When planning a wedding session we always tend to focus, of course, on the big day.. The Wedding Day. I am guilty of doing just that myself when I was married I wasn't concerned with engagement pictures, trying the cake, testing the caterers food, none of it was of any concern. As a bride, I just wanted to get married!
However, as a photographer I have come to appreciate the moments before the "I do's" and actually advise all of my clients to think carefully about all the decisions that they make before committing to any vendor. (Including myself!)
I know that if for whatever reason the bride/groom and I don't have chemistry it will make for a terrible session..Now in all honesty, that has yet to happen, I consider myself very easy to get along with and strive to please all of my clients, but I still always warn against leaping before you look.
One thing I offer with the majority of all of my wedding sessions, to a bride and groom, is a complimentary mini engagement session. This serves two very important purposes:
1) The couple will get to know me, outside of the hectic, stressful and fast paced environment of their wedding day. Which will allow them, when the big day comes, to be very comfortable and natural in front of me. My goal being to become a good friend. fast.
2) It allows me to get a feel for the couple, their sense of humor, what they are and aren't comfortable with, if they need a lot of direction, allowing me to tailor their wedding day photography to them.
100% of all of the weddings that I do this with are better overall!
As a bride there are worse ways you could spend 30 minutes of your day than holding your future husband and creating memories that you will look back on for years.
As a photographer, there is nothing more imporant than knowing your client and you are getting 30 minutes to do just that.
