If you're planning a destination shoot for prenuptial session, there might be some extra things you have to consider. We asked Edgee Zarsadias of POD Studio Productions, Erron Ocampo, Puy Talde of Really Awesome Weddings (R.A.W.), Bryan Yap and Marco Malaca of Blacktie Project for their advice on how to get the most out of your shoot.
BridalBook: For an out of town shoot, is it necessary for a couple to book photographers that are familiar with the area?
POD (Edgee): Although some might find that [it's easier to] hire photographers who are familiar with [the destination], it is also a great idea to hire a photographer who is unfamiliar with that place. Since the photographer is unfamiliar with the area, [s/he will not be prone] to choose spots that he has already used for past shoots. [Photos turn out to be] new and exciting, both to the couple and the photographer.
Erron Ocampo: Not necessarily. If a photographer is very familiar with the area, your photos might just look like all the other prenups that he has done there before--unless he's the type of photographer who always looks for something different and shoots differently, even if the location is the same. A photographer who's not familiar with the place might present a different take on the location.
R.A.W. (Puy): It would be an advantage if the photographer knows the area or [where the] nice spots are for taking portraits. But it is not an absolute guarantee that the photog will get awesome photos. Choose your photographer based on his/her portfolio and how creative s/he is. At the end of the day, you would rely on the photographer's creativity to give you those amazing shots, regardless of his/her familiarity with the location.
Bryan Yap: Very unnecessary. A highly experienced photographer with a seasoned eye for details can be brought anywhere unfamiliar to him, and can still create powerful images. Even in places he's familiar with, he can still create unique shots for different couples, as long as he's still in love with the idea of capturing distinctive images.
Blacktie Project (Marco): [It's] not necessary. As artists, we get more inspired if we are shooting a location for the first time. One advantage of a photographer who's familiar with the area is that he/she already knows the "good" spots; the disadvantage of being familiar with the location is that the shots may just be like his/her previous shots.
(BB): How much lead time should couples give you so you could properly survey a location?
POD (Edgee): A prenup shoot [is usually] held months in advance of the wedding date, and I usually require a notice of three months (especially if the wedding date falls on the peak seasons, November to February). Although [sometimes], with notice only a month in advance, [it depends if my team and] I can still handle the load. [Advance notice] will give me and my team a chance to scout the area and make sure that [the shoot can push through without] any distractions. I wouldn't want to show up at the location and find a traveling carnival parked on a once pristine and grassy knoll, or find that a parade has just entered the street, threatening to run over my couple. With the power of the Internet, our work is even made easier by having the couple or even myself search for any [events that might coincide with] the prenup shoot.
Erron Ocampo: I don't do oculars. I like getting surprised and amazed on how beautiful the place is.
R.A.W. (Puy): It is important that all elements of the photos are present in conceptualizing a shot. Normally, if we do a prenup shoot, we think of a particular call time [with our client] then set an hour prior to that and make it our official call time. [Tis is]just so we get both the subjects and the surroundings in one scene, and adjust if necessary before we do the actual photo shoot.
Bryan Yap: Since I have been to most wedding and prenup locations already, I do not require this from my couples anymore. But in cases we are to go to places I haven't been to, it's either I do my research online first, or as soon as the couple and I get to the area on the day of the shoot itself, I would just ask for a five-minute break for me to be able to survey the area before we proceed with the shoot.
Blacktie Project (Marco): For prenups, give the photographer at least a week so we can research, have an idea on what equipment to bring, and what to expect. For me, this is not as important for weddings as for prenups--two to three days [lead time for a wedding] will do. [This is] because for weddings, we focus more on the emotions and the moment, rather than the location.
BridalBook: How often--and how soon--before the planned session should the couple meet with you to discuss their concept? Would pegs from the couple help you in getting the "best" shots?
POD (Edgee): Even during the booking process, we make it a point to ask the couple about [their plans] for the wedding to give me an idea of what type of shoot they would like. I often meet with my couples to discuss the concept for their prenup shoot. I hold personal meetings with my couples weeks in advance, so that I may get a feel for how they act around each other, and also around me as their photographer. This helps me to establish a more personal relationship with them. I wholeheartedly encourage my couples to give me their inputs, so that the shoot becomes personalized for every couple that I encounter. The music the couple chooses for [presenting] the pictures at the reception [is also a big factor]. Whether the couple chooses a slow or fast song, we might get an idea of what mood to set for the shoot. The conceptualization for the shoot also depends on how cooperative the couple is with me as a photographer. The more cooperative they are, the easier my job is on the day of the shoot.
Erron Ocampo: My engagement session includes concept and styling, so the couple will be communicating with the styling team through email, SMS, or calls to come up with a concept. They can also set a meeting to finalize everything. I will [then] be updated about all the discussions. I like concepts that show the personality of the couple or tell a story, not just beautiful photos.
R.A.W. (Puy): From experience, two meetings prior to the photo shoot would be enough. It is important that when you get a photographer, you get them because of their style of photography. As much as we understand the trends in photography and photo treatments today, the best way to make the most out of your photographer's creativity is to allow him/her to express his/her own style. Pegs are okay, but will serve only as inspiration and not as templates for the shoot.
Bryan Yap: It usually takes a couple of email exchanges and/or maybe a few phone calls (very rarely a meet-up), months or even a few days before the agreed e-session date, to discuss the couple's concept for their prenup. What I usually do is I just give tips and suggestions, and then let them decide on the concept that matches their respective personalities. I allow pegs because I know those would make the couple happy, since they did their part in doing the research on shots they'd want to see after our session. But most of the shots I do are what I have felt, seen, and wanted captured, therefore giving the couple better shots compared to the pegs.
Blacktie Project (Marco): For conceptualizing a shoot, I would suggest that we first discuss the concept over the phone or email (email is better for you can send pegs). This will give us time to research and build our ideas. Then you can set a meeting with us to brainstorm on both parties' ideas and concepts.
BridalBook: When it comes to prenup and after-wedding photo sessions, should couples really bring a change of clothing and props?
POD (Edgee): During the initial meeting with the couple, I usually give minimal instructions. The most important [factors] are the following: Location, Mood and Dress.
Since the [first] two have already been mentioned and outlined, I'll explain the third. Dress for me is important, but not as important as the couple. I usually have them select clothing that is both striking and comfortable, since most of my shoots take an entire day. I request the couple to bring [pieces of] clothing that complement the location-clothes that accent the scenery, but do not take away attention from the couple. In the case of postnup photo shoots, I rarely request that the couple change their clothing. It is both a hassle to get into a wedding gown, and even more of a chore to get out of one. I have only a few minutes, or even if I'm lucky a half hour to get the postnup shoot done in time for the couple's processional for the reception.
Erron Ocampo: Yes, to have a variety of looks.
R.A.W. (Puy): It depends on the couple if they want to push the photo shoot to be as glam or as lively as they can.
Bryan Yap: Yes they should. Clothing and props that really mean (something) to them and their relationship should be brought. Variety would help most especially to viewers of the photos (laid out in albums or guest books) to make the shots more fun to look at, and not nakakaumay.
Blacktie Project (Marco): I would normally suggest two sets of clothes, but one will do. I would rather have one "kick-ass" set of clothing than three to five "just-grabbed-something-from-the-closet" type of clothes.
