I have been photographing weddings for a long time (since 2017)...and, I CRAZY LOVE the "day of" experience! Yet, almost always, the bride and groom portraits are always rushed and under a time restraint since they are usually the last ones on the list to do. Not only is it stressful for the clients who are trying to get to the reception, it is extremely stressful for the photographer. But, what if you had a chance to capture all of the portrait photos BEFORE the wedding day? I know, I know, whoever heard of such a thing? I want my clients to experience the freedom they deserve and offer an opportunity to be in a relaxed, un-pressured state of mind for their bride and groom images--the beautiful images they will treasure for a lifetime and display in their home.

When you hire someone to capture your special day, you expect them to deliver amazing images with gorgeous backdrops. The photos should capture beautiful editorial styled images they want to frame and put on their wall. But, sometimes it is near impossible to capture those "styled" images in a short amount of time. That is why I am encouraging couples to turn away from long-held traditions, like the traditional wedding portraits. While old traditions are not appealing among younger couples anymore, this "new way" of thinking has generated an entirely new sub-genre of wedding photography: the Pre-Wedding.

What is a “Pre-Wedding”, you ask? It’s kind of like what we refer to as an “engagement session,” except not really.

As the name suggests, the Pre-Wedding takes place BEFORE the wedding, similar to an engagement session. But unlike an engagement session, the clients often wear their wedding gown and wedding suit in the photos, along with several other outfits of their choice. These couples want to be seen in their wedding attire, and have no reservations or silly superstitions. They don’t buy into the traditional worries that couples may have about being seen in their wedding attire.

Pre-Weddings are fun! It's all up to the clients to choose their theme, props, wardrobe changes and locations. Some clients may want to rent a fancy car or airplane, or travel to their most favorite place where they met, or do smoky burnouts in a ’69 Camaro in a field, guns firing into the air, and hair blowing in the wind while wearing big aviators to shield their eyes (yes, I'm dreaming for you!)--the point is, the sky is the limit--YOU DREAM IT, I SHOOT IT. Of course, the Pre-Wedding requires the couple to be groomed appropriately as they would be on their actual wedding day (makeup, hair, jewelry, flowers, etc). After all, the experience should be just as special as the wedding day. These sessions also provide us plenty of creative freedom to shoot beautiful photos for save-the-date cards, wedding invitations, announcements, and guestbooks.

Once the session is over, the couples often hold a traditional, simple wedding for their parents and families. The photographer still comes to capture all the special moments: the ceremony, bridal parties, first dances, reception, etc. The only difference is, the bride and groom photos have already been done. The wedding day is very much for mom and dad, and to the couples, it’s secondary to their Pre-Wedding. Usually, the wedding day is the absolute most important thing to our clients, and the engagement session is less important – the Pre-Wedding offers a new perspective that is completely opposite.

So, while your friends are still taking the traditional path, I encourage you to try something new and exciting! These shoots say "goodbye" to the traditional engagement session and turn it into something bigger, bolder, and fun! The Pre-Wedding session just may be the least stressful thing you plan for your wedding.

If you're interested in a Pre-Wedding, contact me to see if your projected date is available. Then, we can set up a time to talk about all your hearts desires.