Essential Guide to Pre-Wedding Photo-shoots in South Wales
South Wales wedding photography - Getting ready for the big day with your pre-wedding couples shoot. Tips & location advice.
It’s that time of year—couples are buzzing with excitement about their upcoming weddings, and we’re getting emails to set up pre-wedding shoots! So here’s how it works:
Pre-wedding shoots are all about easing you into the ‘being-stalked-by-cameras’ experience. Ideally, we schedule these sessions about 6 weeks before your big day to make sure we’re totally in sync with what works for you as a couple. Trust us, it’s all part of the fun!
When to book your pre-shoot in: We’ll get in touch around 8-10 weeks before to arrange the shoot, send you the final details form, and give you final payment info. We’re based in Swansea and love travelling around South Wales for the shoot (we’re happy to travel up to an hour).
Photo Shoot Duration: Shoots typically last 25-30 minutes. Not too long to tire you out, but long enough to get comfortable and have fun. Amy will be your photographer and Jess will come along too if you opt for the extra video option.
But what if it rains: If your chosen location is completely open to the elements, we will rearrange or adapt the time to fit the weather. Try to pick a date where you’re able to be flexible.
Receiving the pre wedding photos: The photos from your photoshoot will take up to 14 days to turnaround. They will be sent to you in an online gallery with a password to log in, using your own email address. From here, you can download individual one photos, or all of them at once. If you’d like family or friends to see them too, you can provide them with the link and password. There is built in options for full resolution or smaller social media sized images.
TIPS:
Choose Your Photoshoot Location: You can pick your own spot, but if you're not a fan of being in the public eye, opt for somewhere quieter. Don’t forget that Flashbulb are wedding photographers & videographers based in South Wales, so keep it as near to the border as possible, thank you please!
Indoor/Outdoor Options: If you don’t want to rely on the weather, pick somewhere with both indoor and outdoor options. Think doorways, arches, or lean-tos—get creative! Here are a few location ideas:
The Botanical Gardens in Carmarthenshire offer beautiful landscapes, stunning views, and even a glass house for rainy days.
Barry Island has a fantastic beach with a huge undercover area and pillars, plus a great view over the sea.
Langland Bay has the iconic green huts to take cover under.
What to Wear: There’s no “right” answer to what you should wear for your pre-wedding photography shoot. The main goal is to get you used to the cameras, the weird things we say, the awkwardness of posing (or not), and just enjoying the experience while getting some awesome photos. As long as you’re comfortable, it's totally up to you. Think of it like a date, but suitable for your location and the vibe you're going for.
Footwear: Keep it practical! Our style is fun and often involves spinning, light jogging past the camera, and sometimes even a bit of rock climbing or tree balancing if you’re up for it! We’ll get as adventurous as you feel.
Cwm Ivy Woods pre wedding shoot location for Will & Tamara.
Bring Nothing (or as Little as Possible!): You don’t need anything beyond yourselves! Phones in pockets can look bulky, and handbags just get in the way of a smooth-flowing shoot. The less you have to carry, the more natural and effortless the session will feel.
Golden Hour: If you’d like a golden hour photo shoot, we need to meet about 1.5 hours before sunset.
Leave the Kids at Home: This pre-wedding shoot is all about you as a couple. It’s a chance for us to get to know each other and break down any awkward, camera-shy feelings. From experience, we’ve found that having the kids around can often be distracting for parents, which makes it harder to fully enjoy the moment. We recommend leaving the little ones at home so you can focus on each other and get some relaxed, fun photos.
Furry Children Welcome: Got a dog or another furry friend? They're totally welcome—as long as they’re well-behaved! Ideally, we’ll be able to take some shots with and without your pet, so if they can be off-lead at times, that’s even better! A few moments without the furry friend gives us that extra shot to work with.
Make a day of it: We always give bonus points for weekday availability, maybe take the day off or a half day and extend the shoot into a walk, get lunch, visit a new place. Amongst all the craziness of organising a wedding, it may be a welcome break to spend some quality time as a couple.
Need to cancel?: If you’re not feeling in the mood for your shoot, rearrange it. We really don’t mind, there is nothing worse than doing something when you don’t feel it. Save it for a better day. You can email Amy on: hello@flashbulb.info or give us a text - 07908258363.
Popular locations for your couples photography session in South Wales.
The list below is just to give you some ideas of the type of place to think about but consider places important to you as a couple, where you had your first date, got engaged or even just your favourite coffee shop or at home. Anything is possible.
Gower beaches - Langland, Caswell, Llangennith sand dunes, Brandy Cove, Rhossili etc.
Kenfig Nature Reserve, Bridgend.
Urban locations are a lot of fun too and more about having a wander. Street art, old buildings and searching for patches of sun light. There are lots of colourful wall art hidden around Swansea, places like Roath in Cardiff and of course Bristol.
A Few More Things to Consider:
Relax & Have Fun: The pre-wedding shoot is all about having fun and getting to know each other. We want to capture you as a couple, so if you’re nervous, no worries—just enjoy the moment!
Posing? Not Really: We’ll guide you, but we prefer letting things flow naturally. If you want to laugh, walk, or just chill for a bit, we’re totally cool with that. The best shots come from real, relaxed moments. If you’re not sure where to look, avoid staring directly at the camera—look at each other, something in the distance, or even laugh at a random tree. It all works!
Want More Ideas? Check out some of our recent shoots on Insta for location inspo, outfit ideas, and more. We're always up for something creative!
The most important factor in a successful pre wedding photo shoot, is having fun! Embrace the awkwardness, get involved and trust in the photographer (Amy) to make the best of your experience!
Ei & Ye showing us how it’s done at Swansea Marina, great urban spot for wandering around.
Cheeky Bonus Tip:
Choose a location that’s different from your wedding day to add variety to your photos. For example, if your wedding is at the beach, why not go for a forest, mountain, or park for the pre-wedding shoot? It’s your choice, but it gives you a range of beautiful shots when you hang those prints on your wall.
Extras Available:
Pre-Wedding Video: You can add a video to your pre-shoot with a mini highlights reel. Want more? We can also do video interviews, which can be used in your main wedding film.
Traveling Beyond the South Wales border: If you want your pre-shoot further afield, we’re happy to travel! There will be a small additional cost to cover extra time/travel, but we try to be as flexible as possible.
Need the Shoot Earlier? If you're tight on time and want your pre-shoot more than 6 weeks before your wedding, it’s doable! Just know your final balance will be due a little earlier to start the final processes.