An engagement portrait session is one of my favourite things to photograph and not just because the results are beautiful. It’s because of what happens during the session itself.
Most couples arrive slightly nervous. Camera shy, unsure what to do with their hands, convinced they’re not photogenic. Then within twenty minutes, something shifts. You relax, you forget the camera is there, and you start being yourselves together. That’s when the real photographs happen.
Where can we have our Engagement Photoshoot?
I offer engagement portrait sessions at a range of locations depending on the look and feel you’re after:
Kinver Studio – Clean, modern and controlled. A crisp white background that puts the focus entirely on the two of you. Perfect for classic, timeless portraits with a contemporary feel. Hannah and Jason’s session mixed studio and outdoor locations beautifully, take a look to see how the two work together.
Kinver Edge – One of the most beautiful natural backdrops in the West Midlands. Heathland, woodland, dramatic sandstone outcrops and ever-changing light. Ideal for couples who want something relaxed, natural and outdoors. Emily and Dave’s engagement session at Kinver Edge is a great example of what’s possible.
A location that’s yours – A favourite pub, a city street, an industrial estate you’d never expect to look beautiful, somewhere that tells your story. Some of the best engagement sessions I’ve done have been somewhere that meant everything to the couple and nothing to anyone else. Isobel and Ed’s pre-wedding shoot in their own field is exactly that.
Your wedding venue – Using your venue for your engagement session is something I’d always recommend if it’s an option. You get meaningful portraits in a place that already matters to you and I get to walk the grounds, find the best spots and understand the layout before your wedding day. It’s a win for everyone, and it means there are no surprises on the day itself.
Can’t decide? We can mix locations within the same session if you want.
Bringing the whole family
Dogs, kids, both, all are welcome. If your pet or your little ones are part of your story, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be part of your engagement session too.
Why every wedding package includes one
I include a complimentary engagement portrait session with every one of my wedding photography packages and it’s not just a nice extra. There’s a very specific reason I do it.
Your wedding day is not the time to be getting comfortable in front of my camera for the first time. By the time your wedding arrives, I want you to already know how I work, trust me, and already have the slightly awkward five minutes at the beginning out of the way. The difference it makes to your wedding portraits is significant.
See it in action: Emily and Dave’s Weston Hall wedding, Isobel and Ed’s wedding and Hannah and Jason’s Dodford Inn wedding all started with an engagement session first, and you can see the difference it makes in how relaxed and natural the wedding portraits are.
I’ve written a full blog post explaining why I always recommend an engagement shoot if you’d like to read more about it.
What do you get?
You’ll receive a full set of hand-edited images to browse, with the option to order prints or a digital collection of your favourites. Many couples use their engagement portraits for save the dates, wedding websites, table plans or just as a set of photographs to keep to remember this special time.
Still not sure?
Hate having your photograph taken? good (me too). That’s exactly who engagement sessions are designed for. I’ve photographed plenty of couples who were convinced they were completely unphotogenic and came away genuinely surprised by the results. The secret isn’t posing – it’s relaxing.
Take a look at my portfolio to see more examples, read what previous couples have said, or get in touch to check availability and find out more.