For Julien’s proposal we organised that he would pop the question at the Temple of Bacchus. This location was the perfect setting for their Painshill Park engagement. The majestic architecture, secluded location and the tall pillars are a great backdrop for a surprise proposal. As a venue it is also far enough from the sites entrance so that there will be a quiet place away from the general public hustle and bustle. I love this place in Painshill Park. It has been used for some other engagements like Charlie and Ashleigh’s surprise proposal.

After hiding and walking around pretending to look at flowers, I spotted the couple walking up with their dog. Thankfully Julien bought their pup with them, as it was a good distinguishing factor. Usually with surprise engagements you have to be very specific with what you are wearing so that I don’t miss the moment! As a Surrey engagement photographer I always stay far enough away to capture ‘the moment’. This is so that the two of you have some privacy, without over hearing anything.

Julien’s Surprise Painshill Park Engagement

With their dog Exxon right next to them, Julien got down on one knee and asked Mithu to marry him. She said “Yes”! Once the question had been popped I moved in closer to congratulate the couple. It is always so wonderful to capture couples in love once they have got engaged. The atmosphere is so electric and happy. Smiles all around and excited conversations! It is also a good opportunity for me to then connect with the couple and get to know their love story in more depth.

After the initial excitement we all walked around together in the park. Exploring the venues many beautiful landmarks and locations. Having Exxon the dog with us was such a lovely experience too. Painshill Park is a gorgeous venue to have engagement photographs, with many different backdrops to choose from. It is a very versatile place to get the best couples photographs.

Thank You For Looking Through These Gorgeous Painshill Park Engagement Photographs

On a particularly rainy Friday, as I hovered in the bushes waiting for Charlie’s surprise Painshill Park proposal to Ashleigh my heart was racing. Every surprise engagement it is so exciting. Waiting to capture someones new life journey is extremely exhilarating experience. Planning a surprise engagement takes a partnership between photographer and client. Speaking to Charlie and organising his engagement was a wonderful way to learn more about the two of them as a couple. We chatted together to form a plan to make sure that all of Charlie’s idea’s and vision came together perfectly.

Secret Surprise Surrey Proposal

Every proposal session I have photographed at this location has been magical. It was just as exciting when I captured Sam and Emma’s surprise engagement or Fraser and Helena’s surprise marriage proposal. Charlie had a vision to propose to Ashleigh on one of the bridges within Painshill Park. Unfortunately, due to maintenance works this was unable to happen. Luckily, with my knowledge of the location I was able to suggest another place to propose. It just so happens that with a stroke of luck I had suggested somewhere with undercover space. This was lucky because on the morning of Charlie’s proposal it was tipping it down with rain!

Luckily a Little Rain Did Not Stop Charlie and His Plans…

Turns out that nothing could de-rail Charlie’s surprise Painshill Park proposal, not even a little precipitation! Watching Charlie and Ashleigh walk together with their picnic gear to The Temple of Bacchus it was so exhilarating. When Ashleigh said yes after Charlie got down on one knee, I was able to introduce myself. After lots of hugs and congratulations we all walked around the venue and had a couples session together. These two are such wonderful people, and walking around with them felt like we had been friends for years. I am really proud of the images and I hope you all like looking through the gallery!

To say that I was excited for this Wisley gardens engagement shoot is an understatement. Izzy and Olly opted for this venue for their engagement pre-shoot. They wanted somewhere outside and beautiful and Wisley ticks all the boxes. RHS Wisley is one of my ultimate favourite spots for family shoots and engagements. The space is so versatile and there are almost too many places to take gorgeous images. Which is why an RHS Wisley Gardens Engagement session is perfect.

Relaxed and Rainy RHS Wisley Gardens Engagement Shoot

You would never know it, but the morning of our shoot it was raining. But Izzy and Olly were so amazing and wanted to go ahead with their shoot anyway. That is when you know you have attracted the perfect client – because this is exactly what I would have done! As long as the rain is not too heavy, you can still have wonderful photographs. Plus the added perk of Wisley is that the glasshouse offers somewhere to hide away till the rain lessens! Spending time with Izzy and Olly on this couples session only got me more excited for their wedding (which was also EPIC and I need to get it up on my website too!)

Thank you for looking through this Wisley Gardens Engagement shoot

I am lucky enough to fulfil a career highlight and have photographed a wedding at Wisley this summer – take a look at Amy and Luke’s RHS Wisley Garden wedding! Or perhaps feast your eyes on Sam’s surprise Surrey proposal at Painshill Park. Or maybe this surprise Painshill Park proposal.

If you would like a Surrey engagement shoot then please do get in contact – I would love to hear about whether you are planning a surprise proposal or engagement session.

The last time that I was able to photography a surprise Surrey proposal, the weather was remarkably colder! However, Surrey proposal photography had a twist to the story! Sam had contacted me from abroad in the USA for some Painshill Park proposal photography. The proposal was to take place on Sam and Emma’s summer holiday in Europe. Whats more, she had no idea that this would be happening.

SURPRISE PAINSHILL PARK PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHY

With spy-like careful planning, Sam and I hatched a plan for his surprise Surrey proposal. He had scene a proposal on my blog (Fraser and Helena’s Painshill Park proposal) and wanted to use the same location. We decided on The Gothic Tower again in Painshill Park for the proposal because it tends to be a quiet place in the venue. Perfect for intimate proposals like Sam had intended.

Uncharacteristically the weather in 2022 in the UK was blisteringly HOT. Bearing this in mind we decided to organise Sam’s Surrey proposal photography for the morning. Not only is this a cooler time of day, but it also means (from experience) that locations are quieter and there are not so many crowds.

The magic surrounding Sam’s surprise Surrey proposal was due to the length that the pair had travelled. To come all the way from America to Surrey, with this moment in the making. It magnified the importance and was so wonderful to capture. How special to get engaged in one of the UK’s most beautiful heritage sites to the love of your life?

Oh, and by the way … She Said YES!

If you too are thinking of having some Painshill Park proposal photography organised, please do get in contact. I have a wealth of experience in Surrey proposal photography and I would love to help you organise your plans.

This Suffolk engagement shoot was a wet and wild beach engagement session. We were plagued with yellow weather warnings and threat of thunder.  After re-arranging already, Kristy and Gabbie wanted to forge ahead with the beach shoot.  The result was something amazing. The rain really did not dampen the couples enthusiasm for the shoot, or the finished results.  The couple chose Dunwich Heath and Beach for their beach engagement session. It is somewhere that is incredibly beautiful and had many areas for us to explore together on the shoot.

Don’t Rain On Our Parade …

Arranging to meet early for their Suffolk engagement shoot at the beach to avoid large crowds was our plan. This was when the assumption that the weather was going to be sunny. However, arranging an early meet time is beneficial as the light is always brighter and more vibrant. It was so lovely to catch up with Kristy and Gabbie and talk about their plans for their upcoming wedding day. The weather may have rained but we learned to dance in it and embrace the drizzle!

Since writing this blog they have been featured on the LGBTQ wedding photography and planning blog Dancing With Her

Choosing a Suffolk engagement shoot is very fitting, as the couple get married in Norfolk near the coast. The plan is to sneak off to the beach for some wedding portraits on the beach then too (fingers crossed for the weather!) On the other hand if it does rain on your wedding day there is no need to fret. Here is my guide on what to do if it rains on your wedding day.  Regardless of the weather it is so exciting to be able to get back to celebrating wedding days after the pandemic.

Enjoy Kristy and Gabbie’s Suffolk Engagement  Shoot

Having looked through Kristy and Gabbie’s Suffolk engagement shoot, if you would like some Surrey engagement photography take a look though my engagement photograph portfolio. However, if you would like some more beach shoot ideas take a look at this costal Cornish wedding at Driftwood Spars. If you are interested in having a LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer please do drop me an email!

This Winkworth Arboretum couples shoot has a special place in my photographic heart. Having spoken before about my support as an LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer, this LGBT engagement shoot is equally as important. Shelley and Rosi contacted me through a mutual acquaintance to photograph their wedding. After the meeting we hit it off and anticipating their wedding day was so exciting. Then the pandemic shook the world and they felt waiting for government guidelines to change was too much back and fourth. Believe me I do not blame them. The easing and restricting of rules has played havoc on the wedding industry and couples alike.

They decided to cancel their celebration and wait until there was light at the end of the tunnel. I was of course devastated. Their initial wedding venue was one that a Surrey wedding photographer sets their sights on early in their career. It had been a joy to look forward to their wedding, but after this year I completely understood. However, someone up there, Mother Nature or who ever you believe in, took a shining to us a couple of months ago when the couple got back in touch.  After planning a large grand wedding the first time around, Shelley and Rosi had come back to me with a new plan.  They were getting married! This time they were planning a small wedding and were to get hitched this year.

They were planning a wedding that FELT much more like them.

And honestly, I was here for it. When a couple plans a wedding with a structure that feels like them the result is magic. Planning a wedding should reflect you as a couple and if you get caught up in the tradition or the big stuff then you can often loose sight of what really makes you happy. There is no right or  wrong way to plan your day, but Shelley and Rosi had found that planning a small wedding was just what they had wanted after all. If you would like any help planning postponed covid weddings then take a look at the blog post highlighted.

A Relaxed LGBT engagement shoot

Sandwiched in between the worst weather May has seen in the UK in years, Shelley and Rosi braved the forecast. They wanted to do their Winkworth Arboretum couples shoot together as a celebration of what was to come. Having walked this National Trust many times I have always wanted to capture a Surrey Engagement photography shoot at Winkworth. Walking around with Shelley and Rosi was so relaxed and wonderful. It felt good to be out seeing other people having been restricted to socialising with others during the pandemic. So here we are, in a gorgeous setting, chatting, laughing and taking some photographs along the way.

I myself recognise all forms of love. Coming from a same sex parent family, love happens to all of us in the most purest forms. Love really is love and being able to photograph Shelley and Rosi and many other LGBTQ+ couples fills my heart with so much joy.  I pride myself in being an LGBTQ+ friendly wedding photographer and my main aim as an LGBTQ wedding photographer is to capture your essence and the originality of your celebration.

This Surrey proposal photography shoot was one of my favourites! As a Surrey engagement photographer, I have captured many couples in love celebrating their engagements. However, rarely do I get the opportunity to photography a surprise proposal! When Fraser contacted me about his proposal idea, it was so exciting. Not just because Fraser planned his marriage proposal in one of the most romantic places in Surrey, but also because his partner had no idea it was going to happen.

In terms of Surrey engagement photography locations, you are spoiled for choice. Having a surprise engagement proposal at Painshill Park emits serious Bridgerton vibes (yes during lockdown I watched the whole series). The scenery around the park is not too bad on the eye. With its sweeping paths and ornate bridges, the park lends itself for beautiful images.

When planning surprise Surrey proposal photography, contact is key. After a couple of secret phone calls to decide when and where Fraser wanted to propose, we developed a plan together. Kind of like a first date, we decided when, where and what time. Even down to what each of us were wearing!

Gorgeous Surrey Proposal Photography at Painshill Park 

Staying ahead of the game is essential to planning a surprise proposal. So on the day, I waited incognito, patiently awaiting the arrival of the unsuspecting Helena and Fraser. As they walked up to The Gothic Tower, there was so much excitement in the air. As Fraser got down on one knee I snapped away, and moved closer as Helena said yes. There was so much love and happiness looking through my camera lens. Frasers surprise proposal was the perfect antidote to months of mundane lockdown.

I love Surrey proposal photography shoots, but I also adore finding new locations to capture love. If you are planning a surprise proposal or a couples shoot further afield then take a look at this London engagement photography session.

GORGEOUS GREENWICH LONDON COUPLES ENGAGEMENT PHOTOSHOOT

This very lovely London pre-wedding shoot has a very special purpose. On the surface it looks like your average London couples engagement shoot. Smiling faces, couple walking hand in hand around Greenwich. But behind the images, lurks a very familiar story. Sarah and Tim are from the US and had planned on a Spring London engagement shoot with a wedding in September back home in New York. But then Corona happened, and like many others their plans changed.

First post-Corona-Virus engagement shoot 

After postponing our shoot dates together to comply with government guidelines, we finally met on a sunny September morning. Coincidentally it was the morning of what should have been their wedding. Which gave extra meaning to this London pre-wedding shoot. We met in Greenwich Park and chatted a little about how different life was at this current moment. It was important to acknowledge that in the space where warm greeting hugs were, there were little waves and elbow grazes!

Choosing Greenwich as a location was very special to the couple. Having a London couples engagement shoot was important to them both. They only lived a short walk away and had spent much of their lockdown time walking around the park with their dog. Before a shoot I always like to ask couples to pick a location that has a particular meaning for them (if they have a place.) This gives the engagement shoot an extra layer of intimacy, as it is a place where you have a connection.  It was the perfect setting. The right mix of Summer ending and Autumn appearing. A bright crisp morning with warm sunshine plus a whole lot of love and laughter thrown in too!

It Just Goes To Show That Corona Cannot CANCEL Love

Thank you for looking through Sarah and Tim’s London couples engagement shoot

Photographing couples in love is such a passion of mine. I especially love a London pre-wedding shoot and get very excited when photographing anywhere around town. Take for example Siobhan and Amy’s Southbank engagement shoot or Anoushka and Laurie’s South Farm wedding. 

ALTERNATIVELY 

In a previous blog post I discussed what the Schitt’s Creek wedding could teach us about postponed Covid weddings – in light of this postponed wedding London couples engagement shoot it might be just what you are looking for? If you are in the process of planning a smaller wedding here is your complete micro wedding guide. 

Getting up and early to catch the metaphorical worm is so worth the pay out with engagement photography. The light is soft and beautiful, which creates magic inside the camera. I encourage couples to think of places that mean something to one another as a couple. Locations can have so much importance to couples and it is always lovely to have a connection to the place. When Lizzie and Andy suggested a Ranmore Common engagement shoot I was so excited. The place has fond memories for me and also for the couple which is always a nice coincidence.

It was lovely to catch up with Lizzie and Andy. The last time we had met it was over a cup of coffee to discuss booking me as their wedding photographer. They are getting married at the gorgeous Barn at Botley Hill and it is so exciting to be able to photograph their wedding there. Catching up again with my camera in hand is always a wonderful way to get to know each other better.  Having a compatible relationship with your wedding photographer is essential (I have talked about this relationship before) So we spent the engagement shoot laughing and chatting together, getting more acquainted.

If like Lizzie and Andy you are getting married in Surrey and want more inspiration take a look at my year 2019 highlights blog. Or perhaps you are planning an outdoor wedding a little further afield? Grace and Craig’s destination French wedding might be just what you are looking for with plenty of Parisian inspiration.

Capturing London engagement photography is so fun, especially this shoot. Anoushka and I go way back, before she booked me for her Forty Hall Engagement shoot we were at university together. Getting together with old school friends is why I got into this business. Of course I am kidding. But connecting with old acquaintances is such a wonderful experience. To be able to witness and capture people on one of the happiest days of their lives is a rare experience. It is always an extreme honour when dear friends entrust their assurance unto you to as a professional.

The truth is when Anoushka contacted me about potentially photographing her wedding, I was ecstatic! Here is a little more about her plans. She was to marry Laurie in a registry office at the end of October and then have an Indian ceremony at South Farm.  I have always loved the South Farm wedding venue – there are actually pigs and piglets on site! When deciding on the location of their engagement shoot Laurie and Anoushka settled on a Forty Hall engagement shoot. You can see their colourful South Farm wedding here. 

It was such a GORGEOUS location for a London engagement shoot

Anoushka and Laurie are going to have their afternoon reception at Forty Hall after their registry office ceremony. Their Hindu South Farm wedding will take place after the church ceremony on another day.  Forty Hall seemed like the perfect place to have their engagement shoot there. I love to shoot London engagement photography. We met up and walked around the beautiful gardens. Talked about wedding plans and how they were feeling about the big day. It was also a great time to catch up. I had photographed their friends wedding last year and it was lovely to connect and reminisce.

Both Anoushka and Laurie were slightly nervous about having their photograph taken, Anoushka mostly. This is not uncommon! Having your photograph taken by a relative stranger is not an easy thing. This is why engagement shoots are the most amazing ice breaker. You are able to get to know your photographer a little and feel more comfortable in front of the camera. You do not need to be worried about angles and how you look. There will come a point in your engagement shoot when you will realise that being goofy and real is when you are in a safe space. Hopefully from the images you will see that both Laurie and Anoushka eased in to their engagement shoot like utter pros.

Thank you for reading all about Anoushka and Laurie’s Forty Hall Engagement Shoot

If you would like to see their South Farm wedding then look no further. It was the most glorious day and has been featured since on Bride and Tonic’s wedding blog. For more London engagement photography head on over to take a look at Tamara and Nick’s gorgeous Greenwich Park shoot or Sarah and Tim’s London engagement photography, also shot in Greenwich.