Let’s face it—an outdoor pre-wedding photoshoots can be a hassle. You’d only have to look at a bride-to-be wearing 7kg of wedding gown in sweltering heat, and trying her best to act like she’s having a deliriously fun time to see that it is
not a joke.
Image Courtesy of My Dream Wedding
Yet, we all want to have pre-wedding photographs. Sure, there are those who may say they don’t, but we suspect they’re not being terribly honest—they probably do want the pictures, they just don’t think it’s worth the trouble of going through a photoshoot.
But what if you can actually have a great time? What if instead of the photoshoot being some dreadful thing you just have to do to have those beautiful wedding pictures, it actually turns out to be a really delightful experience? Well, here’s how to do that. (Forewarn: some of the following advises are a tad unconventional, so observe them with a grain of salt.)
1. Split from snotty photographer
There’s a lot of nice, friendly
photographers out there, but on your search for the one that's right for you, you would probably come across one or two who may be undoubtedly technically proficient, with an impressive studio to boot, but just comes across as a little too self-important. You know, the sort that hurries you along as though their time is too precious for the likes of you and me. Well, cross their names out on your list. Now.
Image Courtesy of Annabel Law Productions
Keep in mind that you’ll be working closely with your photographer, oftentimes under stress, so if they're not treating you right from the get-go, chances are things won’t get any better for you. Even if they prove to have excellent photographic skills, if you feel uneasy working with them, your pictures won’t have the warmth and good cheer that can only be captured if you’re happy with your crew.
2. Have a preliminary photoshoot
Visit your prospect photoshoot location and have fun taking informal pictures of yourselves. You can do selfies or take turns photographing each with just your phones. Don’t put any pressure on yourself: the point of this isn’t too actually get excellent photos that you can include in your wedding album—though that certainly could happen—but just to get a feel of what the actual photoshoot would be like.
Image Courtesy of Z Wedding Design
Goofily taking pictures of yourselves is enjoyable by itself, but more importantly it will give you a better idea of what to expect and how to go about the actual shoot—the quality of lighting in the area, which specific spots are best to have your photos in, even what poses to take. Plus, this has the added benefit of making you feel at ease on the actual photoshoot since, in a way, you’ve already done it.
(Haven’t chosen a place yet? Here’s our pick of
100 best photoshoot locations in Singapore, and here’s
20 of the most unique ones.)
3. Sleep + Eat well + Hydrate
With today’s photo-editing programs, pimples and other skin blemishes are all too easy to fix—so, really, you don’t have to cram in a beauty makeover sesh into your schedule just for your pre-wedding photoshoot.
Image Courtesy of White Link
What could ruin your pre-wedding pictures though—one that’s beyond editing programs to fix—is looking tired and haggard due to lack of sleep and extreme dieting. Without sufficient shut-eye and proper nutrition, your brain and your body are under stress, which is not something that’ll make you want to make those happy expressions and elegant poses that you need for great wedding pictures.
Also, during your photoshoot, make sure to keep yourself hydrated as—and we say this without any hyperbole—every single cell of your body needs water to function. Without proper hydration, you will tire more easily, are more susceptible to stress, and may even suffer from heat stroke.
4. Set a timeline and your pace
Imagine the busiest day of your life so far. Maybe it was your graduation day in college, or that time at work when you had to beat three deadlines, or it could be your best friend’s wedding where you were the MOH. Okay, do you have it in your mind? Now, double it—and that gives you a rough idea of what your pre-wedding photoshoot would be like. In a word, it’s
hectic.
Image Courtesy of Renatus Photography
Which means that you need to have a timeline, something that tells you what you should be doing at each hour. Draft this with your fiancé and head wedding photographer, and be as detailed as possible, noting not just what shots you wish to have and how much time you have for each, but also other necessities of the day like meals, transportation and even bathroom breaks (which when taken while wearing a full wedding gown could easily cost you 15 minutes).
5. Read photoshoot “horror” stories
We say “horror” stories, but really, these are more like tales of comedy. Like the couple who had to hitch a ride to their photoshoot location. Or the one where the groom got bit by a snake (no lasting injury there, thank God). Or the one shot at a beautiful meadow, in which it turned out the bride-to-be was allergic to grass.
Image Courtesy of Digio Bridal
Mind you, we’re not inviting you to laugh at other people’s misfortunes. The point of this is, firstly, to give you some perspective: these guys had such a terrible time and lived to tell the tale, so your own experience would probably look thankfully uneventful in comparison. Another benefit of this is that it would give you a better idea of the many things that could go wrong in a pre-wedding photoshoot, and therefore be better prepared for it.
6. Trust yourself, and your photographer
You’ve probably seen plenty of fantastic pre-wedding photos—you know, the kind with uber-dramatic lighting, fairytale wedding gowns, and poses straight out of a
Vogue magazine—and have been duly intimidated. Maybe it made you doubt whether it’s worth the trouble and the money, thinking that your own photos won’t be as good.
But you know what, you can absolutely have something similar to those. Do you think those couples featured in your photographer’s studio are celebrities and socialites? Nope. Chances are they also keep 8-to-5 jobs like you and me. But if you choose your photographer wisely—someone who you feel comfortable with and whose vision you can trust—then together, you can create wonderful pictures.
In addition, know that there are different styles of pre-wedding photos, and the glamorous style is just one. If that doesn’t suit you, it’s perfectly okay to use a different theme or approach that better reflects your and your fiancé’s personalities.
Image Courtesy of Avior Pictures
As a final note, on the day of your photoshoot, don’t take yourself too seriously. Try to keep a cheerful attitude and, really, try to enjoy the whole experience. If you and your fiancé enjoy what you’re doing, your happiness and your love will show through, and those are the most important elements in beautiful wedding photographs.
(Like to know more? Here are the “
Do’s and Don’ts” of preparing for your pre-wedding photoshoot.)
