We 3Bs are all jobbing wedding photographers. We love being part of such a special time in peoples’ lives, but what a responsibility. One thing we all agree on is the importance of pre-wedding shoots.

Right now the wedding season is just about kicking off, so we’re all busy doing loads of pre-wedding shoots for our summer wedding clients. These are great for a number of reasons. First it a great opportunity to get to know the couple and for them to  get to know you. They get to see you operate, the equipment you use and that it really is a lot of fun. Couples tend to be a little nervous just before the shoot because they are doing something that is a little outside their comfort zone. But after short time they realise it is just you and them and that they can’t hold the fake smile any more so they go with it and relax which is when the great pictures start being taken.

One important thing to do is also talk to your client. One to relax them but also to help set them up in situations that they feel comfortable. If you don’t talk to them and help guide them then they will stand like lemons – which doesn’t make for a great shot. After a while they will get what you are trying to do and start being a couple and hopefully you get to point that they feel comfortable and forget the big hairy photographer that is with them. Sometimes you can feel like a marriage guidance counsellor in  getting couples to have a hug or a kiss! Couples are all different and some will be happy to have a kiss and show their love openly for the camera. But others will be a little more reserved. So you have to gauge how far you can push it with them. You never want ask a client to do something they don’t want to do, and it’s great to get this process out of the way before the wedding.

Location can have an influence as well. Being based in Leeds we have the opportunity to have a more Urban feel to the Pre-Wed or a short drive with can be in some stunning scenery. So think about location. Give the client the choice. It could be a location that is special to them. Where they first met. Where they got engaged or where they are getting married.

What you are trying to do is get to a stage with your clients that they are relaxed, are enjoying the time with you and this helps you get relaxed stunning images. The other point you are working towards is the one where they feel so comfortable with you that when you turn up on the wedding morning they know you and it’s like ‘Hey guys come on in – make yourself a coffee!’ They know you’re good company and great to work with, and they know their wedding photos are going to be amazing so you are giving them one less thing to worry about on the wedding morning. Just keep it fun and relaxed.

Your couple will have seen the pictures of the pre-wedding shoot on-line before the wedding day and hopefully will have loved them and raved about them to Mum Dad Sisters etc . So other family members on the wedding day will be more at ease because they have seen your work. Its great to turn up on the morning of the wedding and get introduced to mum and one of the first things she say to you is that she loved the pre-wedding shoot images of her daughter. They are on your side already!

These images can then be used for a number of things. The Pre-Wed is not about making money but clients will ask if they can buy images from the shoot. So just load them up onto to your shopping cart and let people know they are there if they want to buy prints. But also they can be used for ‘Signature Frames’, Guest Books or a nice canvas. Also some clients will ask for separate albums to be made. A lot of clients won’t spend any more money which is fine, but you just want to make it easy for people who do.

Some clients will ask if they can use an image for thank you cards, their Facebook page or maybe for a local paper and we are happy to just supply that no problem for free. Another way of using the images is for making cards that have all the login details to view their images after the wedding but to have a lovely pre-wed image on the front.

So if you haven’t done a pre-wedding shoot before try doing one. Some photographers offer it within the package some as an extra. It is up to you but what you will find is that your relationship with your client will be much better. You will have a lot more fun and have a greater chance of getting some amazing relaxed shots of the couple on their wedding day.