Pre-Wedding Photoshoot | The Comprehensive Guide
1. What Is Pre Wedding Photo Shoot And Why You Should Have It?
1.1 The Definition Of Pre Wedding Photo
A pre-wedding photoshoot, sometimes regarded as the engagement photoshoot, is a photoshoot session takes before the wedding, normally 2-6 month in prior. You could get the amazing pictures to use from engagement announcement to wedding invitations.
1.2 Pre-wedding Photo Shoot is now becoming a trend
Originally getting popular in East and Southeastern Asia, the pre-wedding photoshoot in Australia is now becoming a trend. Not only the couple come from Asia country like Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, but also the local lovebirds like the beautiful scenery in Melbourne and Australia.
1.3 How long the pre-wedding photoshoot will last
Unlike the photography for wedding days, the pre-wedding photoshoot normally doesn’t have a routine timeline to follow. It totally depends on the schedule of yourselves. It could range from 2 hours to 12 hours or even 2 days.
2. Where You Should Go For Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot In Melbourne?
I am a wedding and pre-wedding focused photographer based in Melbourne. Over the past 6 years, I have walked with the couple over the mountains, down to the valleys, along the beaches and in front of the urban heritage buildings, capturing the natural, love, fun and intimacy moments. Below is a list of my favourite places for taking the Pre-wedding photos.
2.1 South Melbourne Town Hall
As a photographer based in South Melbourne, this is one of our favourite places to capture the pre-wedding photos. With the walking distance to our studio, we are more than likely to have a smooth start and get to know each other a bit more.
From the perspective of a pre-wedding photographer, we prefer to catch you with a ball gown or long train wedding dress here. The steps at the front facade with the roman columns of this heritage building could enchant your photos with the grand and epic feelings.
South Melbourne Town Hall also gives us a chance to capture the cars with you, on both weekdays and weekends. As far as we know, you don’t have to pay extra or apply the permit for this. For the locations close to Melbourne City, it really stands out with the quiet environments as well. Normally, we don’t have to wait for a clean backdrop to press the shutter.
2.2 Carlton Garden
Carlton Garden is one of the most classic places for taking pre-wedding photos in Melbourne. The Royal Exhibition Building, The Melbourne Museum, the natural gardens, the tree lines and the fountains could make sure the environment and backdrop are fit for you, no matter you love the natural feel or like the heritage buildings.
Carlton Garden located in the Melbourne City, so no matter any other locations you prefer to cover on your pre-wedding photo shooting session, it is always a possible place to add.
2.3 Brighton Beach
Not far from the Melbourne City, Brighton Beach holds the title of one of best beach destinations in Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs. The most iconic and beautiful scenery on this beach is a line of 90 bathing boxes. These colourful timber bathing boxes are quite compelling to people’s eyes.
Standing on the Brighton Beach here, you could also embrace the backdrop of the city view when the weather allows and the natural ocean view for the Port Phillip Bay.
2.4 RMIT University
Scattered in the Melbourne CBD, RMIT University owns some most beautiful buildings for taking the pre-wedding photoshoot in Melbourne.
If you love the historical feelings, Building 20 at the corner of Russell St and La Trobe St is the place suit for you. The historical romance could truly blend with the mid-century British feel in your pre-wedding photos.
When you prefer contemporary architecture to be the backdrop of your pre-wedding photo, I would recommend the Design Archive Building on Victoria Street. The round mirror rendered wall and the pathway with full height glass on sides will bring the modern and artistic feeling to your pre-wedding photos.
2.5 Montsalvat
Melbourne has some gorgeous locations with the castle feelings available for the pre-wedding photoshoot. Among all of them, Montsalvat is the top one on my list.
Set together with 12 acres of natural gardens, Montsalvat offers both the heritage castle facade and the country rustic feelings for your pre-wedding photography. The attic of the castle creates some decent lightings to make here become an iconic location for pre-wedding photography.
3. What You Could Wear For Pre Wedding Photo Session?
Deciding what to wear for your pre-wedding photoshoot is a tough one for sure. The outfit you and your fiance wear should make you look and feel good, work with the locations you choose, and tell your personal story. I would suggest the couple choose two or more outfits for their pre-wedding shoots, giving you the opportunities for both formal and casual feelings.
3.1 Match Your Locations
Your pre-wedding outfit choice is kinds of subject to the photoshoot locations. When you prefer to take the pre-wedding photos in a wide-open area with stairs, the ballgown is the most appropriate one. When you want to give a more playful vibe feeling to your images, a short wedding dress could achieve it. If you love the natural and candid feelings close to the beach or in a country vineyard, you could try denim shirts or light colour casual outfits. Think about how your outfits to match the location is always my first suggestion to the couple who are planning a pre-wedding photoshoot session.
3.2 Wear Comfortable Outfits
You could always try the more outfits during your pre-wedding photoshoot. No matter you are wearing a traditional white wedding dress, a simple casual couple’s outfits or something to show your style and love story, make sure you choose the outfits you feel comfortable to move around. Without worrying about sucking in your stomach or covering up your arms during your pre-wedding shoot, you could focus more on interacting with your loved one and overcome the camera shy. Wear silhouettes you know flatter your shape and make you feel good is always important for pre-wedding photoshoot. You could choose the what have already worn when you handout for a date with your fiance, so you could be exactly yourself.
4. How To Have The Perfect Pose For Pre Wedding Photography?
For pre-wedding photography, all the photographer direct, despite what you may hear or read the natural and candid philosophy of capturing photos. The key to creating different feelings for photography is depending on how you express your self and how the photographer direct you. The location you choose, the outfits your wearing and the directing method from your photographer should match with each other.
Below are some poses I often use for the pre-wedding photography session or weddings I captured.
4.1 Dancing
4.2 Follow Me
4.3 Hands On Shoulder
4.4 Emotional Hug
4.5 Kiss On Forehead
4.6 Hands-On His Chest
4.7 Holding Hands
4.8 Hug From Behind
4.9 Taking A Walk
4.10 Looking Each Other
5. How to have The Perfect Pre Wedding Photography?
5.1 Plan The Concept
For pre-wedding photography, you have to choose 1 or 2 themes to provide the fundamental guideline for your photographer, your makeup artist and the outfits for the day. Find the images via Instagram and Pinterest could deliver a clear idea to your pre-wedding photography team.
5.2 Talk To Your Photographer Before Shooting
We always recommend the couple come to our studio to meet the photographer before the actual shooting day. It helps both sides to get to each other a bit. The photographer got a chance to exactly know what kind of images you are after.
5.3 Scout The Locations
If you live close to where you plan to take the photos, it would be good to scout the location before the shooting day. You may find the location is occupied by some public events or it is under maintenance. For the locations, a bit far away to reach, you could search the information online or chat with your photographer to get the latest news.
5.4 Check The Weather And Have A Plan B
Melbourne’s weather is kinds of crazy. Rain, hail, storm sometimes may come without the indication. So check the weather forecast is essential. Sometimes, even the forecast say it is cloudy, I would suggest having a plan B for your shooting schedule. Heading to somewhere with the canopy could make your pre-wedding photography session feasible.
5.5 Grab The Golden Hours
No matter how your pre-wedding day plan is organised, grab the golden sunsets hours for actual shooting could deliver some amazing photos. Unless it is a cloudy or rainy day, spending this period of time for travelling or indoors is not recommended from a photographer’s perspective.
5.6 More Prime Lens Shoot Opportunity And Flattering Angle
Unlike the weddings we captured, the pre-wedding photo shooting normally doesn’t have any formalities. The schedule is flexible to some extent. So the photographer has more chance to use the prime lenses and find your best angle. This will enchant your photography work for sure.
5.7 Use Off-Camera Flash When Necessary
When you prefer to have the grand and epic feelings for your pre-wedding photography, then you have to talk to your photographer. The off-camera flash is essential to deliver the right lighting to you. It will make the post-editing work much easier.
5.8 Balance The Pose And Candid
Like what I discussed in the last paragraph, all the pre-wedding photographer direct when they capture you. The different feelings of the photo depend on how your photographer gonna direct you. For pre-wedding photography, you could mix up with some styles. It certainly gives you the diversity when you review your pre-wedding photos in the future
5.9 Bring These Moments To Your Home By Print Out
Long after your wedding days, the only thing will remain is your images. You could recollect your story and love every single day, by printing your memories on to a premium fine art print, hovering freely inside the acrylic screen and housing in a simple time frame. You could also get emotions from all your digital files by turning them into a designer layout album.
6. After The Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot
When you complete your pre-wedding photoshoot, you could pick out the photos you like the best and let your photographers know. They could focus more on retouch these photos for you and have a clue about how to capture the best possible photos on your wedding day.
Have some prints, framed and displayed in your wedding venues. You could share this magical stage of your relationship with your family and friends.
