Emily & Chris

A pre-wedding photoshoot ‘before and after’

A pre-wedding shoot makes me so happy I want to start a happy-dance-off with my camera. But I don’t love them for the shoot itself; though that’s fun. I love them for the ‘before and after’.

Not in the know? A pre-wedding photoshoot is a shoot before your wedding (LOL) and a chance to get to know me a little, experience a professional photoshoot, and lose the nerves of being in front of a camera. You can find out more about pre-wedding shoots here.

Every couple starts off expecting a hideous experience. But by the end, they’ll have a great time, feel it wasn’t really like a photoshoot at all, and realise they can look good in photos. Often, couples feel so much more confident in front of the camera after their pre-wedding shoot that it’s like photographing a different couple come their wedding day! 

And this certainly sums things up for Emily and Chris.

Engaged couple standing in front of Courteenhall church
Classic portrait of engaged couple smiling at the camera
Engaged couple standing in the doorway of Courteenhall church
Engaged couple standing in the doorway of Courteenhall church
Engaged couple standing in the doorway of Courteenhall church

Emily and Chris pre-wedding shoot ‘before’

These two were super-nervous about having photos taken. (Which is completely understandable. The thought of posing for professional photos can stir up a lot of emotions.⁣)

But as with many things in life, once you stop second-guessing and just start, it’s much easier.  

And they soon relaxed. We had a lovely time exploring the grounds of the estate, getting to know each other, and chatting about their plans – which took their minds off the camera. My aim with any couple shots – pre-wedding or wedding day – is to make it feel less like a photoshoot and more like quality time together.

And their wedding venue, Courteenhall, with beauty and intrigue at every corner, made the ideal location.

Engaged couple walking through the garden of the rectory at Courteenhall
Engaged couple walking through the garden of the rectory at Courteenhall
Engaged couple standing by the gate at Courteenhall church with Courteenhall house behind them
Engaged couple standing by the gate at Courteenhall church with Courteenhall house behind them
Left hand speech marks icon

“Weddings are expensive so initially it seemed rather extravagant to have a pre-wedding shoot too, but actually it was such a fantastic experience and it is a false economy not to. We were worried about the ‘cheesy’ factor and that we would come out badly, so we thought we would use these pictures as ‘rehearsal photos’, but we are so thrilled with the photos and we will cherish them for the rest of our lives.” Emily & Chris

Engaged couple on the steps at the front of Courteenhall house
Engaged couple at the front door of Courteenhall house
Engaged couple at the front door of Courteenhall house
Engagement photo showing bride-to-be's ring
Close-up photos of bride-to-be during engagement portrait photo session
Close-up photos of groom-to-be during engagement portrait photo session
Portrait of bride and groom smiling and looking away from the camera
Engaged couple at the front door of Courteenhall house
Engaged couple at the front door of Courteenhall house
Engaged couple at the front door of Courteenhall house
Engaged couple walking in front of Courteenhall house
Left hand speech marks icon

“We were very grateful we could do our shoot at our venue. It was so exciting to literally walk through our day. Everything felt very real and made us more excited for the wedding. It was also lovely to take advantage of the beauty of our venue in two different seasons. The blossom of spring came out beautifully!” Emily & Chris

Engaged couple walking past a giant flower pot in the grounds of Courteenhall
Engaged couple walking past a giant flower pot in the grounds of Courteenhall
Engaged couple cuddled up next to a giant flower pot in the grounds of Courteenhall
Engaged couple cuddled up under a blossom tree in the grounds of Courteenhall
Engaged couple cuddled up under a blossom tree in the grounds of Courteenhall
Engagement photo by the lake at Courteenhall
Left hand speech marks icon

“WOW!!!! We absolutely LOVE them! Thank you so much, these photos are stunning, You have captured our love and laughter so well. We also love how relaxed and natural you made us look. We are so happy to have you as our photographer.” Emily & Chris

Emily and Chris pre-wedding shoot ‘after’

Come their wedding day, Emily and Chris were completely at ease. They didn’t bat an eyelid at my presence when I was capturing natural photos. They just wore their souls on their sleeves and laid all the great moments on a plate for me. Then when it came to their couple shots, it was as if I wasn’t there. They gave me so much raw, real emotion. And I simply guided them to great locations and calmly captured the magic. 

But don’t take my word for it. Check out some of their wedding photos to see just how relaxed and confident their pre-wedding shoot made them feel… 

EMILY & CHRIS 2.0