dlp Deirdre Langan Photography

Wedding Photographer based in Galway, Ireland

Bridal Preparations

The *Practise shoot – FAQ

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(*aka engagement or pre-wedding shoot).  Also, for the purposes of this post I’m going to assume I’m your wedding photographer.

  1. Is it important to do a practise shoot with you before our wedding day?

It’s not compulsory but unless you’re both really comfortable & confident in front of the camera it’s a really good idea.

  1. Why?

Practise makes perfect.  And I’ll guide you with poses, making you feel more comfortable & relaxed in front of the camera.  It’s also a good opportunity to build rapport between us & it’s all these little things that will make your day go smoothly.

  1. What happens with the photographs afterwards?

I’ll edit all images & I’ll send them to you in high resolution.  You’re free to use on your wedding invitation, as a decoration in your wedding venue or print & frame them for yourselves.

  1. What if I don’t love all of the images?

The practise shoot is just that!  It’s the day to experiment & try stuff.  I’m not into cheesy shots but if I suggest a pose that you’re not entirely happy with, then don’t do it.  Say “Nah!” & we’ll move on.  It’s not a one-size-fits-all.  In fact, if you’re not comfortable with a pose, it’ll show in the photo.  And when you’re reviewing your images, you should be able to see what works best for you.

  1. Do you give us any other tips?

Yes, I’ll demonstrate & show you how holding your limbs completely straight is awkward looking in a photo & I’ll show you how to avoid doing it.  You may forget again on your wedding day, but once I remind you, it should come back to you!

  1. What should I wear?

I’d recommend smart casual & comfortable.  Something you’d wear going out for dinner on a Friday night.  And ideally, if you wore colours that were complimentary, it would work well in the photos.  I’m not suggesting you wear matching Aran sweaters but similar tones are good.  Avoid loud colours & logos or text/slogans on clothes that may date.

  1. When can we do our shoot?

You can do it day or evening Monday-Friday* anytime between your booking & your wedding.  If you’d like to use any of your images for your invitation bear that in mind, time wise.  Otherwise you could do it as close to your wedding as you like!  Allow me two weeks to deliver your images in the busy season.

(*I’m not usually available Saturdays, but if I can fit you in I will)

  1. How long will it take?

About 20 mins.

  1. Where do we do the shoot?

My studio is close to the grounds of NUIG.  The Quad(rangle) is a lovely quiet area within the grounds, so we usually go there.  It’s sheltered, the quality of the light is always good in there & there are natural props; pillars, benches, lampposts, doorways & steps, which makes the experience more relaxed, fun & less contrived than a studio shoot.  But, if you’d rather the studio then that’s an option too.

  1. What does it cost?

At the moment I’m not charging.  I’ve found that it’s worked so well for couples & for me on their wedding day that I’m offering it with all packages.

Start the day as you mean to go on

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Bridal Preparations

On your wedding morning, it’s typical for more people to be around than on an average morning when you’re getting ready. And the more people that are around, the longer things take to get done & the more craic & chats to be had!

It’s a great idea to have your makeup artist (MUA) & hairdresser come to you.  If so, they’ll arrive very early, especially if there are several other “faces” – bridesmaids & mothers to get ready.

In my experience there are 2 very good reasons to be ready early.  And they both have the same benefit of ensuring you have a good morning.  And if starts well, it’s likely to go well!

Reason 1.

Let’s assume you’re having a 1pm church wedding & the church is only down the road. You won’t need to leave the house until say 12:50pm but your photographer/videographer will need to leave your house at 12 noon for the church, to do some setting up & get some shots of the groom & his groomsmen.

So, if they need to leave your house at 12noon, they will arrive to your house at approx. 11am.  Ideally you’ll be fully dressed by 11:30am for some lovely bridal portraits & some with bridesmaids & family. It needn’t take long, but you will need to be fully ready.

Remember, if your dress has a bustle then it could take as long as 20 mins to dress. Also, allow time for toilet breaks, lippy top up & a chat with the girls. It’s great to leave enough time to enjoy & take in everything that’s going on.

Note: And it’s you alone that really needs to be ready for the photos. Everyone else can be got later if not now.

Reason 2.

Assume you have no photographer or videographer coming to your house. Okay, so that gives you a bit of extra time & you don’t have to be ready quite so early.

But if you’re having your hair & makeup done say second last, you may start to get a little anxious when everyone else is ready & you aren’t. Invariably the schedule will slip & you could end up clock watching instead of enjoying the banter going on around you.

If you’re last to get ready, you may end up feeling rushed & not enjoy the morning preparations to their fullest.  And if you’re stressed, you’re likely to remember less later.

TIP: Ensure you’re no later than second on the hair & makeup schedules. Once hair & makeup is done, you can relax knowing you only have to put your dress on. This should give you ample time for chats, packing your hotel bag, wearing perfume, deciding on jewelry & all those other little odd jobs.

P.S. It’s a good idea to allow time too for eventualities like stubborn zips & buckles.