Engagement shoots are always lots of fun - I get more time with the couple than I do on a busy wedding day, and they are relaxed and happy and easy to work with.So it was with Aaron and Leslie's shoot, which we did at various locations around London just before New Year.
Last Sunday I drove up to the top of Box Hill (near Dorking, Surrey) for an engagement shoot with Gemma and Simon.
So what's an engagement shoot all about then? Basically it's a short portrait photo session with a couple who are getting married. A pre-wedding shoot gives a couple a chance to relax in front of the camera. From the photographer's point of view it's a great opportunity for me to get to know them as well.
Hampshire engagement shoot | Laura & Matthew
Laura & Matthew’s wedding is only a couple of months away, so I thought it was time I did a pre-wedding (aka engagement) shoot for them. The idea is for me to get to know them a bit better, find out their likes and dislikes where photography is concerned, and also give them some practice at being in front of the camera. (more…)
London pre-wedding shoot | Jason & John
Last Sunday I travelled up to London (courtesy of South-West Trains) to meet these two fine gentlemen, for a meeting to go over the schedule for their wedding day and make sure I get all the photos they need. The guys are getting married at the very elegant Brympton House in Somerset at the end of June – I’m very much looking forward to shooting there again, it’s one of my favourite places. And with a couple of very friendly and relaxed grooms like these two I’m sure it’ll all go amazingly well! (more…)
Guildford engagement shoot | Charlotte & Tom
On of the things I like to arrange with my wedding couples is to do a quick pre-wedding practice photo shoot – it gives them a chance to dispel any nerves they might feel about being in front of the camera before the big day, and I get to know them better and find out their likes and dislikes, photographically speaking. It only takes 40 minutes or so, and is usually good fun! (more…)
We’ve been trying to arrange an engagement shoot with Lydia and Ian for a few months now – but thanks to weather and other commitments weren’t able to find a date that worked for everyone until last Sunday – which was lucky as the wedding is only a week away!
But I was glad we managed it as I always find an engagement shoot is a great way for me to get to know a couple and for them to get some practice being photographed – it makes it easier for everyone on the wedding day if e’ve worked together before.
I like to keep this kind of shoot as simple as I can – we just wandered into Lydia & Ian’s local park, which is a wetland reserve on the site of the old railway sidings in their home town of Lewes, East Sussex. (more…)
I promised myself that next time I post about a portrait session I wouldn’t mention the weather, but it’s really hard not to, as it has such an effect on what we can do with the session… I’d been trying to find a time to shoot Jo and Al’s engagement session for a couple of weeks – either the timing didn’t work or it was pouring with rain, or so it seemed.
Anyway we finally fixed a time for last Saturday – and it was literally a case of looking at the weather forecast on the day to find an hour when it wasn’t going to be raining! Anyway we managed to find a gap and met in the Phillips Memorial Park in Godalming, down by the river Wey… (more…)
I know I always talk about the weather when I post photos, but when you shoot outdoors most of the time as I do it’s an important topic! 🙂
Last Wednesday Liz and Jonathan came over to chat about their wedding day plans (they’re getting married at Hartsfield Manor in October) and we took the opportunity to do a quick “engagement” shoot just around the corner on Church Green here in Wonersh. I was hoping for a bit of sunshine, as there’s been some around from time to time this past week, but no such luck – in fact we had to dodge the drizzle at the beginning of our session!
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!
Million-year-old dinosaurs, a giant gorilla – Crystal Palace Park in South London is home to some strange creatures – in statue form at least! But it’s also a beautifully landscaped location for an engagement shoot, which is why I arranged to meet Duncan and Suzy there last Thursday morning.
They live just a few streets away, and often visit the park to walk their dog, so it seemed like the obvious choice for a photo-shoot location. (more…)
Last Saturday I braved the joys of the M25 to drive to Danbury Lakes in Essex, to shoot an engagement session with Susie and Daniel.
They are getting married in their local church in July, and we arranged to meet at a nearby beauty spot, Danbury Lakes, for a pre-wedding shoot.
On Monday I got an email from friend and colleague Chanelle Segerius-Bruce asking if I'd like to help her with an "emergency" shoot - in place of another photographer friend who had damaged her ankle and wasn't able to work the next day. Of course I said "yes", so on Tuesday we drove to Greenwich to meet Fabia and Arief for a "pre-wedding" session.
As regular readers of my blog will know, the weather is something I'm always interested in, especially when I'm due to be shooting a Caribbean engagement shoot on a beach…