Pre-Wedding Photoshoot — How to Prepare, What It Costs, and How to Use the Photos

A lot of people think a pre-wedding shoot is just "pretty photos to keep" — but really it's the raw material for the whole event: your invitations, the opening MV, welcome signage, backdrops. Bonus, you get to practise in front of the camera with your photographer before the big day.

Here's when to shoot, roughly what it costs, what to prepare, and how to pick a package that's worth the money.

When to do a pre-wedding shoot

Typically about 4–6 months out, because you need lead time to:

1. Select and retouch photos (usually 2–4 weeks)
2. Use them for invitations (see Invitation Wording) and online cards (see Online Invitations + RSVP)
3. Make the opening MV, welcome sign and album for the day

Pre-wedding cost — what drives it

Heads-up: the range is wide, from a few thousand to tens of thousands of baht, depending on:

The trick is to compare packages fully — some look cheap but include only a few retouched photos, with the rest paid per image.

Choosing a location and theme

• Studio — controlled light, no rain worries, good for tight budgets or time
• Outdoor / café / beach / fields — a natural mood, but check the weather and light (early morning or evening is best)
• A meaningful place — where you met or feel connected; it tells a story best

Match a colour theme to your actual wedding theme (see Wedding Theme & Colours) so the photos tie the whole event together.

Preparing for the shoot day

• Prepare 1–2 outfits to suit the location and theme
• Book hair and makeup with time to spare before the shoot
• Care for your skin and rest in advance — don't lose sleep the night before
• Bring props if you have a concept (signs, flowers, meaningful items)
• Check the weather and have a backup plan if you're outdoors

Schedule the pre-wedding shoot without clashes using Wedly

The pre-wedding shoot has to finish before you make invitations and the MV. Wedly shows the whole order in a countdown checklist — book the photographer, shoot pre-wedding, select photos, make cards, send them — in a clear queue, and log the photographer's deposit in your budget so nothing's forgotten or left too late.

Summary

Shoot pre-wedding about 4–6 months out so the photos are ready for invitations and the MV. Compare packages for what's included (outfits, makeup, files), pick a location and colour theme that match the real event, and prepare outfits, makeup and a weather backup. That's how you get beautiful photos and complete material for the whole event.