Pictures: Campbell Photographic

IT’S your wedding day! It’s time for your photography and you’re asked to stand here, stand there, twist, tilt your head this way, now that way, lift your chin, drop your chin, smile, don’t smile, look sexy ……

When you met him your photographer assured you that he knows what he’s doing – he’s photographed hundreds of weddings and knows exactly how to pose people. He has HIS ideas of what pictures to take and he’s been to your venue before.

Great! That’s all well and good for him to say and it may likely be true. BUT like most people in this country, your wedding day is likely to be the first (and possibly the last) time you’ll be photographed by a Professional Photographer and YOU don’t know how to stand, where to put your hands … “tilt your head”? Great. Erm …how much?

From experience I can tell you that when you ask someone to turn their head slightly to the side, in general you get a massive move and the shoulders tend to go with it!

Then there are those special shots. The tog asks you to climb on the bed, or the wall, or lie on the floor. All a bit of a surprise. And to find out on your wedding day that you’re not actually very comfortable doing that …

As any good photographer will tell you, great photography doesn’t just happen. Great photography is as much reliant on the subjects as the photographer and requires effort, input, trust and inspiration (and sometimes perspiration) from BOTH SIDES of the lens!

Whichever photographers you choose you must be 110% comfortable with them. If you don’t get along, it doesn’t matter how much you love their work – don’t book them! Why? Because it will show in your photos!

So, what is the solution?

A Pre-Wedding Shoot

A pre-wedding shoot is a photo shoot which happens before your wedding and it’s just with you (Bride & Groom). It’s just like a portrait session, except instead of being done in a studio, it’s done at your chosen venues and they usually last a couple of hours.

Why have a Pre-Wedding shoot?

A Pre-Wedding shoot is a good opportunity for you and your chosen photographers to look around your venues, discuss ideas for shots on your big day and to catch up with you. Perhaps you’ve seen some pictures in your favourite wedding magazine and would like them to try and recreate them. Maybe some detail of the day has changed, like some of the timings. It’s your chance to confirm details with them or ask any questions you’ve thought of since your initial meeting.

But most of all, it’s your chance to get in front of the lens and get used to being directed/posed. To see how your tog works and to understand what they mean when they say “be 10% more sexy”!

It will give your photographers the chance to see what your comfortable doing in front of the camera and how you move. This is very useful as it will give them an idea of what you will be willing to do on the big day.

The pre-wedding shoot will help you to lose the insecurities and nervousness of being in front of the camera and help you to be confident and relaxed on the day. It’s a chance for you to practice those shots, like dips, that everyone THINKS they can do, only to discover how bad they look when you do it wrong and how heavy your partner actually is! J

It’s also a great time to discover if you’re comfortable and relaxed with your choice of tog. How relaxed are they? Are they confident in their work and approach? Are they clear and friendly in their directions, or do they mumble, get snappy and irritated, fumble with their kit?

Do they try and show you what they’re after so you’re confident in the pose, or do they simply point and talk or click their fingers?

A Pre-Wedding Shoot is the perfect opportunity to discover all these things. PLUS you should get some great portrait shots out of it!

How much should it cost?

At Campbell Photographic we’re truly proud of the relationships we build with our clients – many of whom have become true friends. We understand the importance of building a trust between us and making sure we’re all relaxed with each other. Therefore we include a Pre-Wedding Shoot with every package for FREE.

Yes, for FREE! That’s how important we think they are. They are just as important to your photographers as to you and it really is a must for any professional photographer.

But for those photographers that have everything as “added extras”, you should expect to pay no more that around £75-£150 depending on where your venues are (if your tog is in Essex, but are getting married in Scotland, don’t expect them to just pop up there for £75!).

Some may charge a little more, but throw in a few prints, while others may see it as a simple opportunity to make more money by selling the images to your family.

However, many, many more of the better quality photographers are now coming to realise how useful these types of shoots are and are also now including them in their packages.

We suggest you shop around and see who does or doesn’t include them. If you’ve already booked your photographer, ask them about doing a pre-wedding shoot. You WILL benefit from the experience.