Engagement Photos: Why You Need a Pre-Wedding Session
Engagement photos are about much more than having a few lovely pictures before your wedding.
A relaxed pre-wedding photo session gives us a chance to work together before the big day, helps you become comfortable in front of the camera and lets you see exactly how we photograph couples.
If you feel awkward or nervous about being photographed, an engagement photography session can be particularly useful. By the time your wedding arrives, you already know us, you know what to expect, and the photography feels far more familiar.
You’ll also receive a complete set of engagement photos from the session — perfect for keeping, sharing, using on your wedding website or adding to save-the-date cards.
Our engagement session is included with our Full Day Duo Premium package, and you can add it to our other wedding photography packages for £350.
What are engagement photos?
Engagement photos are professional photos of you as a couple, usually taken before your wedding during a relaxed pre-wedding photography session.
You might also hear them described as an engagement shoot, e-shoot, couples session or pre-wedding photo session. Whatever the name, the idea is the same: you get great photographs together before the wedding while also becoming more comfortable with your photographer and the camera.
Most couples we photograph aren’t used to having professional photos taken, so an engagement session is a useful way to remove some of that uncertainty before the wedding day.
We usually spend an hour or two together somewhere in Edinburgh or the Lothians. That might be a park, beach, woodland, historic part of the city, or somewhere with a personal connection for you both.
During the shoot, you’ll see how we work with couples and how little fuss is actually involved. We also get a better feel for what comes naturally to you, which helps us work more efficiently when we photograph your wedding portraits.
By the time your wedding arrives, the photography no longer feels like an unknown part of the day — we’ve already worked together once.
And there’s another obvious benefit: you’ll receive a complete set of edited engagement photos to keep, share or use for things such as your wedding website and save-the-date cards.
How much do engagement photos cost?
Our engagement photography session costs £350 and provides up to an hour of photography at one location in Edinburgh.
If you book our Full Day Duo Premium package, your pre-wedding engagement session is already included, so there’s nothing extra to pay.
We usually arrange the shoot around two months before your wedding. That gives us time to get to know each other, helps you feel more relaxed in front of the camera and means everything we learn together is still fresh when your wedding day arrives.
You’ll receive all your edited engagement photos in both colour and black-and-white.
We usually photograph engagement sessions in Edinburgh and the Lothians, but we can also arrange pre-wedding shoots elsewhere in Scotland. Travel costs may apply outside our local area.
Where to Take Engagement Photos in Edinburgh
Edinburgh offers plenty of options for engagement photos, from historic streets and quiet green spaces to woodland, beaches, and open views across the city.
The best location for your engagement session depends on the kind of photographs you like, how much walking you want to do and whether you prefer something urban, natural or more personal to you both.
Some couples choose a well-known Edinburgh backdrop, while others prefer somewhere quieter or a location that already means something to them.
If you’re deciding where to have your pre-wedding shoot, have a look at our guide to the best photo locations in Edinburgh for more ideas and examples.
Engagement Photos in Edinburgh & the Lothians
What to Bring to Your Engagement Session
You really don’t need to bring much to an engagement shoot. The aim is to keep the session relaxed, not turn it into a production.
A few things can make the experience easier:
- Comfortable shoes: We may do a reasonable amount of walking, particularly around Edinburgh’s cobbled streets, parks and hills. You can always change shoes when we reach a photo location.
- An extra layer: Scottish weather is famously unpredictable, so a coat, jacket or wrap can be useful even when the forecast looks promising.
- Anything you normally use for a quick tidy-up: A hairbrush or small mirror can be handy if it’s windy, but there’s no need to bring a full touch-up kit.
- Your dog: If you’d like your four-legged family member to be part of your engagement photos, they’re very welcome. Bring a few treats and anything else they might need.
Most importantly, wear something you feel comfortable in, and that makes you feel like yourself. If you’re wondering what photographs well, we’ve answered what to wear for engagement photos in the FAQ section further down the page.
What Couples Say About Working With Us
Feeling comfortable with your photographers matters just as much as liking their photographs. Many of the couples we work with tell us they normally dislike having their picture taken, so creating a relaxed experience is a big part of what we do.
Here’s what a few of our couples have said about working with us.
Great shots of the proposal
I wanted to set up a surprise engagement shoot with my partner while we were in Edinburgh and had no idea where to start! Jonathon made himself available and we figured out a plan leading up to the shoot (all while dealing with different time zones!). The experience on the day of was amazing! He had some shots in mind and gave us great direction without making it feel like it was unnatural. He even got some great shots of the proposal, which to both of our surprise ended with both me and my fiancee proposing to each other! Overall an amazing experience and I would definitely say you can trust that Jonathon will do an amazing job!
Jonathan was fantastic!!
Jonathan was fantastic!! He managed to beautifully capture our special moment.
If you are in the need for a proposal photographer in Edinburgh, Jonathan should be top of your list.
They couldn’t help enough, easy to contact, very helpful and great photos
I had a plan to propose in Edinburgh, having never been and not knowing where to propose, they couldn’t help enough easy to contact very helpful and great photos! I asked a few different photographers but as soon as we had a phone call and I could tell how easy they could make my proposal happen it was a no brainer, will definitely be getting a call back for the wedding!
Engagement Photos: Frequently Asked Questions
Are engagement photos a good idea if we’re camera-shy?
Yes — in fact, camera-shy couples are often the ones who benefit most from an engagement session.
Most couples we photograph aren’t used to being professionally photographed, and there’s no expectation that you’ll know how to pose or what to do. The pre-wedding shoot gives you a relaxed opportunity to see how we work, get used to having cameras around and discover what feels natural for you both.
When your wedding day arrives, we’re no longer unfamiliar photographers pointing cameras at you. We’ve already worked together, which can make your wedding portraits feel much easier and more relaxed.
What should we wear for our engagement photos?
Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and still look like yourselves.
You don’t need matching outfits, but colours that work well together usually photograph better than two completely different styles. We’d generally avoid large logos, very busy patterns or anything you’ll spend the whole session adjusting or worrying about.
Think about the location and weather too. Comfortable shoes are useful if we’re walking around Edinburgh, and layers are always sensible for a Scottish engagement shoot.
Above all, choose clothes you genuinely like wearing. Feeling comfortable will make far more difference to your engagement photos than following strict styling rules.
How far in advance should we have our engagement photos taken?
We usually recommend having your engagement session around two months before the wedding.
That’s close enough to the wedding for the experience of working together to still feel familiar, while leaving plenty of time to enjoy your engagement photos beforehand.
There’s no rigid rule, though. If you want to use the photographs for save-the-date cards, invitations or your wedding website, it makes sense to arrange your pre-wedding shoot earlier.
What is the best time of day for engagement photos in Scotland?
There isn’t one perfect time for every engagement shoot.
The best time depends on the season, weather and location we’ve chosen. Later afternoon or evening light can be beautiful, particularly during spring and autumn, but Scotland’s softer overcast light can also be excellent for photography throughout much of the day.
Edinburgh changes enormously through the seasons too — summer evenings stay light very late, while winter daylight disappears surprisingly quickly.
Once we’ve chosen your engagement photo location, we can recommend a time that gives us the best combination of light, surroundings and practical conditions.
Can we use our engagement photos for save-the-date cards and our wedding website?
Absolutely. You’ll receive high-resolution edited photographs from your engagement session, so you can use them for save-the-date cards, wedding invitations, your wedding website, social media or simply to print and keep.
If you know you’d like to use your engagement photos for wedding stationery, let us know when we arrange the session so we can make sure the timing works with your plans.
Ready to Add an Engagement Session to Your Wedding Photography?
We’re Claire and Jonathon, the husband-and-wife team behind Jonathon Fowler Photography. A pre-wedding engagement session gives us a chance to work together before the wedding, so the photography feels more familiar and relaxed on the day.
Your engagement session is included with our Full Day Duo Premium package, or you can purchase it as a standalone booking for £350 for an hour of photography.
You can compare our wedding photography prices and packages, or get in touch using the form below.
Tell us a little about what you’re planning, and we’ll check our availability, answer any questions and help you work out what suits you best.There’s no pressure or obligation, and we usually reply within 24 hours.
Related Reading
- Best Photo Locations in Edinburgh — Looking for ideas for your engagement shoot? This guide covers some of our favourite locations around Edinburgh for relaxed couple photography.
- Wedding Photography Prices & Packages — Compare our wedding photography options, including the package that already includes a pre-wedding engagement session.
- Our Candid & Editorial Wedding Photography Style — See how we combine natural, unobtrusive photography with more polished portraits throughout a wedding day.
- Wedding Advice Hub — Browse more practical planning advice based on our experience photographing weddings across Edinburgh and Scotland.
