it is not uncommon these days that couples getting married would embark on pre-wedding photo shoot, as it marks the beginning of their journey together. here are some points worth taking note of, as experienced couples would tell you it is indeed full of suprises.
when - so when do you take pre-wedding photos? now this is a trick question, no kidding. which one comes first, chicken or egg? the decision on this varies, depending on the situation and at which stage the couple’s relationship is at. it is obvious that pre-wedding photos are taken before the actual wedding, but little does anyone realises that if the photos & albums were to be ready for the actual wedding day, most studios would require at least 3 months lead time from the day the photos are taken.
one: do - plan 6 months ahead!
this is the tricky part, if you are ready to pop the question and seal it in 6 months? or a year? how would you even know. but regardless of what it is, you need to plan. from the day the knee touches the ground (of course given the answer is “yes”), you will need to plan. if you want your photos to be ready for the wedding day, that brings the photoshoot to, say at minimum 3 months before the wedding. and having set that, you need to go shopping, for a bridal house that you want to do the shoot. give the bridal house plus minus a month, to firm up your date, bear in mind they are not always available given the rate of people getting married these days, and more so with a good bridal house. that sets you back at least 4 months before the wedding day. and everyone knows everyone wants to look good for wedding photos, so you get two months to get fit! literally! forget about the pimple scar on your face, dark eye circles, or the ideal skin complexion you want, all these can and will be “adjusted” during post photo shoot processing, and there’s no shame about it. what you need to do is, get healthy, get fit, so that you get to flaunt in that dream gown (or suit). This is something the photographer and his thousands of dollars worth of equipment can’t do for you. having said that, avoid slimming supplements or get-fit-quick remedies. no one person reacts the same way to all these, and you are at risk of going the other way (or just going bad), and by the time you realize it, it’s too late.
two: do - choose a good bridal house
these days bridal expos are common. every few month of so you’ll see one even if you don’t intend to. but that’s a good place to start looking. don’t focus on the price tag, don’t look for cheap packages and assume it will stay that way. don’t look at high prices and think you can’t afford it. set your budget at the total amount you are willing to spend, and that includes bridal house package with extras that will definitely come (at least 30% more than the package price for add-ons extra pose, albums & such), accessories for the photo shoot and bear in mind most items for the groom are not included (tuxedo shirt & studs, cuff links, shoes & belt which could set you back thousands of dollars), travel plans should you choose to do it somewhere else. having taken all these into considerations, work backwards to the amount you are left with for the bridal house package.
you will then notice that the bridal houses will quote you a “special” package and then tell you they can’t give you the brochure and details on paper, and they will also tell you it’s only valid for the day. for obvious reasons they do not want you to go comparing, and hopefully force you to decide there and then. don’t worry, just go ahead and leave, record down yourself what you need and move on to the next one. collect at most 5 options, not more. don’t get yourself confused. then go online and search, there are ample information and reviews everywhere. choose one that fits the bill, the overall bill. whichever you choose, make sure you get a copy of everything, the list of what’s included and not, the receipts for your deposits & payments, confirmation details of dates & venue, choise of album & quality, get everything in black and white.
and do not forget tips for the photographer and assistant on the day, factor that into your budget. they have a lot of influence on the final product after the shoot. and sometimes just being nice gets you some perks later on.
three: don’t - buy extras from bridal house
nothing against the bridal house trying to do some business, but they will try to sell you things you likely already have, or could get better ones outside. there are some they will tell you in advance what you’ll need, but there are also those they will only tell you on the day itself, leaving you no choice but to buy from them. here are some of the items, for the groom - tuxedo shirt, usually one white and one black (or other colour) with its studs and matching cuffs, black and white (or other colour matching) pants. for the bride - ampoule, face & body foundation, accessories, nude bra. don’t underestimate these items, they could set you back hundreds if not thousand.
four: don’t - go cheap
i know this is a tough call, but with a bit of proper planning and even some luck, you can actually stretch your dollars quite a bit. there had been quite a bit of horror stories online, and it’s difficult to judge who is right or wrong, the bridal house or the client. but in the end, worse case scenario, the bridal house loses the business, and the client? lost one big life event. who’s has got more to lose? the general assumption (and mostly true) is that bridal houses with higher price tags can and is paying more for their employees, and these days manpower costs are very high. from the point of negotiation, sealing the deal, to the actual day preparations, make up, photo shoot itself, post shoot processing and lastly but not least printing and delivery of final products, this is a very labour intensive process, and that’s where your every dollar goes.
five: do - speak up
you need not wait to be asked, speak up on your preferences. have a discussion with your better half and do set yourself preferences in term of colour, theme, venues, poses that you may or may not be comfortable of, makeup products brand, or even any special request for makeup artist and photographer. you can even ask to view his or works to ensure this is the style you want.
