Why I Include a Pre-Wedding Shoot with Every Wedding | Claire Hirst Photography
Every wedding package I offer includes a pre-wedding shoot. And yes — I do sometimes get asked "do I really need this? Can I skip it for a discount?"
Honestly? Planning anything without a solid game plan isn't really my style. And I'd guess it's not yours either, or you wouldn't have spent the last however-many months getting every detail of your wedding just right.
Here's the thing though — the pre-wedding shoot isn't really about the photographs. That's just a bonus. It's about me getting to know you.
I learn what makes you laugh. We find something to reminisce about on the wedding day. We walk around your venue together and actually plan how the day will run — what locations we'll use, when the group shots will start, how long we have before dinner. These details sound small, but they're critical for everything to run as smoothly as you're imagining it.
After all that, we take a little walk and shoot some images — relaxed, informal, no pressure. I'll guide you all the way. And by the time your wedding day arrives, you already know exactly what you're doing. The photographs end up feeling like the easy part.
(Children and animals very much encouraged, by the way.)
These photos are from Drew and Kate's pre-wedding shoot at The Hidden Oak — and honestly, could they be any more lovely? All that easy laughter, that natural closeness, completely unforced. We had such a brilliant time walking the venue together, finding the light, and working out exactly where we want to be on the day.
Their wedding is on Saturday and I am absolutely buzzing for it. Watch this space.
If you're planning your wedding and want to know more about how I work, get in touch here — I'd love to hear about your day.
