This is an article by photographer Adrián Dominguez, from Vagalume Photographers, which brings you some great photography tips so that you can successfully carry out your next pre-wedding photo sessions . If you want more information about wedding photography, at this link you have the most complete mega guide on the net to get started as a professional .
WHAT IS THE PRE-WEDDING?
Do you want to start in the world of weddings and can't find a reason to have a pre-wedding? I will tell you about my experience as a wedding photographer. This post will help you a lot.
Couples may be hesitant to do it or embarrassed. I will give you the reasons so that your attitude when offering and selling it is firm; and that your bride and groom know that doing it will only help them to make everything go better and answer questions that would otherwise be unknown until the day of the wedding.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRE-WEDDING
As part of your wedding business, you must design effective marketing strategies, as you can see, this is our way of selling the pre-wedding.
In my case, the channel chosen to reach the client is the internet, specifically the positioning in google, later I would like to talk to you about this, if you are interested, leave a comment.
THE PORTFOLIO
As a photographer, the pre-wedding is an important part of your business, because you will be able to create a portfolio in a slow and premeditated way. During the wedding it is important to leave space for the couple to enjoy the day and you must work on what happens.
This portfolio should be the most important part, however, in the pre-wedding you will get a different type of image, perhaps more focused on attracting the attention of your future clients, that very important first impression that I would also like to talk about in a future article. .
In addition to getting the portfolio, for which in each pre-wedding you must fight to improve yourself and advance, the pre-wedding is the economic complement of the wedding. As a wedding photographer, and if you have the initiative to dedicate yourself to it full time, you must have all the necessary resources to achieve it financially. I think I'm opening many holes in front of me, if you like this article, and I hope you do, leave a comment so I can answer your concerns and also talk about budgets, if you're interested.
CONFIDENCE IN THE PRE-WEDDING
Another very important part of the pre-wedding is client-photographer trust, you will get them to know you, break the ice and trust your work without hesitation. If they see how you work during the pre-wedding and have time to resolve their doubts or lose their fear in front of the camera, everything at the wedding will be more fluid and comfortable.
I take this opportunity to comment that we all have our style and the type of photography that we like or know, do not let them influence you to do things that you do not know or do not master. For example, you will often find wedding organizers or wedding planners who will tell you: you have a very cool photo from here. Even if the intention is to be grateful, avoid these situations, if you don't doubt their work, they shouldn't either, you both want to give your clients the best, in your own way, that's why they choose you and not another photographer ?
WHAT TO BRING TO THE PRE-WEDDING?
In this section I tell you what equipment I take to the pre-wedding and what my clients should bring, as they are the most recurring questions.
MY PRE-WEDDING TEAM
My team is two Sony a7iii , with several objectives, the usual ones are the Sigma 35mm art f1.4and the Sony 85mm f1.8 FE. This is not the best combination, it is my combination, everyone has their own, to which you must adapt and with the focal lengths with which you move more comfortably.
I also have a 24-70mm, a bit more wide lens, but this is usually my video lens; my latest acquisition, the Sony 50mm 1.8, but it is already a whim.
Then I usually carry a Godox 850 flash with the Godox xpro remote control.
In general, I like to be accompanied to these sessions, taking a lighting assistant helps a lot, knowing how to use the external flash on the camera is a great resource, and it will help you correct the lighting in your photos and give volume.
WHAT SHOULD THE BRIDE AND GROOM WEAR?
Regarding the choice of clothes for that day, you have to take into account several items to avoid, due to their colors or characteristics, it does not matter that they lose importance with respect to the funds you choose.
They should avoid bright, fluorescent colors or with a lot of contrast between them. The same with very marked prints or very small objects that can create distortions in the camera, for example, the moiré or moiré effect ; It is also not convenient for them to wear T-shirts with drawings or large letters that may distract attention from the photo. Another recommendation is to avoid green if you are going to photograph in the forest, or blue if you are going to use large skies in the background.
WHERE TO DO THE POST-WEDDING? CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLACE
We should be able to take beautiful photos anywhere, but if you can choose, based on the tastes of the clients, beach, forest, mountain or city, the better.
The beach is fantastic for big backlights or pretty orange lights that dress up the backgrounds ; the forest offers very homogeneous backgrounds and neutral colors on which to highlight the couple; the mountains, wonderful and spectacular backgrounds with great contrasts between the sky and those highest peaks; and, finally, the city, my favourite, which gives away structures with which to strive to compose and many objects with which to give free rein to your imagination.
HOW LONG SHOULD THE PRE-WEDDING LAST?
The duration of a pre-wedding is usually about 2 or 3 hours, to this time you should always add travel, an important fact that I will talk about in the budget, if you request it; every hour you spend on the road is one hour of your time.
Finding those potential photo spots can take some time, but with experience and practice you'll even have enough time to stop, have a drink, and chat, helping to relax the atmosphere and make the couple feel more comfortable.
My choice is usually in the evenings, between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. depending on the time of year, where the lights are more beautiful and soft, and not the hard, strong light of the central hours of the day.
Another option is to get up early and enjoy the sunrise lights, but you will rarely find couples who are willing to get up at 06:00 in the morning to take photos.
USES OF PRE-WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS
This work can be used to make a personalized signature book, paintings as a gift, photo slides for social networks or photo slides that you can use during the wedding as a way of letting yourself know the potential clients you will have that day.
Even if you like what you do, remember that this is also your business and it must be profitable, so do not rule out selling albums, paintings or souvenirs with these photos, they can give you that extra money that will make it easier for you to get to the end of the month.
Above all, to invest in continuing to train yourself every day and thus be at the forefront. In my case, I try to attend a couple of congresses or photography courses every year and, believe me, they are enriching experiences, you will leave with your batteries charged and with great ideas to face the rest of the season.
This is an article by Adrián Dominguez, wedding photographer at Vagalume Photographers. You can follow his work on his website, Instagramor Facebook. We also leave you with a video that summarizes his way of working and in which you can also be inspired ?:
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Did you like the article? Thank Adrián for his advice by sharing the article on your favorite social network so that others can also enjoy his recommendations. Thank you and see you soon.
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