Pre-wedding shoot — Madrid

It has three clear advantages. First: you get used to the camera and to how I work, so on the wedding day you'll be far more relaxed and the photos will come out more natural. Second: you have beautiful images in good time for the invitations, the save the date or the wedding website. And third: it's an afternoon just for the two of you amid the stress of preparations, with no guests or schedules. It's an investment in how the big day will turn out.

It's exactly what works best in Madrid and one of my favourite combinations. We start at golden hour in a luminous spot like the Templo de Debod, use the blue of twilight and finish with the Gran Vía lights once it's night. You get two very different aesthetics — romantic and cinematic — in a single afternoon. It needs a bit more time, so we plan it at booking.

I recommend two looks that complement each other without being identical: neutral, elegant tones that go with Madrid's stone and sunsets, avoiding very loud patterns that distract. If we chain into the night, a second, slightly dressier look shines under the neon. Before the session I send a short guide with ideas and, if in doubt, we talk it over. The key is to be comfortable and feel like yourselves.

The ideal is two to four months before. That leaves plenty of time to receive and edit the images for the invitations or save the dates, and the session stays fresh by the time the big day arrives. If you want it just as an experience to loosen up, any moment from a few weeks before works. We coordinate it with your preparations calendar so it doesn't clash with the most intense moments.