Engagement Shoots in North Wales: Candid Photos After the Yes
The proposal is over, the ring is on and the adrenaline has finally settled. Now what? For a lot of couples, the weeks after a "yes" are some of the happiest of the whole journey, and they pass far too quickly. That's where an engagement shoot comes in.
At Where Two Bloom, an engagement shoot is for anyone who's been proposed to, or has proposed, and would love some imagery to follow their adventures together. It doesn't matter whether I photographed your proposal or you got engaged somewhere else entirely. Here's how I approach engagement shoots in North Wales.
What an Engagement Shoot Is (and Isn't)
An engagement shoot isn't a formal portrait session in front of a backdrop. My style is all about capturing candid photographs of you enjoying your day together. You won't be asked to hold a pose for ten minutes or stare meaningfully into the distance. You'll walk, talk, laugh and get on with being a couple, and I'll be there catching the moments in between.
If you'd like a few styled images too, that's absolutely fine. Some couples want one or two photos for a save the date or a frame on the mantelpiece, and I'm happy to guide you into those. The rest is just you being you.
Choosing Your Place
The best location for an engagement shoot is usually somewhere that already means something to you. That could be the beach where you walk on a Sunday morning, the café where you had your first date or the hill you always end up climbing when you visit North Wales.
If you don't have a special spot yet, North Wales gives you plenty to choose from:
A stroll along the beach, with sand underfoot and the sea behind you.
Your favourite place to explore, whether that's a mountain path or a quiet lane.
A coastal headland for wide views and big skies.
A woodland walk for shade, soft light and a cosier feel.
I'm based in Llandudno, so I know these places well and can suggest spots that suit the season and the time of day you'd like.
Timing and Light
Light changes everything. A beach at midday in summer can be harsh and squinty, while the same beach an hour before sunset glows. For most engagement shoots, I suggest the later part of the day, when the sun is lower and kinder to everybody.
Engagement shoots also make a lovely reason to come back to North Wales in a different season. Autumn brings copper bracken and lower light, and spring brings fresh green hills. There's no wrong time, only the time that feels right for you. In winter, the sun stays low all day, so there's far more freedom with timings, just with an extra layer or two.
Feeling Natural in Front of the Camera
Almost every couple tells me they're "terrible in photos". Then, about ten minutes in, they forget I'm there. That's the point of a candid approach. Give yourselves something to do, like a walk with a flask of coffee, a hunt for the best rock to sit on or an ice cream on the seafront, and the photos take care of themselves.
Wear something comfortable that you'd actually choose for a day out together. If you're walking on sand or a mountain path, sensible shoes and a warm layer will keep you relaxed, and relaxed couples make the best photos.
If you're nervous, tell me. I'd much rather know, and a few minutes of chatting while we walk usually does more than any posing advice.
Bringing Something Personal
Some of the loveliest engagement photos include something that tells your story. It might be the dog who's been with you from the start, a flask from your first camping trip or the jumper you always steal from each other. Little details like these give the photos a sense of you that a beautiful view on its own can't.
You don't need to plan anything elaborate. Bring one or two things that make you smile, and we'll find natural moments for them during the walk. If it doesn't feel right on the day, it stays in the bag, and that's absolutely fine.
Where Your Photos Go
Your engagement photos are uploaded straight into your Love Story Album, the album that grows with you across every Leon Bagnall Experiences chapter. It's online and printed, and it means your engagement sits right alongside your proposal and, later, your wedding, rather than getting lost on a phone.
That's one of the reasons I started doing things this way. It's one big timeline, your photo album, so you don't end up with photos scattered across different places and different photographers.
Looking Ahead to the Wedding
An engagement shoot also gives us time together before any bigger day. You'll know how I work, I'll know how you laugh, and if you do decide to marry in North Wales, there's no awkward first meeting on the morning of your wedding. Where Two Bloom couples also receive 10% off and a priority reservation with Elope with Leon when the time comes to say "I do".
If you'd like to know more about how I work, you can read about me, and the engagement shoot sits alongside the guided proposal on my services page. For more ideas, the Where Two Bloom blog is filling up with places and plans across North Wales. However you spend those first weeks of being engaged, they deserve to be remembered as more than a blur.