Most couples tell me they were nervous before their engagement shoot. Many of them say they don't like being photographed. Almost all of them forget about the camera within the first ten minutes.
That gap — between how you expect it to feel and how it actually feels — is what this guide is about. Here's what happens, from the moment we start planning to the moment your gallery arrives.
Before the shoot
About two weeks before, I'll send you a short questionnaire. Nothing complicated — just where you feel most comfortable, what you love doing together, whether you'd rather be in woodland, open landscape, or something urban. The answers shape the whole session. A couple who hikes every weekend photographs differently to a couple who met at a record shop.
I'll suggest locations based on your answers and the time of year. If you have somewhere meaningful already in mind — where you had your first date, where he proposed, where you go every Sunday — that's always better than somewhere generic and pretty.
What to wear
Comfort over occasion. The couples who photograph best are always the ones who feel like themselves. That doesn't mean dress down — it means wear something you'd choose again, not something you feel you're supposed to wear for a photoshoot.
A few practical things: avoid logos and busy patterns, which date quickly and distract from your faces. Coordinate rather than match — similar tones and textures look more natural than identical outfits. And layer up in cooler months; a coat or jacket gives you options and keeps you warm between shots.
On the day
We'll meet at the location with no agenda beyond spending a couple of hours together. I'll give you loose direction — walk here, stand there, look at that — but mostly I'm watching for the moments that happen between the directions. The thing you do with your hands when you're listening. The way you look at each other when you think I'm changing lens.
The best portraits come when you're both in conversation and you've forgotten there's a camera. My job is to make that happen as quickly as possible.
Sessions typically last 90 minutes to two hours. We'll move around, stop when the light's good, and take our time. I'll never rush you.
Practical tips
01
Arrive a little early
Give yourself 10 minutes to settle in to the location. Don't rush from the car directly into the shoot. Walk around, breathe, remember it's meant to be enjoyable.
02
Eat beforehand
This sounds obvious but almost nobody does it. Being hungry makes everything harder. Bring snacks if it's a longer session.
03
Turn phones to silent
Not off — just away from your hand. The urge to check the image on the back of the camera is natural but counterproductive. Trust the process.
04
Talk to each other, not the camera
Ask each other questions. Tell a story. Argue about where you're going for dinner. Genuine conversation produces genuine expressions, every time.
After the shoot
You'll receive a private online gallery within 2–3 weeks. Typically 60–80 fully edited images. You can download everything at full resolution, share privately with family, and order prints directly from the gallery if you'd like.
The engagement gallery also becomes a reference point for your wedding day — we'll both know how you like to be photographed, and you'll arrive at the ceremony already comfortable with a camera in front of you. That confidence is worth a lot.