The royalty of Jaipur attracts couples who are soon to be wedded to have a romantic photoshoot before their nuptials. I was one of them and I had an extensive pre wedding shoot in Jaipur, that too on a budget!
With this post, I will share all the popular shoot locations, off-beat locations, average photography costs, and things to prepare for before getting a photoshoot done in Jaipur. I will also give you tips that you should keep in mind to ensure the process works out seamlessly.
Best places for pre wedding shoot in Jaipur
Jaipur can be both budget-friendly and expensive, depending on the locations you choose for your romantic shoot. I am going to list the popular and cost-effective locations.
Some of these are free, and you can use the rustic charm of Pink City to make the most of your shoot. When blended with cinematic expertise, a videographer can bring out the essence of your love story to the fullest.
Here is a list of common Jaipur photoshoot locations:
1. Outside Jal Mahal
The mix of Rajput and Mughal architectural marvel is a splendid specimen created in the middle of water. Sunrise by the Jal Mahal is usually the first stop for pre wedding shoots in Amer near the Pink City. To use this space while capturing the rising sun, couples and their photographers have to be ready by 6:30 am.
Since plenty of couples come to shoot here every day, the center is often occupied or has queues. There aren’t a lot of spots to shoot here because the water palace is the attraction that is used as a backdrop. The location is also time-specific as most couples want to make the best of the slanting rays of the sun while it is still rising.
Our first stop on the photoshoot day was Jal Mahal. We began shooting by 7 am and luckily didn’t find crowd during the last week of September. If you’re having a winter wedding, the photoshoot season begins in October. So, it is smarter to get the photoshoot done before the wedding season. We also chose to shoot on a Monday because weekends are crowded with tourists and couples waiting for their turn.
2. Amer Fort
Amber Palace is the most popular Jaipur pre wedding location because it is easily accessible and gives you the royal feel. If you’re attracted to period dramas and would love to have your wedding photoshoot in the same place Jodha Akbar was shot, this is the first location to choose!
Here are things you should know before choosing Amer Fort as one of the Jaipur photoshoot locations for pre wedding:
- Amer Fort is open for photoshoots between 8 am and 10 am every day
- The cost of using the palace premises is 5000 INR
- Only five people are allowed in each team
- The couple can bring one makeup artist, photographer, and videographer
- It is most crowded during pre-wedding seasons, especially during weekends
- There are no restroom facilities for changing clothes
Doing a photoshoot in Amer Fort is extremely time-specific. Plenty of couples and photographers use the venue during these hours, and there are selective spots targeted by all.
Since most pre wedding shoot photographers are well-versed with the venue, they know where and how to take quick shots. Most of them follow a template to quicken the process because they share the space with multiple videographers.
Amer Fort is open for the public from 9 am and the crowd starts coming in. Photography becomes challenging during peak season especially when you want shots with no people in the background. The time between 8 am and 9 am is the sweet spot to make the best use of the location.
3. Outside Albert Hall Museum
Pigeons circling the Indo-Saracenic style Albert Hall Museum attracts couples because it is a notable monument near Pink City. Couples like to wear Western outfits to flaunt flowy dresses that look aesthetically flawless as flocks of pigeons fly by.
Three most common places for pre wedding shoots in Jaipur include Jal Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, and Patrika Gate. All of these are free places to shoot and photographers keep these on their list to repeat the template.
During wedding season when they get multiple projects for pre wedding shoots, these are the places they recommend. They don’t just fit the budget of their clients but also makes the process easy for them due to repetitive shoots. When we booked our pre wedding shoot photographers, we skipped Albert Hall Museum because it didn’t match our vibe.
4. Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
If you’re looking for a romantic pre wedding shoot in Jaipur and want to stay away from the crowd, this is the best place to choose. Located in Ghat Ki Guni, this used to be a summer palace that had the Aravalli Range as the backdrop. A beautiful garden structured in Charbagh style with greenery all around is perfect for nature lovers looking for royalty.
Similar to Amer, the cost of doing a photoshoot here is 5,000 INR. However, this has to be priorly booked from their office that is located near the Pink City. In Amer, all you need to do is reach the location by 7:30 am to 8 am and book your slot. To book other places where photoshoots aren’t common, a permit is required priorly.
What is special about the place leading to Sisodia Rani ka Bagh is a road with yellow-hued walls on both sides. I wanted to do a photoshoot to use that area as a backdrop, but we went there during the afternoon. Since we also didn’t have permit for Sisodia Rani Garden, we used the outer area to take some pictures.
5. Rani Villas
Located close to Sisodia Rani ka Bagh is a pretty little Airbnb that gives you royal charm amidst natural beauty. This place is both rented as a stay option and for commercial shoots. If you’re looking to have a place to yourself for your Jaipur pre wedding shoot, this is one option. Raunak Ajmera (@qutubminar on Instagram), the owner of this place is pretty responsive and can help you book this place. However, it can be an expensive option compared to the others because it is a private space.
6. Vidhyadhar Garden
Located opposite Rani Villas is Vidhyadhar Garden. It is beside one of the most aesthetic restaurants in Jaipur named Out At The Bagh. While not as illustrious as the Sisodia Rani ka Bagh, this garden too is used for photoshoots. It is an extensive garden area with haveli-like open structures that reflect the charm of both Mughal and Rajput architectures.
The cost of having a photo shoot in this place is also 5,000 INR. Similar to Sisodia Rani ka Bagh, this place has to be priorly booked and is one of the lesser used places for pre wedding shoots.
7. Patrika Gate
Located far away from the rustic charm of Jaipur, Patrika Gate is a specimen that brings Rajasthan to life. The auspicious ninth gate created at the beginning of the Jawahar Circle is one of the elements Jaipur has been represented by since its inception in 2016.
Photoshoots are common here because of the Instagram-worthy aesthetics created by the paintings done on the pillars and ceiling. This place is always filled with photographers, so you might have to adjust and wait for your turn.
We came to Patrika Gate for the last location of our shoot and used the garden behind it as well. The elephant statues, staircase, and fountains, are all elements that you can add to create multiple visuals at Patrika Gate. Don’t limit yourself only to the gate because no matter how beautiful, it has a limited space for creativity. Use the aesthetics of the park that has a fountain, elephant statues, and greenery around.
8. Pink City
Photo and video enthusiasts from all over the world come to Jaipur to shoot the famous part of the city. If you have a good videographer who can use the iconic streets of Pink City to create your love story, nothing can be prettier than the same!
From the outer part of the Hawa Mahal to the entry area of Jantar Mantar, from the iconic Ajmeri Gate to the bustling streets of Bapu Bazaar, Pink City is where Jaipur comes to life. The streets are free and the locals are used to photoshoots happening every now and then.
9. Amer
Having a pre wedding shoot at Amer would be at a different level and it isn’t limited to the fort. The adjoining area to the fort is where you’d find the locals who have been living there for generations. While the Pink City is commercialized, if you want to know the real Jaipur you have to come to Amer.
Photoshoots in Amer would need your permits and you can enquire about the same at the fort. Hidden gems like Amer Sagar Lake are protected areas as they are home to wild animals and need permit.
Panna Meena Kund is another spot in Amer, that you can use for free. However, it is not allowed to walk down the staircases without a permit due to safety concerns.
10. Kishan Bagh
Kishan Bagh is a unique place in Jaipur as it is a manmade botanical garden that has plants available all across Rajasthan. It costs 5,000 INR to do a photoshoot in Kishan Bagh but it stays dry and rugged throughout the year. You can pay at the counter to have a photoshoot here and don’t have to priorly book the venue.
The only time you will find this place full of greenery is during monsoon season. If you are a nature enthusiast and plan to have a photoshoot in Jaipur during August and September, Kishan Bagh is perfect. During all other months, you will find this place reflecting the rugged side of Rajasthan.
Note that navigating Kishan Bagh on Goolge Maps can be hard because it doesn’t show the correct location. Since the garden is so big, the map takes you to one part of the garden, but not the entry. When you’re at a 5-minute drive away from the Google location, ask anyone on the road to direct you to the entry gate.
Things to note before having a pre wedding shoot in Jaipur
Here are all the things we wish we knew before having our pre wedding shoot in Jaipur:
1. Shoots can be cheap
If you were hesitant to have a pre wedding shoot in Jaipur because of budget concerns, I have good news! Your photoshoot doesn’t have to be expensive while it can be extensive.
Our total cost for the pre wedding shoot was around 30,000 INR, which was inclusive of photography, location, and clothes. I wore two outfits – one was a Rajasthani Poshak that cost me 3,000 INR to purchase and get it tailor-made and one readymade lehenga bought from Bapu Bazaar worth 3,500 INR.
My fiancé bought a kurta set from Indira Market that cost him 3,000 INR. He also purchased a Jawahar Coat worth 1,000 INR and paired it up with clothes he owned priorly.
Our photography costs were 15,000 INR and it included one teaser video (Save The Date) for 60 seconds, one full-length video of 5 minutes, two reels, and 900+ raw images.
The only location we had to pay for was Amer Fort because we didn’t go with any other paid options. Other than these all we paid for was our commute cost while photographers had their vehicles. They also bore food cost for the day for themselves.
2. Multiple locations in one day
Thanks to the sun that shines for over 12 hours in Jaipur, we could make the most of our photo shoot in one day. We began at sunrise and covered the first two locations of Jal Mahal and Amer Fort by 11 am. We moved to Sisodia Rani ka Bagh and shot for one more hour before taking a lunch break.
After lunch, we changed to another attire and completed the last part of our shoot at Patrika Gate. We got sunlight till 7 pm and it helped us complete the entire process in one day. During late winters, you can expect dusk post 6:30 pm.
3. Cost-effective but uncreative
Photographers who have a template to follow across free shoot locations in Jaipur will not offer you anything out of the box. If you’re looking to shoot on a budget, this is one criteria where you might feel like you’re compromising.
An expensive team will take time, carry multiple equipment, and do extensive photoshoots. Such quality work will not cost you less than 25,000 to 30,000 INR per day.
4. Finding the best photographers
I got my photo shoot done by connecting with a commercial photography account from Jaipur. The Instagram handle is @preweddingshootinginjaipur and the page has around 1,200 followers.
I wanted to choose a team that isn’t popular on Instagram as more followers often mean more charges. We had a tight budget and 30,000 INR was just about right to complete the full thing.
If you too don’t have an extravagant budget, let the photographers ideate for you. You will be able to find plenty of them on Instagram and they will guide you through the process. It is best to follow the pattern they create for pre wedding shoots, as they deliver from what they practice.
I tried to break the pattern by taking them to Sisodia Rani ka Bagh, but they weren’t comfortable with it. Since we could only use the outer area and there were vehicles around us, it was difficult for them to use their creativity. So, unless you have a massive budget and you’re hiring experts from the industry, sticking to basics will give you the satisfactory results.
5. You need a makeup artist
Most couples we saw in Amer Fort had a makeup artist with them. I made the mistake of not appointing someone and also wearing a Rajasthani Poshak for the first time. Thankfully, locals helped me fix my attire every time I was not being able to manage the Odhni. But it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Having a stylist or makeup artist to help you is necessary if you can’t manage by yourself.
Many photography teams collaborate with makeup artists. So, if you don’t have someone who can accompany you, ask them if they can provide you with an MUA.
Here’s what to do to have the best day!
Your pre wedding shoot in Jaipur doesn’t depend on the aesthetics and the locations. It depends on how the couple is feeling and what magic the photographers can create. Artists want chemistry and they will expect it from the couple they are trying to shoot. Cooperating with them will ensure making the most of the experience. A happy couple always has the best photoshoot. So, be relaxed and enjoy the first step you’re taking towards being in front of the camera as soon-to-wedded people!
0 Comments