A big part of the pre shoot is about being relaxed on your wedding day and enjoying the 'photo bit'! It is easy for photographers to forget that most people are not keen on being in front of the camera. The pre wedding shoot is great for you to practice what it is like to have your picture taken whilst cuddled up and looking in love! I totally get having a kiss whilst a photographer is hiding in the trees getting a shot through the leaves is weird - but trust me it will be super fun and you will get some awesome pics too.
So let me answer some questions:
Typically I try and meet you 3-6 weeks before the big day. It means you are close to your date, in the wedding planning zone and know the answers to all final questions. You can let me know if you are heading to the venue for a meeting with your co-ordinator or for a food tasting and book the pre shoot for the same day. Meeting a few weeks before your wedding date should also mean that the weather and venue are looking pretty similar to how it will on the day. Pre shoots are mid-week and often evenings, after 5pm - This should mean the wedding venues are quiet and you do not need to take a full day off work.
Most of the time I meet you at the wedding venue, especially if I have not worked there before. It gives us all a great opportunity to explore the venue. We can walk around all the grounds as we chat and see where it will be worth heading to for the photography on the day. It is far better to do this at the pre shoot than waste any time on your wedding day. Some couples like to meet at a location that is significant to them - the beach, the place they first met, a woodland walk that they love to do and I totally love this too!
First up, we chat for a little while to double check all your details. It's best to make sure locations, contact details and timings are all correct. It is so useful to be organised with your group shots so we can whizz through these on the day. Then we go for a wander around the grounds and I will talk you through how I work with you on the day and we’ll get some fab photos on our walk.