Don't they think you're cracked?

I think that is near the police club, kitchener, not 100% sure but the idea is cool eh?

notapro wrote in post #4094276
When you take clients to some of the non-traditional locations - by a dumpster, an old run-down building, a laudromat for example (a few I've seen here recently)...

Sorry I'm kinda late on this one...this is exactly what I've been searching for and I started a new post yesterday and then realized I should search instead.

My question is when do you take clients out for these or even the traditional pictures (kissing on the bridge or in the park, etc.)? I'm very new to this and have only shot two weddings, but so far the only locations I've been able to shoot are inside the church building and at the reception because the bride and groom are running late for their wedding or they're in a rush to get to the reception and then are ready to change and go out on the town or go home. This leaves pretty standard shots other than the few creative ones I can squeeze in (mostly at the reception) that sometimes don't even involve the B&G at all.

I'm guessing these types of pictures aren't done before the wedding since they're in their wedding clothes, so is it after the wedding and before the reception, or after the reception? I'd really like to get some nice creative shots for my portfolio (and peace of mind ), but so far the bride hasn't even gone for me getting some pictures at her house before the wedding.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

I think more and more people are starting to do them before the wedding... a great selling point to tell your couples is that their first moment seeing each other can be very private, they get to hug and talk rather than stand in silence, and the reactions are easier to capture without the constraints of where you can stand in a church. It also means they get to spend more of their wedding day together, plus take less time away from their guests. And of course, you have more time to do photos and be creative.

The downside for you is that I've heard photographers say that some people are very stressed in that time because they're worrying about the ceremony.

But I have no experience, so don't take my word for it.

Thanks Amanda, that would make sense. The more I think about it (and I've thought about it a lot LOL), I suppose it would be a matter of the couples' preference as well. The first bride didn't want to go outside because it was too hot and the entire wedding and reception lasted just a little over an hour due to her wanting to get it over with though she had spent several months planning and hiring a florist, cake decorator, etc.

The good news is that both couples were very happy with their pictures, but I would've liked to have given them more than just the standard shots and formals.