Connection shoots, Engagement shoots & Pre-wedding shoots...

Commonly known as an 'Engagement shoots', you may hear a few different terms for what I call 'Connection shoots'. They are essentially a pre-wedding shoot designed to help you become more comfortable in front of the camera and help me get to know you better as a couple.

What's all the fuss about?

I'm going to be honest, when I first heard about engagement shoots I wasn't all that fussed. It didn't really make sense to me and how I worked. However, I began to realise that I was missing a trick, let me tell you why.

I am, at heart, a documentary wedding photographer. Sometimes that lends itself to situations where guidance is needed. Yet, forced posing is just not what I'm about and it's not what couples who work with me want.

If I walked into a room and I had zero connection with a couple, getting the natural photos that we both want will take some time. That time just isn't always there on a wedding day.

With a connection shoot I have a lot more freedom to convey what I want from my couples and what I'm trying to achieve. This lends itself really well to a wedding day.

Why I don't call them engagement shoots.

When a couple enquires about my photography they are more than likely already engaged. How my shoots work isn't just to capture candid moments.

I can absolutely photograph the moment you say I do. However, this is not the point of my connection shoots.

It's a way to get to know you. The way in which I approach the shoot allows me to capture the real you and gives you the confidence to just be!

It's all about telling the story of you as a couple and that's what I love to photograph.

Don't look at me and don't talk about the washing up!

I'm not after much really. I just know that if you start talking about the washing up, or anything that makes your shoulders slump then I will intervene.

However for the most part I don't want to shape how you are with each other, I want to bring it out.

There are staple shots that I love to take but I will use the environment around me and ultimately how you are within that scene is what I'm looking to capture.

I really don't want you to look at the camera. Wait, what?

I really don't want you to look at the camera too much at all. Wait what? Didn't we just see that exactly that above? I know, I break my own rules from time to time but look how much fun they were having!

For me, it's all about context. Roz & Luke are really competitive, and we had a great time in that scene so it makes sense for that shot but hear me out.

We're here to get a documentary account of you as a couple, and we're going to have fun but unless the shot makes sense to what's going on, I don't want you just looking at the camera.

The shoot is aimed at making you more relaxed about your wedding photography. One of the ways I do that is to make it less about having your picture taken and more about just being you.

Does this sound like something you'd be up for? Has this post convinced you to have a connection shoot?