The best time for your couple photoshoot

Smartphones and social media have rendered photos worthless. Gone are the days when small black-and-white photos were passed down from generation to generation like treasures. But despite all the digitization, they still exist—those photos that hold immense intrinsic value. Pictures that evoke memories and emotions when you look at them and will never lose their significance, not even for your children: your wedding photos.

That’s why no one would deny that the engagement photo shoot is an important part of your wedding. But when it comes to deciding when the best time for it is, opinions vary quite a bit. To make your decision and planning easier, we’ve summarized the key pros and cons of different times for the engagement photo shoot.

Still, you should also discuss this topic with your photographer. After all, there are other questions that will affect the planning. Questions such as:

• Where will the photo shoot take place?
• How much time should be set aside for this?
• What should you bring?
• What should you do when it rains?

Also talk about the mood you want to capture in the photos so the professionals can tell you what kind of lighting is needed. Whether it's at noon or at sunset makes a big difference.

1. My Own Photo Shoot Day

Although it’s common to have the photo shoot on the wedding day, some couples choose to schedule it for another day. This offers one major advantage: unlimited creative freedom.

Advantages: You don’t have to schedule the photo shoot as part of your wedding day. Your guests won’t miss you, and whether the photo shoot takes place in the morning, evening, or in the middle of the night is entirely up to you. You also have more freedom when it comes to the photo shoot location. Theoretically, you can use any place in the world as a backdrop, and if you manage to convince Elon Musk of your ideas, then the location might not even have to be on this planet.

Cons: Whether with or without Elon—a separate photo shoot day will usually have an impact on your budget: For one thing, the photographer will have to schedule an additional appointment; for another, your styling will have to be redone. Plus, you’ll miss out on the genuine emotions of your wedding day—even if it results in the most beautiful photos in the world, you’ll always know that it wasn’t THE DAY.

2. Before the wedding ceremony

Once the guests arrive—if not before—a more or less strictly planned wedding schedule begins. That’s why some couples schedule their photo shoot before the ceremony.

Advantages: Especially if your wedding ceremony isn't until later in the day, this gives you the chance to use the time leading up to it to take some beautiful wedding photos. Your makeup, hairstyles, and outfits will still look perfect, and the lack of time pressure gives you more freedom to be creative.

Cons: If it's important to you that the groom doesn't see his bride before the ceremony, this option isn't for you. Also, some couples get nervous before the ceremony, which can make it hard to achieve the relaxed atmosphere you're looking for. Additionally, the rings won't be in the photos, though they can still be featured in photos taken after the ceremony.

3. After the wedding ceremony

The time following the church or civil wedding ceremony —or immediately after the reception —is the most popular time for the newlyweds' photo shoot.  

Benefits: There are few moments in your life when as many endorphins will be coursing through your body as right after your wedding ceremony. The intense tension is gone, so this is the perfect opportunity to capture those emotions—because feelings of happiness can’t be staged. And the rings are now where they belong.

Drawbacks: Your makeup, hair, and outfits might have suffered a bit amid the flood of congratulations or the occasional tear. In addition, you’ll be under a bit of time pressure, because even if you keep your guests entertained with snacks and champagne, you can’t keep them waiting forever; and unless you’ve hired a photography team, you’ll also be missing photos from the reception.

4. During the celebration

In recent years, more and more couples have been choosing to step away from the celebration for a photo shoot.

Advantages: Depending on exactly when you step away, your guests will either be exploring the venue or enjoying food and drinks. It’s also the time when you’re least likely to miss anything. Especially if you’ve opted for a buffet, you’ll usually be able to make it back in time to eat with the last few tables. This also allows you to make the most of the “golden hour,” which is popular for photos.

Cons: Just like with the photo shoot after the wedding ceremony, you'll be in a bit of a race against time here, too. But while your guests will probably wait for you, the sun won't be quite as patient.

Do it your way

As you can see, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s best to go over the different options and their pros and cons with your photographer. Besides, it’s not an either/or decision. There’s rarely a reason not to go with a mix of the four options listed here. Depending on when your wedding ceremony is scheduled, where the wedding is taking place, and what kind of photos you want, the various pros and cons will carry different weight.

Now you know some of the most important things to keep in mind. For anything else, the photography pros will be happy to help. If you haven’t yet decided on a wedding photographer, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for here:Wedding photographers from Austria
Trust in their expertise, and your photos are sure to be at least as precious as the little black-and-white snapshots of our grandparents and great-grandparents.