4 reasons to get outside for your pre-wedding portraits
Natural, outdoor engagement portraits
We love photographing engagement sessions! If you haven't seen our other article you can read about the benefits of having a pre-wedding portrait session here.
You have the option of having a studio style portrait session if you wish but we always encourage our couples to get outside. There are lots of reasons for this that we're going to share but first and foremost, choosing a location that is special to you as a couple is going to mean much more to you when you look back at them in the future. Perhaps there’s a beautiful park that you like to walk the dog often, or the beach where he proposed, or it might just be that you love animals and want to go to a farm!
Freedom of movement
You will hear us talk A LOT about wanting to capture natural images for you. There are so many elements that go into creating a natural looking portrait and the freedom to move around is one of them. There is no need to be confined to one space where you must stay on the spot so the light is ‘just right’. Let’s go and explore your local park. The variety of photographs available are endless such as walking and dancing, that just aren’t possible in the studio. Outdoor settings also give you things to interact with; one of the main issues people come across when having their photo taken is ‘what should I do with my hands?’. Being able to rest them on a fence for example helps you feel more comfortable and in control during the session.
Variety of backgrounds
In order to provide you with a range of dynamic photographs, we love to make use of interesting, varied backdrops. Just from one location we can often find three different settings that compliment each other but are also visually slightly varied. By utilising the whole space available at an outdoor location, you have some time as we walk to the next background to relax and take a moment if need be.
Relaxed and natural
Of course the environment you'll be in is much more natural in itself rather than a stark, white studio, but this also can help you feel and look more natural in the images too. When you are at a location that you are familiar with, you can feel more comfortable and be more relaxed… and that shines through in your portraits!
With this in mind, we would suggest choosing a location that you are comfortable in. If you hate the feel of sand in your shoes, perhaps steer clear of the beach. If you suffer terribly from hay-fever, consider staying away from the parks and meadows in the height of spring/summer!
No big, scary flashes
For outside engagement sessions we use natural light (the sun). This means there’s no need for studio lighting equipment that some people find quite daunting and intimidating. It helps make the whole experience feel more natural, relaxed and stress-free. Plus, you don’t have to worry about blinking every time the flash goes off! From a photographers point of view, it also gives us more flexibility to move around as needed and results in you receiving more final images. Win-win!
Written by Eleth Mageehan, (c) 2021, all rights reserved.
So you’ve had your pre-wedding portraits and you LOVE the photos but now what do you do with them? Rather than keeping them stuck on a computer, here are a few creative ways to use them throughout your wedding.