Pre shoot

[Rubiks]

Got a wedding later on in the year what are your thoughts on a pre shoot. It's for a friend so I want to keep all options open and have a plan B. Dont usualy do any weddings.

[pvoices1971]

Thats a pretty open question, so not really sure what you are looking for. My thoughts - do it, find a couple of nice locations, go and take some snaps, if they have potential take your couple there and see how you go.

You mention it is for a friend, so I expect the financial ROI is not great, but if it is something you want to do and learn from, you have your answer already.

And by the way, have fun doing it!

[DG77]

I normally get the couple into our studio for an hour or so to do a pre-shoot, main reason being that you can suss out if there is anything that they are uncomfortable or self conscious about that may go unnoticed if you aren't aware of it... most people have something they don't like about themselves that is usually not noticed by others but really stands out to the person with the so called `defect' - My wife thinks her upper arms are flabby, I reckon my ears stick out too much and I don't have much of a chin....that sort of thing is really easy to overcome with posing, but if it's not really obvious and the client doesn't tell you before hand you could easily miss it.
Anybody can take reasonably good photos of a wedding, but making sure that the client is always represented in the most flattering way takes a little more effort and skill.

[Charismatic]

I normally get the couple into our studio for an hour or so to do a pre-shoot, main reason being that you can suss out if there is anything that they are uncomfortable or self conscious about that may go unnoticed if you aren't aware of it... most people have something they don't like about themselves that is usually not noticed by others but really stands out to the person with the so called `defect' - My wife thinks her upper arms are flabby, I reckon my ears stick out too much and I don't have much of a chin....that sort of thing is really easy to overcome with posing, but if it's not really obvious and the client doesn't tell you before hand you could easily miss it.
Anybody can take reasonably good photos of a wedding, but making sure that the client is always represented in the most flattering way takes a little more effort and skill.

+ 1

I use my Engagement shoots / Pre shoots as kind of a selling point -- I'm fairly young still and although I do everything I can to look the part and be super professional ($1200 Armani Suits, even) -- I still show up to "Your the photographer?!" --- I don't know if it is just a thing people are used to seeing (Older Photog's, I mean) -- Or what... But I digress.

So the pre shoot for me is time for the client to get to know me - See that I'm actually a photographer and not just a hack with a camera. Then obviously they get to see the results, as-well... If they don't like the results (Very rare) -- Then they can find another photographer.

But 9.9/10 they'll absolutely love the shots and couldn't imagine anyone else on their Wedding day, now that they've been shot by me and know me as a person and how we interact.

So... Yeah, Pre Shoot? Definitely. It'll make for a more relaxed Wedding day as far as the photos go - Seeing as they have already posed in front of you before and know the shots will turn out great.

[DG77]

That's one of the other advantages I didn't bother going into.
It also gives you as the photographer an idea of what the clients are going toi be like to work with on the day as well. Every now and then you get somebody that's really difficult to work with so having the pre shoot at least gives you some time to come up with a plan b for the big day.