Benefits of Having a Pre-Wedding Photoshoot with Your Wedding Photographer, The Dos & Don’ts of Engagement Photo Shoots & My Favourite Engagement Shoot Locations in Northern Ireland
Unless you’re a model, being photographed probably feels a little awkward. I do this for a living and still, feel a little out of place when I have my photos taken. I’m a big fan of engagement sessions for a few reasons.
First, they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera and all the attention of it on you. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed. Timelines can be pretty tight on weddings days and 10-30 minutes may be all we have for portraits - which is why wedding day portraits turn out so much better when couples do engagement sessions ahead of time.
Second, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you (and even include children or pets!). They’re great for save-the-dates, we’ve taken engagement photos anywhere from 18 months in advance to a few days before the wedding. Your complimentary session is included in the price, but you don’t have to book it only with your wedding package. It can make a great gift for newly engaged friends, anniversary gift to your significant other and so on. I charge £150 for an engagement portrait session, inclusive of a full edit and digital download. Have a read through the advice below to help make your mind up.
The perfect warm-up before the big day
If you’ve ever had your picture taken you to know it can be tricky to get it right the first time. Those passport photos, holiday or bar snaps don’t always turn exactly how you wanted them, showing your best side, most flattering angle and that perfect light. The lucky snap in the sea of missed ones. Your professional photos, on the other hand, are not based on luck, but experience, skills and relationship with your photographer. It’s your perfect opportunity to see your good sides, your hands, smile and eyes. It helps you imagine yourself in your wedding photos and helps me see which ones we could re-do on the big day and which to avoid. Chances are you haven’t had many opportunities for taking romantic images with your significant other and you’re unsure of what to do, how to stand, where to put your hand. Relax. I’m here to help you feel confident, happy and delighted with your wedding day images! Taking some extra time before the big day to ensure you’re comfortable can improve your wedding day experience big time. You can never be too prepared! After all, I won’t be a paparazzi stranger any more once you see me falling into a cow pat!
2. Take time to Celebrate
The wedding day can get pretty busy with greetings, speeches, doing rounds at the dinner tables and putting the ring on itself. There’s very little time you spend alone with your partner on the day truly celebrating the marriage. That alone time will be perhaps our sunset portrait session, first moment you can catch a breath and relax, just the two of you. Wouldn’t it be nice if we run it quickly and smoothly, because you had a practice run? An engagement shoot is a chance to practice, but also celebrate your union and the excitement of being engaged. It also gives you a breather from all the planning and shifts your focus to the person you’re going to marry. It’s a date. A chance to dress up and get the ‘‘cool you’’ out and take a photo you perhaps always wanted to have of the two of you.
3. LETTING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER GET TO KNOW YOU
An engagement shoot is a perfect opportunity for your photographer to get to know your good sides, what makes you laugh, see the height difference but also chat about the upcoming wedding day - plans, nerves and hopes. It’s a perfect chance to meet and go over small details taking a casual walk somewhere pretty, talk about your photo wishes, plan out first look with your dad and ask photographers opinion on the timeline, light in the morning and so much more. Invaluable insight like that helps me plan shots and make sure I contribute to running your day smoothly. Warm-up photos can be a great way for me to experiment with new lense, posing ideas and angles. You can relax and get to know me, which in return will make you feel at ease on the big day. You will spend so much time with me on the day following you and I don’t want to be a stranger.
4.Proposal and engagement photos in one
Engagement photos are traditionally taken sometime after you got engaged, hence they are often called warm-ups, pre-wedding photoshoots, get to know you shoots etc. Don’t worry, you don’t have to once again get on one knee and get it captured, a ring is usually a good indication and we can assume it already happened. However, some couples go all in - propose and have a photoshoot right after, once the photographer has revealed itself out of the bushes. It’s such a romantic idea because your emotions are running high, it’s unexpected and it can be such a stunning keepsake. It’s wonderful to see two people committing to each other and witness the magical moment!
5. Bring your children or pets
They will be more than welcome! If you prefer having your little ones with you that’s no problem at all, we can turn it into a family photo shoot and you don’t have to worry about what to do with your hands or feeling out of place. The little ones will keep you busy!
6. A chance to dress up and feel like a movie star
Matching outfits may be a little much, but you want to make sure the colours you’re wearing complement one another. Bring a mirror and some makeup, hairbrush if you need to, an umbrella perhaps. You want to look back at the photos and feel no regrets about your outfit choices.
Stick to a neutral colour. Always go for natural & neutral colours within the season - warm colours for autumn in the park, cool, bright colours for the summer photos at the beach. Make sure you and your fiance look both either cool or warm and your outfits complement each other.
Choose clothes that you are comfortable in & that represent you. You can go a bit more quirky for the photos around the city (like heels or pattern shirt), but keep your jewellery simple, avoiding anything too flashy.
Avoid lettering, large single graphics, logos, patterns. Those are distracting and we want all the focus on you.
I encourage you to dress up a bit - but remember the location of your photos and how laid back you want them to be.
My last advice would be to look closely at your wardrobe and don't buy new stuff (in case you want to). I honestly don't want you to think like you have to stress, spend £££ and buy a new set of outfits. If you are going to treat yourself and get something especially for the shoot - you can always message me and ask if that's a good idea.
The Dos & Don’ts of Engagement Photo Shoots
Do: Make Eye Contact with Your Partner
Don’t: Make Eye Contact with the Camera
The photos will look much more natural when you look at your partner and the landscape around you rather than posing for the camera. You want to show connection and love.
Do: Move Around
Your photos will look much more interesting and dynamic, you will feel less awkward moving rather than standing with a smile glued to your face. We always start engagement shoots with walking and holding hands image - it’s a great warm-up!
Don’t: Let Your Arms Just Hang
Touching is a connection! You want to show that you love each other and nothing shows better than hugging, touching and making sure you’re physically connected on the photo.
Do: Look a Litte Silly
It can make for some great, relaxed and spontaneous photos. Don’t worry about the final result - I’m there to capture it all and then choose the best images that feel real. I won’t ask you to do anything cheesy and you can count on me being silly with you too!
Don’t: Be Too Worried About How You Look
Photos can be edited and Photoshoped if you wish. If you feel insecure about your hair, makeup, arms or any part of your body it will show, so please relax and let me capture the best angles and most flattering images for you.
Locations
Here is my list of favourite locations for your engagement photos, but feel free to suggest yours if there is a special place you would like to have your photos taken.
Kinbane Castle
Murlough Beach
Dunluce Castle
Dunseveric Castle
Castlewellan
Whiterocks Beach
Islandmagee
Tollymore Forest
Dark Hedges
Inch Abbey
Ballintoy
Torr Head & Coastline
Lady Dixon Park
Here’s a link to a detailed blog post with personal images and videos of these locations.