Engagement shoot Guildford Castle
At last, some sunshine! It seems like we’ve had nothing but rain for weeks – but when I met S and J (they’ve asked me to use their initials for privacy reasons) in the grounds of Guildford Castle last Sunday morning the weather was kind and we had the sun peeking through the clouds at least some of the time!
S and J are getting married at the very stylish Aviator Hotel in Farnborough at the end of September – I’m looking forward to that. In the meantime, we did this quick engagement shoot to give them a bit of practice at being the centre of attention, and giving me a chance to get to know them a bit better.
Engagement shoot Guildford Castle
I like Guildford Castle as a location for portrait sessions because it’s got a good combination of locations all in one place. Not only is there the Norman keep with its craggy flint-studded walls, but also the gardens, the bandstand, and the stone-built tunnel with steps down from the bowling green into the lower gardens. Lots of different backgrounds to use, and also plenty of shade if it happens to be a sunny day!
I try to schedule this kind of shoot for a weekday when there are fewer people about, as it’s more relaxing for my clients if they don’t have an audience. Although I use a minimal amount of photo gear, photo shoots can attract curious onlookers! I don’t want my clients to feel self-conscious about being photographed by a professional. Most people relax into it with no problem, but it does make it harder if you’ve got people watching you.
Here’s a selection of some of my favourite pictures from the session…
