Your pre-wedding photoshoot is a unique opportunity to celebrate your love, create lasting memories, and tell your love story in a way that’s true to you. Whether it’s sparkly, playful, elegant, or rustic, a pre-wedding shoot sets the tone for your big day while offering a chance to experiment with everything, from hair and makeup to lighting and settings.

 

These photos often double as stunning visuals for your wedding announcements and invitations, adding a personal touch that will make your loved ones swoon. Plus, a pre-wedding photoshoot helps you get comfortable in front of the camera, ensuring you feel confident when all eyes are on you. Below, we’ve compiled a list of creative pre-wedding photoshoot ideas for you to try out!

Go for Romance

Taking incredible pictures starts with finding the right backdrop. The setting impacts lighting, colors, and overall mood. For a romantic photoshoot, consider the following locations.

Beaches

Beaches provide a serene, idyllic backdrop for pre-wedding photos, regardless of the time of day. At sunrise or sunset, you can capture ethereal shots of the sun rising or falling below the waves or your silhouettes standing side by side.

 

Experiment with playful photos of you and your partner dancing barefoot on the beach. You can also write your names and wedding date in the sand surrounded by shells or flowers for your invitations.

Forests

Aiming for a mythical, fairy-tale vibe for your pictures? A forest or woodland could be the perfect spot, especially if you go during golden hour—just before sunrise or sunset—when warm light filters through the dense trees. This setting creates a tranquil scene with different textures and colors, perfect for capturing candid moments or dramatic poses.

 

If you take photos in a forest, consider wearing muted or earthy colors that blend in with the surroundings. You can also incorporate complementary props, such as rustic lanterns, flower crowns, or vintage books for an enchanted look.

Vineyards

You don’t have to love wine to appreciate the romantic beauty of a vineyard. The endless rows of vines, lush greenery, and rustic charm create a stunning backdrop for photos. A vineyard can lend a dreamy touch to your wedding photos while also providing unique angles and compositions for your photographer to work with.

A Historic Mansion

A historic stately home is a perfect photo venue if you want something that highlights vintage style. This is an ideal option if you cannot take your photos outside due to weather or don’t want to.

 

Try posing in a sunlit parlor or standing arm-in-arm under a glittering chandelier. The surrounding architectural details will add sophistication to your photos. A stately home also allows for creative versatility, offering both intimate corners and dramatic wide-angle shots that make your love story feel regal.

Plan An Adventure

Your pre-wedding photos are the perfect chance to break free from tradition and choose a location that’s meaningful and helps you tell your story as a couple. Consider making your photoshoot an adventure with the following destinations.

Rooftops

City skylines are stunning, especially if you live in a bustling urban area that blends historic architecture with sleek, contemporary building designs. Rooftop photos look incredible at sunset since it isn’t too bright, allowing your photographer to capture shots of you and your partner against the vivid colors of the sky. If you take photos in a city that’s near a lake, you may want to head to a rooftop with a lakeside view.

Destination of Choice

If you and your partner have a favorite vacation spot or special location in mind for the wedding, it could be the perfect backdrop. Consider what you love about the location. Do you enjoy the downtown area, relaxing by the beach, or exploring the great outdoors? Use those elements to incorporate into your photoshoot and create a unique and memorable experience.

Bridal Tip

You could also travel to a location solely for the aesthetic value of your photos. Stunning landscapes, such as mountains or natural wonders of the world, can provide a beautiful and memorable setting for your wedding photos.

Consider the Time of Year

The time of year partially determines the location you’ll visit, when you’ll take the photos, and how everything will look. If you want to take pictures outside, consider the elements you want to include in them.

 

Do you want lush grass and colorful flowers? Then you’ll have to do the photoshoot in late spring or summer. On the other hand, fall is the best time if you want a cozy scene with gold and orange tones.

 

Discuss the elements you want with your photographer, as they can help you determine the best season and time of day. After all, sunrise and sunset differ throughout the seasons, which will impact your photos if you want to use natural light.

Bridal Tip

Aim to use natural light in your pictures, as it captures colors in their truest form. Artificial lighting can sometimes create a harsh or unflattering effect. If you’re indoors, let light shine through the windows.

Experiment With Poses

Another pre-wedding photoshoot idea is to try out a variety of poses for each picture. Poses like your partner dipping you or the two of you sharing a sweet embrace are always heartwarming. Here are some additional classic poses you may do with your partner:

• walking hand in hand
• leaning against each other
• forehead to forehead
• kissing while standing or sitting
• piggyback ride
• staring into each other’s eyes

These classics never go out of style, but your photoshoot is also a great opportunity to get creative and showcase your unique love story through imagery. Once you’ve taken your timeless shots, try out some unconventional poses based on ideas you and your partner have. You can also talk to your photographer if you need help sparking creativity. Consider these ideas:

• reenacting a favorite movie or TV show scene
• holding up a meaningful item or prop between you
• trying out fun dance moves together
• doing an activity you both enjoy, like cooking or playing a game

Additionally, ask your photographer to take some candid shots of the two of you. Sometimes, our favorite photos are the ones that capture us living in the moment because they reveal the depth of our love.

Do What You Love

Your pre-wedding photoshoot is a chance to capture the essence of your love story in a way that feels uniquely yours. From choosing the perfect location to experimenting with poses and seasonal themes, every detail contributes to creating memories you’ll cherish forever.

 

On your wedding day, you can recreate some of your favorite poses from the photoshoot. To make them even more special, make sure you get a dress that you adore. Justin Alexander makes that search easy. Explore elegant, luxury wedding dresses on our website or at any of our retail locations. Let your style shine through every moment, starting with the perfect gown!