The date has been fixed, invitation cards have been ordered for printing, menus have been taken care of, the quintessential wedding playlist is in the making, friends and cousins have started rehearsing (aunts and uncles too because they want to spring a surprise on the once-little doll or the once-little prince they’ve so adorably watched growing up), the best salon packages have been scoured and booked, honeymoon deals are being looked up, trousseau – neatly folded and wrapped in the softest muslin cloth – finds its coveted place in a wardrobe that’s filled with a mellow potpourri fragrance, buying fancy perfumes has been outsourced to the uncle or the aunt living abroad (after all, they’re way cheaper there!). In short, the stage is set for the D-day. But if you go back to the list, you’d feel something amiss. How about remembering the journey that you two covered hand-in-hand or a word on the budding friendship, thanks to elders in the family – have you booked a pre-wedding shoot yet?
A pre-wedding photoshoot is a great way not just to capture the moments leading up to the grand affair but also a way to document your chemistry, camaraderie, love and affection for each other and cherish them in the years to come. In short, a pre-wedding photoshoot is writing ‘your’ story with your photos. Keep these 5 pre-wedding pointers in mind to get the best of the photoshoot.
Photographer
This is the most important element of the photoshoot – a photographer can make or break your story. Hiring a great and well-known photographer is not the only criterion here – instead, you must hire a photographer who besides knowing his job well, can establish a great rapport with people. For, it’s essential to be in your elements during a pre-wedding photoshoot and only a candid photographer can bring out the best of your moments. Browse through portfolios to judge which photographer has the most candid or story shots to his credit and you’ll know who to place your best bet on!
Attire
Now that you’ve closed in on the photographer, it’s time to find the right wardrobe for the shoot. Your attire during the shoot is one of the mediums through which the story of your life will be told. Don’t leave the matching scarf at home, or choose a dress that’s too loud that it contradicts with the photoshoot or forget to pack extra clothes because you may fall in love with a surprising locale so much that you want to shoot against it wearing an attire that complements it. Discuss your locations and moods with your photographer and choose your wardrobe accordingly. If you’re school mates, wouldn’t you like to shoot a few shots at your school wearing your uniforms or if your parents made your match at a party, wouldn’t you like to recreate the first day you met wearing just what you’d worn then? If you don’t have the right clothes for the shoot, it’s time to hit the malls!
You can go to the most exotic locations or hire the most candid photographer – but, it’s how you dress that will be the best prop to your love story!
Venue
Palaces, gardens, beaches, marketplaces, or mountains – it’s the location that you choose which will make you seem larger than life! The grandeur of palaces will tell a different story from the hustle-bustle of marketplaces. You can also get photoshoot permissions for an exotic property so that you have the best of both the worlds – scenic backdrops as well as privacy. Choose faraway farmhouses, virgin beaches, old ruins, or a friend’s place if you two are private people. Likewise, you can choose restaurants, malls, parks or gardens if you’re okay with the public eye witnessing your shoot! Request your photographer to shoot different sessions in different venues to add just the right spice to the shoot!
Moments, Memories, Moods
Remember the 3Ms of any photoshoot – moments, memories and moods. You need to be in your best mood to make the moment a beautiful memory. Make a note of any special memory that you’d like to recreate or if none of you have proposed formally to each other, let that happen during the photoshoot and make the most of the moment. Be in your best mood so that your personalities get captured on the camera and bring alive the photos.
Props
Perk up your pre-wedding photoshoot with the help fun props. Here are a few cool ideas for props to make your pre-wedding shoot a huge success
- Placards reading meaningful sentences
- Larger than life photo frames
- Chalkboards announcing your wedding date
- Balloons with your names written on them
- Your pup with a fun message hung around its neck with you two in the backdrop
- A string with alphabets of your names clipped from it
- Paper crafts such as pinwheels, moustaches, or planes
- Colourful umbrellas covering your faces and torsos (like classic Hindi movies) and showing just the lower part of your bodies
- Bubbles to make the shoot look straight out of a movie
In the hurry and anxiety of the main event approaching soon, don’t forget to put together these cardinal tips of a pre-wedding photoshoot so that it comes together in the best way possible!
