Wrabness Woods - Autumn Engagement Photoshoots
I had the pleasure of photographing Leigh & Ben for an autumnal engagement shoot at Stour Wood (Wrabness Woods) in Essex. These two lovely humans are getting married next year, so we decided to do an engagement shoot together so they have some pictures for their “save the date” cards or wedding invites. They also told me that there has been a blank space on their living room wall since they moved in a few years ago and they are still waiting for the perfect photo to fill that space; hopefully one of these takes that prestige spot!
Why You Should Have an Engagement Photoshoot
An engagement photoshoot is the ideal opportunity for wedding couples to get to know their photographer before the big day. It goes a really long way to relieve some first-time nerves! It enables your photographer to understand couples’ personalities, style, and preferences, which can help provide a more tailored experience for your wedding day. An engagement shoot at an informal and relaxed location allows you to develop a sense of comfort with your photographer, establishes trust, and builds a true connection which will put you at ease when you are in front of their camera on the actual wedding day. It’s a good time to ask your photographer any questions you might have about them, or perhaps you want some advice for another part of your wedding planning. Remember that photographers are human beings too, and on relaxed shoots like this, you will have a unique opportunity to understand them as a person and not just as a camera being pointed in your face!
The Seasons
When is the best time of year to have an engagement photo shoot? Personally, I love autumn! The cosy warm tones of the fall leaves in October/November, the frosty ground early morning, comfortable wooly jumpers, beautiful backdrops, and soft lighting are the perfect combination for some lovely photographs. Summer is incredibly busy with weddings, so it is difficult to find the time to do engagement shoots as well. Winter is very cold, plus the landscape tends to look really dull. Spring can be nice if you have somewhere that blossoming flowers start to bloom, but that’s also starting to get into peak wedding season at that time. Autumn is much quieter and for me, you really can’t beat those lovely red and orange tones!
The Location
These photos were all taken at Stour Wood. Known locally as Wrabness Woods, it is a picturesque location in the Essex countryside. It was made famous by the artist, Grayson Perry, who designed “A House for Essex” which is a quirky Russian-style dolls-house that sits on the outskirts of the woodland. Wrabness woods is also part of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), maintained by Essex Wildlife Trust and part of RSPB’s Stour Estuary Reserve. The forest is full of nature and is home to a huge variety of flora, fauna, and birds. It’s a beautiful place to walk around and relax, but more importantly it is amazing for couples and family photo shoots. Any local woodland is suitable for an autumnal photo shoot for couples and families, but Wrabness Woods has a special place in my heart.
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