Free Engagement Shoot

What is an Engagement Session?

Engagement Shoots, also known as Engagement Sessions, E-Sessions or Pre-Wedding Shoots are really starting to trend & are quickly becoming an essential part of the wedding experience…

Luckily, an engagement shoot is included with my ‘Always’ wedding package, and is there for my couples to get to know me better and get used to the BIG SCARY CAMERA in advance of their big day.

This means, by the day of your wedding, you’ll think more of me as a helpful friend & be able to relax knowing that the photos are in the bag, because you have a pretty good idea of what to expect and you’ve already seen the results...

The rest of your wedding day besides your mini session will be documented and natural, so we can’t & won’t need to plan for that!

It’s New to You…

Most people haven’t had many professional photoshoots done before, & it you can feel a little bit awkward or silly at first.

An Engagement Shoot can really help to take any nervousness away from your Wedding Day, because on the second run you’ll be fully prepared for your couple shoot & you’ll have seen that you don’t actually look like a numpty at all; just awesome.

You get the visual…

When you receive your Engagement Shoot images via that all-important-email, you’ll have more of a feel for how your Wedding Photos will look.

You’ll also be able to tell me which images you love, and if there are any that you’re not so keen on; so we can make sure you are completely happy with your Wedding Day results.

You get great Photos…

Some couples like to use their Engagement Shoot photographs in their Wedding. If you booked in advance, this could be used as part of your Save the Dates, or wedding invitations.

My couples often make the most of them with our new Custom-made Guestbooks; which not only showcase your new images, but also asks your guests funny & thoughtful questions, tips for the future & sometimes involves some cracking drawings!

top Tips for the PERFECT Engagement Shoot:

Preparation

This is absolutely key. I’ll have a good old chat with you at the consultation, so should have a rough idea who you both are as a couple, but if you have any ideas of what you’d like for the Engagement Session, even if you’d like to go as far as a Pinterest Board, please feel free and send me the link.

If it’s not a sunrise shot in the depths of winter, it also might be an idea to have a quick catch-up / coffee pre-shoot, to loosen up and feel at ease beforehand. It’s often a while between consultation and engagement session, so you can let me know how the wedding is shaping up & if you have made any changes to the order of the day.

Location

Have a think about where you would like to go or do. This could be somewhere that means something to you, or just somewhere you have been wanting to go for ages but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Examples would be, your favourite place to go to together, your first date, proposal site or even the wedding venue {although I’d prefer you to have two very different sets of photographs tbh!}

You can go for a walk in the park; bring the dog, visit a tourist attraction, you could bake a cake at home, or you could fling paint at each other in field. Make sure it suits you as a couple. If you’re having a country wedding, a cityscape shoot might not be the one for you. Likewise, if you like snuggling by the fire, a windy day at Skeggy Beach may not be the one either! #pleasedontmakemegothere

**If you’re using the images for wedding invitations, Save-the-Dates or for one of our Guestbooks try and think of a place that will compliment your stationery or decor too.

When?

It’s good to have the shoot fairly near to the Wedding, so that you can get good and excited!! Spring is always a great choice for the light available, and is not too far if you’re having a summer wedding.

If you would prefer a summertime shoot, I try to avoid harsh sun hours, especially when sunrise & sunsets are so stunning this time of year. This is what we call Golden Hour.

For winter shoots, embrace the weather. Everyone loves a chunky knit!

Please note, if you are / have purchased a Guestbook I prefer to have the shoot in the can about six weeks prior to the wedding, to allow for editing, designing, approval & printing.

The Dreaded Question: What on EARTH to Wear?!

Right, first things first… DO NOT over-complicate this one.

However, it is always best to prepare in advance, and maybe bring a spare in case the weather hates you!

The shoot will be relaxed, so dress for this unless you’re going super swank. Wear something you will feel comfortable in, so you can feel natural but confident. Dress for the weather, but also something that fits great & makes you feel your best.

If you are choosing your outfit to blend with your wedding theme, some people like monochrome, this especially works in city shoots, others like pastels, which are great near water. If you’re having a rural or country wedding, a natural theme such as beiges & tans always impress, the same as brights do in festival weddings.

Some couples like to coordinate themselves, for this advise to do so through colour palette & texture; allowing your individual styles to remain. The best thing to be mindful of is clashing, so think about your colours or patterns; you could always take a picture of your outfits beforehand if you’re not sure - or feel free to contact me!

The main thing to remember is to be yourselves. We’re taking natural pictures of you, but looking your best, obvs! So if you wear your favourite clothes, in your favourite place, doing your favourite thing, I’m pretty sure we’ll be onto a winner.

Bridal Style Tip

If you’re having a make-up or hair trial prior to the big day, why not arrange this to coincide with your Engagement Shoot? This will see how it both photographs, and whether it functions. If your hair doesn’t stay up, for example, or the make-up doesn’t photograph the way you would like, you have time to switch things up.

Props

If you’re concerned about things being a bit awks, feel free to bring anything you’d like. A great option is a pooch! But say you’re into cycling, or tennis, bring the obvious with you to ease you into the session.

The Main Part of an Engagement Shoot: Remember to HAVE FUN!

I am here to make you feel as comfortable as possible, so I will do my upmost to make you laugh, make you feel at ease & have a good time!

Hopefully some of the tips here should help make you relax and feel your best on the day, but if you ever need a break, just say the word.