Prague Pre-Wedding Photoshoot
The wedding day goes by in a blur. A pre-wedding session is the calm version: the two of you, the dress or the suit you love, and Prague at the hour when the bridges and squares are still empty. No schedule, no guests, just time to be photographed properly.
Why have your pre-wedding photos in Prague?
Prague, the city of a hundred spires, is one of the most beautiful settings in Europe for pre-wedding photography. Cobbled lanes, baroque gardens, the Charles Bridge and the Vltava give you a completely different backdrop every few minutes, and the whole historic centre is small enough to cover on foot in a single session.
A pre-wedding session is a photoshoot a few days, weeks or months before the wedding. Couples use the photos for save-the-dates, the guest book, the welcome board and the slideshow, or simply to have beautiful portraits without the pressure of the wedding day. Many couples who marry at home fly to Prague for the session and wear their wedding dress and suit, some choose a relaxed engagement look, and plenty do both with an outfit change.
How it works
Pre-wedding photoshoot ideas in Prague
Every couple is different, but most sessions combine two or three of these. Each one is from a real session.
Classic
The wedding dress on an empty Charles Bridge
The most requested idea, and for good reason: a white gown, the baroque statues and the towers, and not another person in sight. It only works at sunrise, when the bridge is empty for about forty minutes. From June that means meeting before five in the morning; in spring and autumn it is a far more civilised six or seven.
Old Town
The Astronomical Clock and the Týn spires
Old Town Square before eight in the morning is a different place: the clock, the Gothic towers and the painted houses with nobody walking through the frame. Close details work beautifully here too, from the hands and the ring to the texture of the dress against old stone.
Relaxed
An engagement story in everyday clothes
Not every couple wants the dress. A walk in your own clothes, coffee in hand, through the lanes of the Lesser Town and along the river gives natural, candid photos that look like you. I shoot this style almost like a photojournalist, from a little distance, so you forget the camera is there.
Seasonal
Golden leaves, snow or Christmas lights
Autumn turns Letná’s plane-tree avenue gold, December brings the markets and the lights, and a snowy morning is pure magic when it happens. A seasonal session gives photos no one else from your wedding will have.
The best pre-wedding locations in Prague
A two-hour session usually covers three or four of these on foot. Each links to a longer guide.
When is the best time of year?
Any month works, but each gives a different look. If you are flexible, April–May and September–October give the best balance of light, colour and temperature.
| Season | What you get | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Blossom on Petřín and in the gardens from early April, mild temperatures, gardens reopening. | The blossom lasts about two weeks. See the spring guide. |
| Summer | Long light, green gardens, warm evenings and the rose garden in bloom. | Sunrise is very early and the centre is busy from mid-morning. |
| Autumn | Gold and red trees from mid-October, soft light, fewer crowds. | Peak colour is short. See the autumn guide. |
| Winter | Christmas markets, lights, empty streets and sometimes snow. | Cold, and dark by four. See the winter guide. |
Pre-wedding photoshoot prices
All prices are per couple, in Czech crowns, with editing and a private online gallery included. For the dress and a change into everyday clothes, choose at least two hours.
- A route planned for your date and the light
- Direction and posing throughout
- Help with the dress, train and veil
- Detail shots of the ring and flowers
- Professional editing of every photo
- A private online gallery to download and share
- Free rescheduling for bad weather
- Tips on where to change and eat nearby
Planning tips
Questions about pre-wedding sessions
Should we wear our wedding dress and suit?
It is entirely up to you. Many couples wear the wedding outfits for the first part at sunrise and change into everyday clothes for a relaxed second half. If you want both looks, choose at least two hours.
What time do we start?
For the empty Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, sunrise. That is around 4:50 in June and about 8:00 in December. The alternative is the last two hours before sunset, which is warmer but busier.
How far in advance should we book?
For May to October and December, six to eight weeks is comfortable. In winter and early spring a week or two is often enough. If your dates are fixed, book as soon as you know them.
What happens if it rains?
We move the session to another time or day at no cost. Light rain can actually look beautiful, with reflections on the cobblestones and arcades to shelter under.
Can you also photograph our wedding?
Yes. See the wedding photography page for packages, or ask about combining a pre-wedding session with your wedding day.
Plan your pre-wedding session
Pick a length above, or send me your dates and ideas and I will suggest a route and the best time for your season.