Shelley and Rosi’s Spring Pre-Wedding Shoot at Winkworth Arboretum
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.