

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