Why not gift someone with the chance to dress up, pour a glass of their favourite, and have it captured on film. Or get together with your friends for a dose of fun and the most glamourous headshots…
At the Louvre Palace & Tuilieries Gardens
It was wonderful to meet in the City of Lights and share the amazing sunrise at the Louvre, Arc Carrousel and Jardin des Tuileries. I loaded films into my cameras. We chatted about plans for an outdoor wedding in the Dordogne this summer. After shooting some beautiful Paris engagement portraits we headed to Cafe Le Nemours at the Palais Royale for coffee.
Everything in Paris is beautiful, from the blue roofs to the stone streets to the laid-back style that has made it famous.
An engagement session is a very good idea. It offers the chance to meet in person with your photographer, share dreams and goals for your wedding.
It’s an opportunity for you to see how your photographer will portray you in your wedding portraits. And it’s useful for your photographer to learn what works and what doesn’t in terms of guiding you to the most flattering images. They get to see how self-conscious you are or aren’t, whether you blink a lot (!) and so on.
You don’t have to fly me to a Paris engagement session (although I won’t complain if you do!) I offer a complimentary engagement session within a few miles of my studio in the South West of the UK. It’s currently available with every wedding photography booking. If you would like to venture further afield, or if you have already booked your wedding photography but love what you see, please enquire!
All of my full wedding collections include a complimentary Somerset engagement shoot. Or we can head to the Dorset coast or a Devon beauty spot. If you don’t live locally then it’s the perfect opportunity to book a B&B and make a weekend of it in this beautiful part of the country.
As many of you know I am a total devotee of the traditional film format. If you want to see the amazing luminous tones and vivid colours then scroll down now! Add to that the fabulous grain… These scans from the lab are mostly un-edited. It’s really difficult – and often impossible – to reproduce these qualities in a digital image. This Somerset engagement shoot included quite a few black and white images at the couple’s request, and was shot entirely on film.
You can see the similar luminosity in this countryside couple session and this coastal session, both shot on film.
Rachel and Robin met several years ago but had since moved on in different directions in life. Last year their paths crossed once more and they have found love later in life. They had planned a blessing in St Paul’s Cathedral but it was proving tricky to arrange. For their engagement shoot we decided to visit the sleepy Somerset village where they enjoy Sunday church services together. We took a few shots around the little church, and wandered the lanes.
Then a lovely thing happened. A woman from the church recognised them and threw open the wrought iron gates to her beautiful garden and orchard – complete with rope swing and meandering stream! We captured some lovely images which really represent what this Cider county is famous for.
Rachel and Robin went on to reorganise their wedding to take place in the church you see here, with an English Cream Tea and Cider to follow for their guests. Their cocktail hour and evening meal then took place the following weekend at a London private members’ club on Pall Mall. I’ll be sharing their wedding celebrations later on, with lots of wintery colours and gorgeous English interiors.
Shot on Fuji Pro 400H and Ilford Delta 400 and processed/scanned by Exposure Film Lab.
But sometimes it takes for you to stand in someone else’s shoes to see it.
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So often the people I photograph share with me afterwards how surprised they are that they can look so beautiful in their photos.
Then it’s my turn to be surprised!
Because to me the creativity of the human form and the beauty of the natural light on this earth are beyond doubt. The captivating lines of the face, the tones of the skin, the enduring sparkle in the eye. When these are brought to life by the connection of relationship and lit by the sun’s diffused rays… then something amazing happens!
“How did you make me look so wonderful?”
“Wow, thank you so much for encouraging me to model for you!”
I will let you into a secret. Actually there is no magic at all. It is all earthy, real, created stuff; the souls in love, their expressions, the light falling gently upon them. Then the chemical reaction as the reflected light hits the film in my camera, and again as the lab technicians develop the precious images.
When you invite me to photograph you, or your family, or your wedding, you can expect not just a collection of wonderful pictures, but also an inspiring, encouraging experience.
It is always a surprise to me – but nonetheless such a joy – to know that self-esteem is being elevated through the process of the shoot and the images which come from it. To know that truly beautiful women are realising just a little more how truly beautiful they are.
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The rain fell softly int he evening light for this fine art Dorset beach engagement. Helen and Martin were so obliging and relaxed on their engagement shoot on the Jurassic coast. Despite the gentle rain we meandered around West Bay and the disused railway line and captured some beautiful fine art images on this summer evening. The light was lovely, and so were they. And now they have this beautiful collection of images as a memento of their last days together as a couple before tying the knot, in a place with a special significance for them. Wishing you and your family all the best for your wedding in October.
Click here to visit the full gallery.
Recently graduated from Bird College of Dance with an upper second class honours degree. Caitlin is in the casting agency business, and loves living in London. We ducked off the Strand and, as the sun dipped behind the lovely Somerset House, took a few portraits with a fashion editorial flavour!
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