Some couples like to book the pre-shoot in for the same day as the venue viewing, but I'm happy to book them separately - whichever suits you best! The main thing I always suggest to couples is that we meet in the morning or in the evening so we can get some beautiful light. If you're not up for getting up early enough to catch a summer sunrise then I'd suggest evening for sunset lighting. The timing also depends on your location, so we'll talk about it more and work out a time and date that works best for us all!

It's a date!

Think of your pre-shoot like it's a date in one of your favourite spots and I'm basically just crashing it and happen to have a camera with me. This could be something as simple as you guys hanging out in your flat, or chilling in a coffee shop, or getting bagels for lunch, or having a picnic in your favourite park while people/dog-watching. Your pre-shoot is as much about you as a couple as your wedding day is, so it's important to put real thought into where we go for it. It's not just a photo opportunity - it's a chance for me to see how you connect as a couple and have a great time together, all while we get to know each other and have a few giggles. 

Whether you want to go with a home shoot like this one or something more adventurous like Glencoe where I went with this couple, we can make a plan to find a place that suits you and represents you as a couple! Some locations may incur an extra travel fee but this will be fairly minimal and I promise it will be worth it to ensure you get awesome pre-shoot photos that feel as personal to you as your wedding day photos.  

I advise that you wear outfits that compliment each other in terms of colour palette, but not the same outfit or the exact same colours! If you tend to wear a lot of black this is no problem at all, black looks great but I'd suggest maybe throwing in an accent colour somewhere (I'd recommend doing this on top but if you then want to throw a leather jacket or something on top that's totally fine - layers look great!) 
Here are a few other tips in terms of colours etc:
- Try to avoid distracting patterns/stripes
- Avoid bright/fluorescent colours - neutrals work best (if you need inspiration searching "neutral colour palette fashion" on Pinterest has some great suggestions!)
- Layers & textures are good for when it's colder, and if you have a nice blanket that you guys like feel free to bring it so we can get some shots of you wrapped up together.
- Try to avoid wearing trainers unless they are all black - branded/colourful trainers can really pull the attention away from your faces in any full-length photos, so go for some shoes/sandals/boots if possible.
- Speaking of footwear! Bear your location in mind - for example, if you want to head to a beach for the shoot then avoid wearing shoes that you really don't want to get any sand in, or if we're going somewhere that may have muddy terrain go for a pair of boots that you don't mind getting a bit dirty!

Here's a rough idea of what the shoot will be like so you know what to expect. It's going to be SUPER awkward (but only at first)...
We'll hang out and chat for a few minutes before we start shooting so we can get to know each other a bit better! Once we start shooting, I'll be directing you here and there - mostly putting you into a position I think will look great but then letting you settle into it and personalising it to suit how you would usually hug/stand/walk etc. so that you feel more comfortable. If you're nervous, no need to worry - I'm not expecting you to show up and *model* for me, I'll help you out! Some of the direction I give might sound like it's going to look a little cheesy, and it might feel that way, but as you'll have hopefully noticed in my work - I'm not a photographer of cheese and fake poses. I love it when couples are themselves - so I'll mostly just ask you some questions and listen to your stories and try to get lots of organic reactions from you both. I'm camera shy too, so I know how you feel but I promise being in front of the camera next to the one you love is a lot easier than you think!