Engagement Shoot Richmond | May-Ling + Matt

Engagement Shoot Richmond

An engagement photo session is a great way to get to know your photographer a little better before the big day, in fact, it’s sort of like a trial run. It also gives you a chance to get used to having your photo taken, and to decide what sort of poses and facial expressions look good. And it’s a nice opportunity to get some professional photos of the two of you together before the wedding.
May-Ling and Matt have hired me to photograph their wedding later in the year, and also wanted to have an engagement photo session. They decided upon Richmond for the location, because it’s a place they have visited together a number of times. For engagement photos Richmond is a fantastic choice because it offers so many backdrops. From quirky ice cream van photographs, to beautiful riverside views and idyllic cobbled streets, there are lots of opportunities to make the most of what Richmond has to offer.
The weather always adds an element of risk to outdoor photo sessions, so I find myself carrying umbrellas at all times just in case. The day of our engagement photo session, however, Richmond was lit up by the blazing summer sun and looked just beautiful. We started our visit by taking a stroll through the town, and I took some photographs of May-Ling and Matt hand in hand as they walked down the quaint cobbled streets.
May-Ling and Matt walked by the river, stopping to take in the views on the way, while I took photographs of them. May-Ling and Matt were keen to get some arty shots, so I was on the look out for unusual photograph opportunities. As we made our way along the riverside, we passed under a bridge so I hurried to the other side and took some photos of May-Ling and Matt looking into each other’s eyes. I love how the photo turned out, with the detailing on the brickwork above reaching across the shot.
May-Ling and Matt were a great couple to photograph, and knew exactly what type of photographs they wanted. It’s always exciting when people ask for arty shots, because these are especially fun to shoot. They also wanted some traditional couple shots, so they posed together a few times throughout the day, standing next to each other and smiling at the camera. The photos turned out great, and you can really see the love that May-Ling and Matt share, and how perfect for each other they are.

Engagement Photo Shoot Richmond Park - Isabella Plantation

May-Ling and Matt chose Richmond as the location for the shoot, because they were keen to do their engagement photo session in Richmond and Richmond Park – Isabella Plantation. The plantation is one of the Royal gardens, and is simply breath-taking. It is an organically managed woodland with a huge variety of exotic plants.
May-Ling and Matt have visited the Isabella Plantation a number of times together, and it is one of the places that holds sentimental value for them. When we discussed the location of the shoot on the phone, May-Ling mentioned that they had been for picnics there on an early date, so I suggested she brought a picnic blanket to use on the shoot. May-Ling went even further, and brought a picnic basket and wine too. As the sun was starting to set, we found the quiet spot they had visited before, and May-Ling and Matt opened the wine and had a glass while I photographed them. The photos look beautiful, the couple look relaxed and happy, and the sun is still shining in the distance.
After the picnic, we walked round the plantation to find more locations to take photographs. One of my favourite shots from the day, was taken just as we were about to leave. The sun had almost set, and the plantation looked beautiful under the orange glow from the setting sun. The golden trees were basked in light from the setting sun, and the odd cloud had started to appear in the sky. May-Ling and Matt stopped together in the middle of the dirt path, and leaned into each other, gazing into each other’s eyes, as I photographed them. The colours of the photograph are just beautiful, almost sepia thanks to the evening light.
If you would like to book an engagement photo session, please contact me to discuss my availability.