LGBTQ+ engagement photos, a surprise London proposal photoshoot

Lesbian engagement rings, coffee and pancakes

Holly got in touch to ask if I’d photograph her proposing to Adannay (I said yes). Holly and I managed to keep the plan a secret and Adannay looked so surprised when I turned up at the door. She knew Adannay had wanted some photographs of the two of them together for a while, and thought a surprise photoshoot would be the perfect way to propose. Her plan was to pretend that I was just there to take some photographs of the two of them at their London apartment, then after making pancakes she’d get down on one knee. I think this has to be one of the loveliest ways to propose I’ve heard of. Holly, Adannay and I talked about cooking for our partners while they prepared their pancakes. For me personally, cooking for my loved ones is one of my favourite ways to show them I care. Holly and Adannay shared that one of the signs that told them they were right for each other was their shared enjoyment of cooking and good food. Pancake brunches had become a weekend tradition for them, and it was such a compliment to be asked to document such an intimate ritual. They had a flour fight and I watched how warm and comfortable they were with each other. They plated their pancakes and sat down for brunch. Holly said a few beautiful things, and then got down on one knee. Adannay, of course, said yes to a lifetime of love, friendship, support, and pancakes at the weekend. Holly had chosen a beautiful space to celebrate their anniversary weekend at. The apartment was minimalist but cosy, with gorgeous blue tones, wood furniture and an open plan kitchen. The rings the couple gave each other are handmade by a British, Brighton based company, Rebekah Ann Jewellery. Her pieces are purposeful, sustainable and eco focused, hand made from recycled golds and responsible sourced stone. She uses sustainable and eco conscious practices to create modern day heirlooms. It was such a privilege to witness such an intimate moment between two people so perfect for each other.

If you’re looking for a couple photographer in London for a proposal or pre wedding shoot, I’d love to hear your ideas (do they involve pancakes?). You can get in touch here.

Laid-back couple photos for queer couples

We spent an hour capturing some natural-feeling images of Holly and Adannay hanging out as they usually would, listening to downtempo sounds and drinking coffee. It was such a pleasure to spend an afternoon getting to know them and being in their space. They were both really happy to experiment with what we could create using the natural light from the floor to ceiling windows with a reflector for a little extra glow.

Engagement shoot locations London

Engagement or pre-wedding photo shoots are an opportunity to create some photographs of the two of you together outside of the parameters (and pressures) of a wedding day. These sessions are usually slower, with more time to focus on just the two of you. I will usually suggest you plan these sessions around an activity you both enjoy, whether that means photographs of you getting tattoos together, walking your dogs, or making pancakes at home. Being involved in an activity results in more natural images. It’s also important to choose an environment you feel comfortable in. Some couples, especially Londoners who are getting married out of town, choose to take their pre-wedding or engagement photographs in an urban setting so as to get the best of both worlds. What I loved about this particular session was that the couple were able to relax in the private, peaceful environment of the apartment, away from the busy city crowds. This allowed us to get creative with posing, and to take a slow, intentional approach. Lots of couples choose to take their engagement photos at home for this reason, or otherwise sometimes choose to start at home to ease into the process before taking a stroll around their favourite spots in their local neighbourhood.

If you’re planning your engaygement and looking for a photographer to capture it, I’d love to hear from you.

Find out about engagement photo shoot prices London and how to go about booking your pre-wedding, couple or engagement session here