This shoot was actually not only an outdoor maternity shoot, but it was originally organised as an engagement shoot. However, COVID had other plans and Jaleh and Hannibal got married in a small intimate ceremony. I was so excited when they contact me to turn their engagement session into a maternity shoot! How the twists and turns of these last few years can create such wonderful surprises along the way.

Romantic Outdoor Surrey Family Photography Session

Instead of having their family photography at home, Jaleh and Hannibal suggested a weekend where they were having a trip away before the baby arrived. This created a perfect opportunity to have some gorgeous photographs captured, outside in the grounds of Ashdown Park Hotel where they were staying. I love capturing outdoor Surrey family photography, because there are so many beautiful locations.  These hotel grounds were just what we were looking for. We ventured out together in the early morning to have some quiet portraits together. I always suggest this with an outdoor maternity shoot because having less people around means that you can capture intimate moments without crowds of people.

Intimate and Special Outdoor Maternity Shoot

Although it was devastating not to be able to capture the wedding that Jaleh and Hannibal had planned. This intimate outdoor maternity shoot was almost more special. We were able to spend quality time together, capturing some really beautiful and deeply personal portraits. As a couple they were so connected and in love. Which shines through in these portraits. I am so privileged to have made friends and been able to photograph Jaleh and Hannibal’s love. It really is one of a kind.

If you too are looking for an outdoor maternity shoot session then please do get in contact.  If you are looking for outdoor family photography or an LGBTQ family photographer just like Jess and Ella’s outdoor maternity beach shoot then please do not hesitate to get in touch and we can talk all about your session.

However if you are interested in Surrey proposal photography then check out Fraser’s surprise proposal at Painshill Park. Or perhaps it instead of surprise proposal photography – you may just be looking for some Surrey engagement photography? Check out Lizzie and Andy’s Ranmore Common engagement shoot or Kristy and Gabbie’s Suffolk engagement shoot. 

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.

From Outdoor Wedding Photography  in  a French Vineyard  to Gorgeous DIY Barn Weddings In Yorkshire

This year has been fabulous! There is not one wedding or family that I have photographed that I could compile as my one favourite. This is why this blog is handy as it is here to highlight all of my best moments of 2019. This piece will take you on a wild ride of emotions, laughter and natural moments captured by me. Not all of my families and weddings are able to be shown to the world, but just know that you are all so important to my year and have meant so much to me creatively. It will also let you into a few facts and numbers about my best blogs of 2019 and statistics that are scientifically compiled. However. That last statement was untrue, but I have it on great authority that the numbers are true (because they are accumulated by me)!

THIS YEAR I PHOTOGRAPHED …

…my first destination wedding in France which was extremely exciting. My lovely couple had an opportunity for outdoor wedding photography, conducted by their family, with food trucks, a home made cake and a first dance (also outside) in a romantic courtyard. I promise you that it will be up on my blog in full as soon as possible. Previous to this wedding I have only had the pleasure of calling myself a destination wedding photographer in Sweden. Gladly I can now add France to my list!

I CRIED AT APPROXIMATELY …

…all of my weddings that I was privileged enough to photograph. You would think that the more you are around a subject, the less emotional you would be. It turns out with weddings, this is not the case. It is not surprising – as a person my tear level is at a very high potency. But being involved in one of the most personal days of someones life, you get choked up, no matter how many times you have seen a ceremony or heard a speech. They are all different and wonderful and come with their own set of tear jerkers.

VINEYARD WEDDINGS DOUBLED…

…my portfolio (as I have said above my first wedding in France) which was held on a vineyard and also with a wedding at Denbies Wine Estate. Both were equally beautiful and wonderful and as you can imagine were accompanied by rather fine wines at dinner too! Having outdoor wedding photography is such a blessing, especially with turbulent weather forecasts in the UK!

MY COUPLES WERE COMPLETELY CREATIVE…

… in all aspects of their wedding days. This year alone five of my brides made their own wedding bouquets and I was present for eight home made wedding cakes! These beautiful days were merged with wonderful wedding suppliers as well as home made touches. This is something that is so special about wedding days, no two are ever alike and the creativity that is out in the world is fabulous.

I PHOTOGRAPHED MORE FAMILIES…

… than I ever have done before. This is such a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with past couples who have extended their families, but to also to make bonds with new people. Thanks to the wonderful world of the internet my business has been able to connect with families from all over Surrey and it has been amazing. This is something that I hope to continue to grow because being a family photographer in Surrey is something that I am deeply passionate about.

Vineyard, DIY, Barn and Village Hall Weddings with Outdoor Wedding

Photography and Fun Family Shoots – Lets See my 2019 BEST   bits!

A BIG MASSIVE THANK YOU 

TO ALL OF MY COUPLES, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE TRUSTED AND WORKED WITH ME THIS YEAR. YOU ALL REALLY ARE WONDERFUL AND I THANK YOU ALL SO  MUCH FOR BEING PART OF MY 2019. 

If you have enjoyed looking through my 2019 highlights and are interested in booking me for your wedding, take a look at my blog post about why we should work together or alternatively fill out this contact form below!

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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.

Although Tamara and Nick are getting hitched in Surrey at Busbridge Lakes, they wanted to have a London engagement photography shoot. To me this was thrilling. Being predominantly a Surrey wedding photographer does not mean that as a business I am limited to just the surrounding areas. The couple chose to have a Greenwich Park engagement shoot on a chilly morning in Spring. Finding places that are important to you as a couple is something that as a wedding photographer I encourage. Places hold special meanings to us as people which I think is important to incorporate.

Relaxed London Engagement   Photography in  Greenwich Park 

Tamara and Nick chose this Royal Park for their engagement shoot together. The space held a special place in their hearts and was somewhere they both wanted to remember together. Since chatting they said they would have found anywhere else to have the shoot hard to pick. That is the beauty of memories, some stick out completely. Similar to a previous couple that I had the pleasure of photographing. Amy and Ruth could think of no where else but Cusworth Hall for their engagement shoot together. There are sometimes venues or places that mean an incredible amount to a couple.

To say that I am looking forward to photographing Tamara and Nick’s wedding is an understatement. Their wedding venue is a particular favourite of mine and I cannot wait to get back there. Tamara is Russian and some of the wedding traditions that she has been describing to me sound incredible. Learning about other cultures and traditions is a wonderful experience. Being present at so many ceremonies and marriages holds immense responsibility and honour.

On the morning of the shoot, all three of us met at the gates of Greenwich Park. Tamara and Nick were slightly nervous – as we all are sometimes – about having their photograph taken. As I have said before, engagement shoots are the perfect opportunity to blow away those cobwebs of doubt. We walked, chatted and took some relaxed couples portraits. Hopefully, by the end of the shoot both Tamara and Nick felt more comfortable in front of the camera. It is always wonderful when couples relay back their first impressions and Tamara’s was just that. She emailed me and said:

“Thanks so much for the photos! It was the best surprise to receive so many photos and am so glad Nick and I picked you as our photographer!”

Thank you for looking through Tamara and Nick’s London engagement shoot

If you or your partner are thinking of planning a Greenwich Park engagement shoot then please look no further and send me an email. Having your photograph taken is a daunting experience but it is something that can be wonderful experience too. Since photographing this engagement I have had the pleasure of capturing Tamara and Nick’s wedding at Busbridge Lakes wedding. If you are unsure about choosing a wedding photographer I have written a blog with Five Reasons We Should Work Together.

Amy and Ruth chose to have a Cusworth Hall engagement shoot on a gorgeously sunny Sunday afternoon. I always ask my couples if there are any places that mean a lot to them or if they have landmarks with any significance to their relationship. So Amy and Ruth took me to Cusworth Hall for their engagement shoot as this was initially the place where Amy was going to propose. We had a picnic in the grounds of the beautiful building and I heard all about why this place was so special to them.

FUN and RELAXED Cusworth Hall Engagement Shoot

Cusworth Hall is very close to where the couple live and they often take long walks here from their house. Amy said that she had originally planned to propose to Ruth at Cusworth Hall. On the day she had arranged a picnic – not unlike the one that we enjoyed together – and she was going to get down on one knee in the beautiful gardens. However, mother nature had other intentions. The rain started pouring and Amy knew that this would not be the right time to do it. Despite having carried the ring around with her for two weeks; Amy’s plan had been wrecked.  Later in the day the sun came out and the couple took a walk down the canal near their house. It was here along a walk they did so much that Amy got down on one knee and proposed to Ruth, who of course said YES!

It just shows that even if you plan a grand proposal, sometimes the simple and most emotional declarations are in places that are unexpected and completely natural. I have had the pleasure of knowing Ruth and Amy for nearly ten years and when they asked me to photograph their wedding I was over the moon. They are planning a DIY tipi wedding at the glorious Inkersall Grange Farm with their closet friends and family. On a personal level I am so ecstatic to photograph this wedding; because who does not want to take pictures of their best friends getting hitched? Take a look at their gorgeous engagement photographs and stay tuned for the wedding! (Since writing this blog I have gone on to photograph their Inkersall Grange Farm wedding).

If you would like me to photograph and engagement shoot for you and your partner please do get in touch!

Thank you so much for looking through Amy and Ruth’s gorgeous Cusworth Hall  Engagement Shoot

If you are interested in booking me for an engagement session or a couples shoot please do not hesitate to contact me alternately pop on over to Siobhan and Amy’s Southbank Engagement session. As an engagement photographer I also offer surprise marriage proposals – just like this Painshill Park proposal.