Couples who don’t want to take their pre-wedding (or special occasion) photos at boring studios can head to these places instead. — Photo: PHAM HOANG KHA/Pexels
Weddings are usually a grand affair that celebrates the start of one’s new life as a married couple. For some people, planning for a wedding begins a year before the actual event. This includes taking pre-wedding photos to complement the big day.
These days, more couples are keen on taking their pre-wedding photos outdoors or in unique buildings or places. In fact, you can sometimes see a wedding photography session being held in the most unlikely destination, like a jungle, for example.
Malaysia is one of the best places to take your pre-wedding photos as the country has plenty of beautiful islands and beaches, grand gardens and lakes, idyllic village sceneries, iconic buildings, historical landmarks and more. Here are some suggestions for couples to take their pre-wedding shots, or for any other occasion!
The charm of old-school train stations spark feelings of nostalgia for some people. These days you can even see couples taking their pre-wedding photographs in these stations.
A handful of train stations in Malaysia come with a long and colourful history, some of which are over 100 years old, when trains were still the main mode of transportation. Buildings like the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and Ipoh Railway Station in Perak also have beautiful architecture that was inspired by Western and Eastern designs and motifs.
While these places do offer ample space to accommodate the couple and their photographer, they are still working stations so there will be a crowd there most of the time. So ask for permission from the station at least a month before your photo session, as you don’t want to disrupt anyone from their daily commute.
Take advantage of Malaysia’s beautiful nature and get your photos taken at places like public parks or gardens.
There are a few reasons that make museums and art galleries ideal spots to take your wedding photos. One of the reasons is that you can use some of the museum displays or art exhibits as backdrops for your shots. As most museums are usually housed in historical buildings or buildings with interesting architecture, you can also add them to your backdrop.
However, ask the museum or gallery for permission to shoot in their premises first, as some places do not allow it. This is because the displays and exhibits are priceless, and you would need to be extra careful when taking photographs around or near them.
Some museums and galleries may also impose a fee, or ask you to give them a credit mention if you are uploading the pictures online.
Getting your pre-wedding photos taken at historical landmarks, like this one at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, will require a permit from the authorities.
Some of us will go out of our way just to add a little depth to our pictures. And most of us want to escape the conventional and mundane locations, because, after all, it’s a memorable occasion. So how about taking your wedding photos at a 100-year-old clock tower? What about at the A Famosa in Melaka, or any other historical landmark around the country?
If you are looking to incorporate your love for history into one of the most important days of your life, these iconic spots scattered across the country are a fantastic choice to take your pre-wedding photos.
Do remember to ask for permission or even to get a permit from the relevant authorities weeks in advance before you head to these historical venues. As most of the sites are also tourist attractions, the area will most likely be crowded with people most times.
Some beautiful buildings make for a wonderful backdrop for your pictures. — Pixabay
Gardens and parks have become a popular outdoor location for pre-wedding photos. You get a beautiful backdrop that’s full of greenery and flowers, and maybe even a lake or two, too. You’ll be inspired by the romantic atmosphere this floral landscape offers.
The best thing about garden venues is that the beauty of nature will take its course, which means that little else is needed to touch up your photos – skip the filters and heavy editing!
Although public parks and gardens are free for everyone to enjoy, you may have to check with the local council first to see if you need a permit to shoot there.
This is for the adventurous couple who wants to add some “wow factors” to their wedding photos. Rooftops offer a beautiful contrast of the cityscape and the sky painted with whimsical clouds.
When you shoot on the roof of a tall building in the city, you can get a fantastic view of the skyline as there are minimal obstructions from this height, save for the occasional bird that flies past.
You would definitely need permission from the building owner to shoot on their rooftop. The good thing is that there are already plenty of hotels in the Klang Valley and other big cities around the country that offer a rooftop photoshoot session as part of their wedding package so you don’t have to search high and low for the perfect space.
Pictures taken from rooftops will give you a great panoramic view of the city or town.
For those who want safari-themed wedding photos but don’t really want to go overseas to do them, the zoo or animal park may be your best option.
Or, if you prefer the aquatic life instead, or simply want to have something different and quirky, then have your wedding photos taken at an aquarium.
As with most venues, do get permission from the zoo or aquarium officials before the actual day of your shoot.
Stadiums can also be an exciting pre-wedding photoshoot location – particularly if you’re a sports fan. Get your friends and family members involved in the shoot by asking them to be in the “audience” or dress up as cheerleaders!
You would probably only be able to do this photoshoot when the stadium is empty, or when there are only a few people around on the training ground as there are safety and privacy issues to take into consideration.
Because of this, most stadiums would require you to get a permit or at least a written permission from authorities before shooting there.
For the more outdoors-y couples, head to the camping grounds to get some beautiful shots. — Photos: Pixabay
If you and your partner are into adventure travel, you can always opt to do your wedding photos while camping. Picture the verdant beauty of the forest and the majestic waterfall as a backdrop of your wedding photos.
There are lots of camping and glamping sites in Malaysia today that can provide all the space you need to do your photo sessions. Don’t worry about not being able to wear a wedding gown to this photoshoot (as it may get dirty), just wear your cool adventure outfits or whatever you feel comfortable in. After all, you and your partner are the focus of the pictures, not your clothes.
As a bonus, you can just spend a night in the wilderness after your photo session.
Imagine having a nautical-inspired wedding photo. The view of the open sea from the deck of a yacht or big boat is breathtaking, especially at sunset.
There are a handful of private yachts and boats that you can rent (usually you will get a skipper or boatman with the rental package) to get your wedding photos done. Just remember to check the weather forecast before renting one.
Remember to be considerate of other people when doing photoshoots in public spaces.
Head to the islands or beaches for some stunning pictures with the view of the blue sea as your backdrop. Couples have actually been taking their pre-wedding shots at these destinations for years so this isn’t really something new. But this doesn’t really matter because most pictures taken on an island or beach are gorgeous.
Take advantage of the things you can do at the beach, and include them in your background. Check if the place gets a sunset or sunrise and time your photoshoots to coincide with either.
Also, you may not want to take during the holiday season as there will usually be a large crowd around.
