Today I am excited to be sharing the first in a series of ‘everything you need to know about wedding photography’ posts. There is a lot to discuss in this topic, pre-wedding photo shoot ideas, getting ready tips, what to wear and much more.

Congrats! If you are reading this, you are probably newly engaged and planning your wedding. One of the first things in the process is booking a photographer. If you are still on the fence about having your pre-wedding photos taken, here are 6 reasons why I think you should definitely get them taken.

1. Getting to know your photographer

Think of your pre-wedding photo shoot as a test run. During your session, the photographer will take note of your personalities, preferences, and how you interact with each other. This will help them capture moments during the day that are unique to just the two of you. Remember that your photographer is not just someone who will be clicking the camera during the wedding. Your wedding photographer will be a person that will be with you throughout the WHOLE day, capturing special details and most of all, recording one of the most important days of your life. My clients quickly become friends, and this makes it a whole lot easier (and much more fun!) to capture amazing images throughout the day. Having someone you both feel comfortable with is a huge advantage.

2. practice makes perfect

Let’s be honest, unless you are a model, you are probably not used to having professional photos of you taken. Where should I look? What should I do with my hands? If you are one of those people that gets anxious in front of the camera, a pre-wedding photo shoot is a great way to calm those nerves. You will get a taste of how your wedding photos will look like, and this will help you feel much more relaxed on your wedding day.

3. get a taste of your wedding photos

Wedding photography is a major investment. You will have seen galleries of your photographer’s work, but only after the wedding will you get a chance to see the finished product. A pre-wedding session is an amazing way to get a ‘sneak peek’ and will give you a clearer sense of what to expect from your photographer. After you see the beautiful portraits the photographer has created for you during the pre-wedding, you can relax and rest assured that you will love your wedding photos as well.

4. Hair and Make-up trial

This one is solely for the brides. Combining the hair and make-up trial is a great way to put to test your wedding look. This will also give you the chance to see if you are happy with the look, and discuss any modifications you may want before the wedding.

5. Use the photos for the wedding, and at your home

This is an excellent reason for having pre-wedding photos taken. You can use the photos for your guestbook, thank you cards, at the reception, the list goes on and on. More importantly, a fabulous use for your favourite photo from the session would be to hang it somewhere prominent at your home, so you can see it every day.

6. It's a fun date!

With all that goes on around us in our hectic lives, sometimes it is just hard to find time for just the two of you. During your pre-wedding shoot, you can relax and just focus on each other. In fact, your photos will turn out so much better if you are truly enjoying the time that you are spending together.

Convinced yet? I hope that you are! Pre-wedding sessions are one of my favourite things to photograph, and I would love for every couple to have one.