For most couples, the pre-wedding shoot is the first time they stand in front of a camera together. It gives you photos for your save the date and a few relaxed hours before the wedding gets busy. Here is how we plan these shoots with couples in Bangalore.
When to book it
Six to ten weeks before the wedding is about right. That leaves time to edit the photos and turn them into a save the date. It also leaves room to reshoot if the weather turns. Most of our couples are engaged for only a few months, so we suggest booking the shoot at the same time as the wedding.
Chase the soft light
Bangalore light is at its best in the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. Skin looks warm, the sky turns soft, and nobody squints. Midday sun is harsh and flat. Early mornings have another advantage: empty locations and cool air, so you stay fresh through the second outfit.
One location is enough
City traffic can swallow half a shoot. Instead of driving between four places, we pick one that offers two or three different looks: an old stone corridor, an open field, a lake edge at the end of the day. The lakes on the city’s edge and the road towards Nandi Hills are popular for good reason.
Some parks and heritage spots need a permit or charge a fee for cameras. Check with your photographer before you set your heart on a place.
Two outfits, not five
A casual look and a traditional one cover almost everything. Jeans and plain tees feel like you. A silk saree with a kurta feels like the wedding to come. Solid colours photograph better than busy prints, and deep reds and greens look rich against stone and grass. Wear comfortable shoes between frames.
The best frames happen between the poses.
Don’t worry about posing
Couples often tell us they don’t know how to pose. You don’t need to. We give small prompts, like walk slowly, whisper something silly, or hold on a little longer, and catch what happens next. Save a few Pinterest ideas if you like them, but leave room for the moments you can’t plan.
Think about where the photos will go
Ask for a mix of vertical frames for WhatsApp and Instagram, and a few with open sky above you. That empty space is where your names and date sit on a save the date. Our couples get their photos in a private wedding page, where they can design the save the date and an RSVP page from the same shoot.
Watch one of our pre-wedding films
Shruthi and Nikhil spent an afternoon with us in an old courtyard home, in silk and simple kurtas. No big setup, just the two of them, good light and a lot of laughing. This is the film from that day.
Questions couples ask us
How long does a pre-wedding shoot take?
Plan for half a day, with time for one outfit change and travel within a single location. Golden hour is short, so we start early or finish at sunset.
What is the best time of year for a pre-wedding shoot in Bangalore?
The months after the monsoon through to early spring are the most comfortable, with soft light and greenery. Summer works too if you shoot at sunrise.
Can we use the photos for our save the date?
Yes. That is one of the main reasons to shoot before the wedding. Ask for a few frames with open space above you for the text.
