DO I NEED WEDDING PREP PHOTOS?
AND HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM
Wedding prep photos. Do you need them? I get asked this question a lot. When most people think of “getting ready photos” they think of awkward photos of cufflinks being put on by friends and girls lined up in robes on a couch. Do you need those? Questionable.
That, however, is not at all what prep photos are about for me (and many others to be honest). Those quiet (or not so quiet and slightly frantic, user experience may vary) few hours before the ceremony are actually quite often some of my favourite hours of the day, and a lot of my favourite imagery often comes out of them.
Here’s a few reasons why, followed by a few tips about how to get the most out of them.
Skip straight to the tips if you don’t need convincing.
Why I Love Prep
It’s often one of the only quieter parts of the day
Wedding days can be pretty chaotic, and as such the time you spend getting ready is quite often the only quieter time of day that you have just with those closest to you, without the distraction of dozens / hundreds of other people around. As such, it quite often gives the space for interactions to happen that might not take place otherwise.
If you have a sister or friend or aunty or parent or etc who you are particularly close with but who isn’t comfortable or likely to display affection with the pressure of lots of eyes around, this is quite often when it happens.
2. It gives me (or your photographer) a good chance to observe which relationships are important
I always ask these questions prior to the day itself, but prep also gives me (or your photographer) a good chance to observe which relationships are particularly important to you. This way, later on in the day when things are happening really fast I know who to keep one eye on because they are likely to be emoting in a particularly strong way, and which interactions will be important to you to capture.
Obviously the wedding is, at it’s heart, about the two of you, but one of my favourite things to do is to look out for the little narratives or subplots that often play out over the course of the day. Sometimes it’s how close a groom and his mum or, or an elderly nan that everyone loves and everyone is constantly coming up to, or a couple of crazy nieces and nephews that you love to death and are thick as thieves with.
Essentially it boils down to this - the more I know your story and history (and what and who are important to you), the better I can tell it. This is the time of day (other than when we first meet) that I learn much of it.
This is also an important chance for me to start building a relationship with all the people around you aswell.
3. Theres often a lot of nervous tension, which can break in some really beautiful ways
Even if you’re the world’s most dopamine fuelled chiller, chances are you or someone around you is going to be feeling a lot of nervous tension the morning of. This isn’t a bad thing of course, but the excitement and anticipation often lead to bursts of pent up emotion coming out in a variety of ways. It might sound like a bit of a cliche, but quite often when your parents / mates see you dressed for the first time a lot of really beautiful emotions come out that are most definitely worth preserving.
4. You realise getting photographed isn’t a big deal
Most people aren’t used to getting photographed, particularly at such vulnerable moments. Having your photographer around at the start of the day makes you very quickly realise it’s nothing to be worried about, and can help ease some anxiety that you might have and get it out of the way early.
5. Quick portrait sesh
After you are completely ready, this is often the only time of day I will take a few minutes for some quick traditional portraits (which are often quite emotive in themselves). I don't generally like posing people too much, but you’ve probably spent a lot of time and effort to look bangin’, so let’s make the most of it.
How to Get the Most Out of Wedding Prep Photos
So, in order to give all the above the best chance of happening, here’s a few tips.
Airbnb over hotel, (almost) always
As much as I shoot from the heart (or hip) and always aim to document rather than pose, it doesn’t change the fact that lighting can make or break an image.
If you’re not getting ready at home and are looking to book somewhere, airbnbs almost always are far more photogenic than even the fanciest of hotel rooms, and have far more pleasing and numerous pockets of light than a hotel. You can also get one that suits your style, plus you have somewhere to stay afterwards, or host a cheeky afterparty.
In Sydney, this is caveated with the fact that there are a couple of boutique hotels that are actually pretty rad, but by and large they stink (..for photography).
2. No phones / TVs
Possibly slightly controversial here, but this is mainly a presence thing. The more distractions around, the more likely you are to be thinking about them rather than what’s going on around / in front of you. This is a pretty fucking momentous occasion, and the more weight you give to that the morning of the more likely it becomes a really beautiful process where everyone reflects and connects. Or you have more presence to give each other flack, whatever floats your boat.
Also, photos of people glued to phones aren’t particularly interesting. Who knew.
3. Lighting
Not to flog a dead horse here but again, lighting can make a world of difference. When choosing where you are going to be spending the majority of your time when you are getting ready, choose somewhere with plenty of natural light - somewhere near a window is always a winner. Not only will it make your HMU artist’s life easier, it means all the moments that inevitably play out will do so under some beautiful lighting conditions. Win win.
4. let your photographer know if you are doing anything particularly meaningful
Wether it’s a cultural tradition, a letter you’ve written to your spouse for them to read, or just a plan to saber a bottle of champagne cause why the hell not, if you’re doing something particularly meaningful make sure to tell your photographer when it’s going to happen. I’d hate to miss out on a big moment because I was outside taking establishing shots.
5. Getting ready doesn’t have to mean getting dressed
This one’s mainly for the gents (if there’s one involved). I hate to be heteronormative here and it most definitely isn’t always the case, but the process of getting dressed for the groom’s party often isn’t as emotive or engaging as the ladies.
That doesn’t mean the whole morning isn’t, however. Are you going for a surf the morning of or heading to the pub? A frosty ocean dip to clear the head and settle some jitters? This is often more important to document than you throwing on a suit and can result in some really fun, engaging imagery that’s going to mean much more to you down the line than a photo of you putting cufflinks on.
If you’re not sold well then, you’re probably never going to be. Hopefully all these help and have given you something to think about.
Back to the main blog, or have a read about how to plan the wedding day itself.
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