pre-wedding sessions

Okay, let’s talk engagement sessions! You know you’ve got a shoot to book in with us if you’ve booked your wedding photography package, but where on earth do you have it?! It’s not unknown that I often prefer engagement sessions to weddings. I absolutely LOVE getting to know my couples and couples enjoy it more than they first might think too! It’s an awesome way to get comfortable in front of the camera, chat about your day, and just get to know one another. There are so many great locations across Northamptonshire discussed in this post, but we’re always happy to head somewhere new! Pick somewhere that you either love the look of, or means something to you both! An outdoor space with some options for shade if it happens to be a super bright day and we’re good to go! Please enjoy this summary of locations, but any questions just ask and we’ll get somewhere in place for you!

 

delapre abbey

Probably my most popular location for pre-wedding shoots, Delapre Abbey! Why? It’s beautiful! It’s the perfect place no matter what time of year as it really does change with the seasons. There’s a walled garden with colourful florals, a greenhouse, a willow tree, a little woodland area, a tree trunk laid down which makes a fab seat for photos… you just can’t complain with everything it has to offer! I recommend it to everyone and it’s nice and easy to access with a carpark on site. If you want to see some example galleries from Delapre Abbey, I have plenty!

 

 

GRATON UNDERWOOD ARMY BASE

A new location literally added to my list last month after this lovely session with Rebecca and Darren who are getting married at Cranford Hall in Kettering in 2021! This place was awesome and full of history being an ex-army base, too! It’s essentially a big forest with a walkway through the middle. I’m all about finding locations with a bit of variety than just a backdrop, which is a huge reason why I loved this place so much. There were benches, logs to sit on, different types of trees, old signs for a cinema that used to reside there, the pathway, and a field on the entrance. You can’t go wrong with this place, so I’m going to be recommending it going forward to every one! I’d love to shoot here again.

 

 

 

harlestone firs

Even in the pouring rain, Harlestone Firs is an awesome location for an engagement session! It’s a long path full of fir trees either side, so makes a wonderful backdrop exactly as it is. In my last shoot their with Jo and Stephen, who were due to have their Furtho Manor Farm wedding this year (now in 2021!) we headed further into the forest where there’s a great open space for photos. I really love shooting here and there are no bad angles! It’s dog friendly too, which is always a plus!

 

 

somewhere seasonal

If you want to make your pre-wedding shoot extra special, why not time it around something like Halloween or Christmas? I’ve done a few ‘themed’ engagement sessions, including visiting a pumpkin patch with Jack and Leigh last October ahead of their Oct 2021 wedding at Aswarby Rectory! I also headed to a Christmas Tree Farm with Laura and Murdo which was a fab location and to Waddesdon Christmas Market with Rosie and Sam, something they attend every year so it was special to them!

 

 

woodlands

If you’re stuck for a location, a woodland is a really easy, safe bet and something that can be found anywhere! You might have a woodland that you walk the dog at, go for a weekend walk, or went to as a kid, but as long as there are trees you’ve ticked the woodland requirements. Some great examples are Everdon Stubbs, Badby Woods, and Salcey Forest, all shown below!

 

 

castle ashby gardens

If you’ve never been to Castle Ashby Gardens, you’ll have no idea how much of a stunning location it is, particularly their orangery. Literally just google ‘Castle Ashby Gardens Orangery’ and you’ll see it in all it’s glory! It’s not just the orangery though, Castle Ashby Gardens is a huge area open to the public, full of lots of areas for a pre-wedding shoot. I’ve only ever been here in the winter when it’s closed to the public, so you just pay parking on the door and head on in! If you’re considering castle ashby, just let me know and I can tell you about the different times of year, as it does cost to shoot their otherwise. (Worth it though!)

 

If you’re stuck on locations or want to see some galleries from particular areas, just ask and we’re happy to help! If you’re yet to book a wedding photographer for your day, Kyle and I would of course love to tick that off your wedding planning list. I’d love to find out about you, chat about your plans, and see how we can help. Get in touch!