We love our engagement (or pre-wedding) sessions. They’re the perfect time to get relaxed in front of the camera, have a bit of fun with your significant other and get to know your photographers (us!). They’re always a fun session where we can play around and get creative, without worrying about wedding day timelines, guests getting in the way and all the other plans on a wedding day.

We know people have lots of questions about their engagement sessions, from where to have them to what to wear. Some of you might even be wondering they’re worth it at all. That’s a whole other blog post though. We talk more about that here.

We send out a bunch of information before all our sessions, but thought we’d share a bit with you here as well.

A couple in the woods hold orange smoke bombs. They are looking into each others eyes as orange smoke swirls around them in Plessey Woods in Newcastle.

Trust us

This maybe goes without saying, but the whole point of your engagement session is to get to know us, your photographers. This is super important as it means that you know what we’re going to be doing on your wedding day. It makes the day itself run a lot smoother and it means there are no surprises.

We’re not very posey photographers. Most of our photos are created by giving you guys something to do, like walking, dancing, spinning or even just chatting. If you’re thinking about how to walk or what on earth you’re supposed to say to each other, you’re not thinking about us snapping away.

So don’t worry if we ask you to do something a little bit crazy (like whisper your favourite vegetable in your partner’s ear). We’re doing it to capture the natural reactions that you love in our work, and trust us, you’ll look amazing in the photos.

Where should we go?

We’re outdoorsy people, we love an adventure. Who doesn’t want to say they’ve been for an amazing adventure photoshoot?

We generally recommend heading somewhere with beautiful, verdant backdrops. The North York Moors are one of our absolute favourites places to explore for engagement photography. However, we live close to the seaside too, so if we’re not on the moors, chances are we’re on the beach. We’re always going to be up for wandering the Yorkshire moors or getting out for beachy walks.

Having said all that, if you guys have somewhere special to you already in mind then we’d love to hear it. Do you have a favourite picnic spot? Or somewhere you love to walk the dogs? Making it mean something to you, means your photos will really reflect who you are and you’ll love them even more.

A guy carries his fiance along the Redcar beach in the North East. They both smile, she looks at him while he looks ahead as he walks.

What to wear?

Your photos are, or at least should be, a reflection of you. Come dressed in something that makes you feel comfortable. Complementary colours are lovely, but don’t worry about matching each other. As long as you look and feel like yourselves then we’re all absolutely winning.

Sturdy shoes are really the only thing we suggest, depending on where you’re going. We’re known for shoving you guys into the heather on the moors or up and across the dunes at the beach, so good shoes help you stay comfortable.

Check out our Engagement Session Pinterest board for inspiration.

A couple snuggle together in wooly hat and gloves on the beach at Marske in the North East.

Timing

This is England, you can’t always guarantee the weather. No matter what the time of year though, golden hour is always a great time to be getting outside for a photoshoot.

Golden hour is the hour just before sunset. The sun is low in the sky and you get gorgeous golden light and beautiful, long shadows. It’s the perfect light for creating dramatic and romantic images. If we can’t get golden hour, then we can always aim for sunrise. Sunrise is easier to achieve in wintertime when the days are shorter though, because we will really struggle to drag ourselves out of bed to meet you for a 6am sunrise shoot. Sorry, not sorry.

A couple stand on Marske Beach in the North East with lanterns. The lanterns cast a light on them while behind them the sunset has turned the sky and clouds a candy floss pink.

Bonus tip! Have fun!

Believe us, being in front of the camera when you’re not used to it is awkward. We know, we’re not great in front of the camera either. Where do you put your hands, and what do faces even do when you’re not thinking about them?! It’s totally okay to feel this way, completely normal even. We promise that after you join us for an engagement shoot it will make things a millions times easier on your wedding day.

Engagement sessions are all about creating chances for you to interact as naturally as possible and then for us to capture them for you. We want you to cuddle and flirt, talk about things that make you laugh and what you love about each other. If that doesn’t work, we’ll wheel out the big guns and ask you to start listing vegetables in a sexy whisper to each other. However we get there, eventually you’ll forget you’re having your photos taken, and we get to capture you both acting naturally and being your beautiful selves.

We love engagement sessions for so many reasons, but mostly we love creating images that represent the two of you. Photographs that capture the fun and relaxed side of your story. Images that show the happiness of your engagement period, that tell your truth and give you something to look back on in years to come. With a little thought and preparation, they’re super easy and we can promise they’ll be one of your favourite parts of your wedding journey.

If you’re excited about seeing these tips in action on your own shoot then why not say hi and we can start to make some plans.
What if you’re still not sure if it’s worth bothering? Check out our blog post with our Top 5 Reasons to have an Engagement Shoot.