Engaged couple on the beach at Shoeburyness Seafront in Essex
Engaged couple in front of the barn doors at All Manor of Events
Engaged couple in front of the barn doors at All Manor of Events

Engagement Shoots

Just Got Engaged? Engagement Shoots Are a Great Way to Celebrate

Did you know, you will probably spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than with anybody else? Well, apart from your spouse of course! This is just one of the reasons engagement shoots are such a great idea.

With this in mind, another great way to get to know my clients before the wedding day is to have an engagement shoot. Engagement shoots are becoming more and more popular and are a great way to get an insight into how your essex wedding photographer works, and to give you an idea of what to expect on your actual wedding day.

Just Engaged? Engagement Shoots Are a Great Way to Celebrate?

These types of shoots are a great opportunity for me to really get to know my clients; I can see your personalities and how you react to being photographed and this gives me an opportunity to help with any concerns and make you feel more at ease on your big day. Engagement shoots are very relaxed, there are no time constraints, so they are a superb way to have a bit of photo fun whilst getting some professional photographs taken.

Whoever you choose as your wedding photographer, I would strongly advise you have an engagement shoot if they offer it. If they don’t, I would be more than happy to help and there would be no obligation for you to book your wedding photography afterward.

Try to Relax…

Often photographs are only ever taken by family, friends or even ourselves, in a very relaxed and comfortable environment. When you are at the end of a professional photographer’s camera lens, you should try and feel as relaxed as possible, take direction from the photographer and enjoy yourselves.

I understand this can be uncomfortable for some people but try to relax and treat it like a dry run for your actual wedding photographs.

Where Should You Have Your Engagement Shoot?

I like to encourage my clients to pick a location that is special to them as most couples have a location that means something to them. Maybe it will be the place where the question was popped or the venue of their first date. Being in a location that evokes happy feelings automatically puts you at ease and makes the whole experience more relaxing.

Everyone is different; some people like an idyllic countryside location where others may prefer a livelier urban environment. I am happy to accommodate any location you would like and if I haven’t been there before, I am happy to visit it first to look for all the best shooting locations and angles.

Engaged couple in the grounds at Stoke By Nayland Golf club

What You Should Wear or Bring to an Engagement Shoot?

When it comes to what to wear, this is really up to you as to how relaxed or formal you want the images to be. My advice would be to avoid wearing branded clothes with big logos on them as these will look dated in the future. The idea of engagement images is to capture you as a couple, your commitment to one another and what is important to you. I’m more than happy for clients to bring props along with them; anything that tells your story is fantastic. Here are a few prompts that may help you decide:

 

  • Do you have any pets you would like included, maybe your dog or even your horse?
  • What hobbies or interests do you both share?
  • What did you do on your first date?
  • Have you seen anything interesting you would like to put your own stamp on?
  • Where did you get engaged? Can we incorporate any aspects of that into the shoot?
  • Do you like the country look or prefer something more urban?
  • Are you into sports? Do have a favourite team / team colours you would like to incorporate?

Engagement Shoots Are Great for Save the Date Cards…

Not all photographers share my belief in the importance of engagement shoots, but I find most couples that do have a shoot are pleased they did and they make a great complement to your wedding photographs. Other things you may want to consider using your engagement images for are thank-you cards, save the date cards, and for your invitations.

Please Check my blog for more information on engagement shoots.

You can see some of the amazing Essex wedding venues I have had the privilege to photograph weddings at on the Wedding Secret Website.

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