Pre-Wedding and Post-Wedding Photoshoot Ideas to Cherish Forever
Elopements create intimate, magical moments between two people in love. While the act of eloping itself often happens quickly, having professional photos taken before and after the elopement creates everlasting memories that you can decorate your new home with.
In this article, we'll look at the benefits of having a second photoshoot during your elopement, such as a change of location, style, clothes, and more. We'll take a look at both a pre-wedding photoshoot, also known as an "engagement photoshoot", and a post-wedding photoshoot, or "after shoot". So, by the end of this article, you'll easily decide which one you want to add to your elopement package and experience.
The Benefits of a Pre-wedding and Post-wedding Photoshoot
Pre-wedding and post-wedding photoshoots are a wonderful way for couples who are eloping in Europe to capture their newlywed excitement. An engagement photoshoot and after-shoot allow the couple to focus solely on each other without the stresses of a wedding day. It provides the opportunity to add a second location to your elopement. Imagine getting photographed by iconic European backdrops like the Eiffel Tower, Swiss Alps, or Santorini's white villages. Plus, you can decide whether you'd like to put on your wedding attire or go with different aesthetics, such as urban, natural, breezy, or mysterious.
Pre-wedding Photoshoot
A pre-wedding photoshoot or an engagement photoshoot is a great way for couples to get comfortable in front of the camera together before their big elopement day. An experienced elopement photographer can scout locations, choose flattering outfits, and guide you into relaxed, romantic poses. The resulting engagement photos will capture the excitement and joy leading up to your elopement.
Post-wedding Photoshoot
Post-wedding photoshoots, or after-shoots, are a wonderful way to commemorate your elopement. After the adrenaline and excitement of your elopement day, an after-shoot allows you to be playful, affectionate, and soak in your newly married bliss. Your photographer can recreate some of your favorite moments from your elopement ceremony or create an entirely new vision reflecting your style as a couple. From high fashion to simple intimacy, your after-shoot photos will tell your continuing love story.
So, when planning your dream elopement, we warmly recommend adding pre-wedding and post-wedding photoshoots to your elopement package. These photos will become cherished reminders of your lifelong commitment and marriage journey. With stunning engagement photos and/or romantic after-shoot images, you can relive and share your elopement story for years to come.
Pre-wedding and Post-wedding Photoshoot Ideas
Now that we’ve established why an engagement photoshoot and an after-shoot are fantastic ways to create more everlasting memories with your partner, let’s have a look at some great elopement photoshoot ideas.
Here are some different concepts and styles of pre or post-elopement photo shoots in Europe:
Candid Style
An informal, candid shoot capturing your genuine smiles and interactions. The photographer discreetly takes photos of your special moments. Great for capturing your unique love language.
For instance, think of being discreetly photographed exploring cultural sights like the Louvre in Paris. You can dress up in a gown and a suit and stand out while exploring the Louvre. With all the tourists curiously stepping on each other’s toes to see what you’re doing, you’ll feel like a thousand bucks. To learn more, have a look at our elopement packages in Paris, France.
If you’re dreaming of eloping in sunny Italy, we’ll take you out for some real Italian gelato. You’ll get adorable photos of you two tasting each other’s ice cream while sitting down in a classic café in your wedding attire. These photos are always a joy to look at.
Storytelling Style
The storytelling style results in creative photos expressing the love story between you. You may recreate sweet memories or create your first future traditions. The photos tell a narrative of your relationship and journey.
For instance, you could create staged photos recreating your first dance in the magical castle gardens in Sintra, Portugal. Imagine exchanging meaningful items like your grandmother's ring in an empty piazza in Rome at sunset. Or if you’re a nature fan, photograph a picnic you planned near Switzerland's Lake Lucerne, with notes and photos scattered about telling your love story.
Lifestyle Style
Pictures focus on activities you both enjoy, like hiking, cooking, or art. Create a glimpse of your shared passions and interests outside of your romance. You can be as spontaneous as you’d like, and capture unexpected moments and your unique personalities.
For some ideas of a lifestyle engagement photoshoot, consider capturing you both mountain biking through the Dolomites, Italy, showcasing that adventure is central to your lives. Secondly, you could get photos of you cooking and sharing a homemade meal on the Greek coast, emphasizing your shared passion for food and good wine.
Finally, have your photographer capture you listening, dancing, and enjoying the Spanish guitar together in Andalusia. Add a touch of flamenco for a truly authentic experience. If this is something that rings a bell for you, tune into our Granada or Sevilla elopement packages.
Read more: Eloping in Spain: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Wedding Destination
Fine art style
Fine art styles are moody, artistic photos reminiscent of paintings. Soft lighting and creative compositions create an elevated sense of beauty.
To provide you with a bit of inspiration, you could create portraits with you both backlit dancing in the French Provence or the Tuscany countryside at dusk, basking in a soft, romantic glow. Or perhaps get artistic black-and-white photos of silhouettes along a cliffside in Ireland with the ocean crashing dramatically below. Lastly, a popular elopement destination like Iceland could be a wonderful choice, just take a look at the engagement photoshoot of one of our couples, Sara and Sjonni, and their iconic photos.
Read more: Escape the Ordinary: Why Eloping in Iceland is Perfect for Adventurous Couples
Travel Documentary Style
Capture your spontaneous journey with a travel documentary photoshoot style. Document your exploration of new places and cultural experiences. Imagine taking candid snapshots of you two exploring iconic spots such as the Avenue des Chas-Élysées in Paris or The Ghotic District in Barcelona.
If you would like to go a step further, why not photograph your experience taking an art or cooking class in Italy? You could even capture both on your journey through multiple cities, such as your train journey, a boat ride, cruising down the country lanes in a convertible car, or even on a motorcycle for all of our fearless couples.
Black-and-white film style
The black-and-white film style has the power to create timeless images with rich contrast and tones. Give your pictures a nostalgic, retro feel, perfect for elopement in historical European settings.
If the black-and-white style speaks to you, here are some great ideas for your pre- or post-wedding photoshoot. You can create moody portraits of you in a vintage car driving along the Italian coastline. Our photographers could capture you dancing in an abandoned church in Ireland with beams of light through stained glass. Or, get artistic black-and-white photos of you kissing in a grove of ancient Greek ruins, under an olive tree, or on those iconic Santorini rooftops.
Outdoor, Natural Style
In the outdoor, natural style of an engagement photoshoot, photos primarily feature scenic natural backdrops such as beaches, mountains, or forests. The signature move here is emphasizing environmental portraits with stunning landscapes.
Capture portraits of you both laughing on the stunning Cliffs of Moher in Ireland with a gloomy but mystical background. You can capture moments as you hike through the spectacular Swiss Alps, with impressive mountains in the distance. Lastly, consider getting environmental shots of you walking through the Algarve beaches in Portugal, running through the lavender fields in the South of France, or picking grapes in Tuscany vineyards.
Read more: Everlasting Romance: Explore the Best Elopement Packages in Italy
Photographer: Kelly McAllister
Urban Lifestyle Style
Capture the street photography feel of walking through lively city environments. Great for elopements in major European metropolitan hubs. For instance, we could photograph you wandering the streets of a lively city such as Madrid, Florence, or Lisbon. Get lost at the local markets and try some local delicacies. Find impressive buildings and create a picture-perfect elopement photoshoot. Go to a theater or a cinema. Walk around the city holding hands to have a coffee or a glass of wine in a lovely traditional restaurant. There’s so much that cities can offer that seems standard, but when you’re wearing your wedding attire, the experience is nothing short of amazing.
Conclusion: A Pre-wedding and Post-wedding Photoshoot Are an Easy Addition to Your Elopement Package
In conclusion, thoughtfully planned pre-elopement and post-elopement photoshoots are a romantic way for couples to capture their intimate European elopement experience. Creative photographic styles, from candid to fine art to travel documentaries, allow couples to express their unique love story and explore their new union in a meaningful destination. Whether it's portraits among iconic landmarks, creative storytelling images, or environmental shots in beautiful natural settings, engagement photoshoots and after-shoots frame exciting moments before and after the wedding day. They create beautiful galleries for couples to cherish forever and create photos that the couple can frame and put up in their first home together. Most importantly, pre- and post-shoots allow engaged couples or newlyweds to fully focus on each other and their relationship without other wedding stresses, using the stunning backdrops of Europe as another way to deepen their bond.
We hope you enjoyed these ideas featuring different photo styles that could work well for pre- or post-wedding shoots. Adding an engagement photoshoot or an after-shoot to your elopement package is very simple here at Somewhere Crazy. We offer it in all the destinations where we offer elopements, but we can always go the extra mile as well. You can add it as an Extra Service to any Standard Elopement Package you choose. Our Premium Elopement Packages automatically include an additional elopement photoshoot, which can be done before or after the ceremony, depending on your preferences. Finally, a couple’s photoshoot can also be added to your Vow Renewal ceremony for our couples looking to celebrate their long-lasting love.
