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Why Your Engagement Session Matters: Capturing Love at Cain Manor

Cat Brant
Aug 18, 2024
3 min read

The Significance of an Engagement Session

I often refer to an engagement session as a pre-wedding shoot. In most cases, this is an opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera together, spend a bit of time with your photographer and get an idea of what's going to work for you at your venue.

Often pre-wedding shoots happen sometime after your engagement but during the planning of your wedding. They're also super handy for grabbing a few lovely photos for your wedding website, invites, stationery etc.

An engagement shoot may allow you to try a photographer out before you take the plunge. I offer a £400 engagement session, if you decide to go ahead and book a full-day package after an engagement session the cost is refunded against your balance :)

Why Have A Pre-Wedding Session?

All of my full-day wedding bookings have a pre-wedding session included as standard.

I love scheduling my engagement sessions/pre-wedding shoots at chosen wedding venues, Han & Noah are getting married in the summer of 2025 at Cain Manor, owned by Harper Weddings and we popped in for an hour this summer, 2024. This gives me a fantastic opportunity to get to know the venue through the eyes of the bride and groom, and see what they love about it so that I can ensure that those details are captured. It's also another chance to see the venue for the bride and groom!

Han & Noah are, like so many of my lovely brides and grooms, so in love and happy that so little posing is required, they're beautiful just in the moment together. However, a pre-wedding engagement session is a fantastic chance to practice a few poses should you decide as a couple that you want to have some posed photos. I'll help you practice kisses, dips, lifts, different cuddled-up photos and find poses that work for you both (or not in some cases, but that's also part of the beauty of this practice round!)

A pre-wedding shoot helps to streamline your wedding day couples shoot, we already know the locations we want to use, the photos you liked and the poses that worked so we can spend less time posing and more time with your friends and family.

Getting to Know Your Photographer: Building Trust and Comfort

On your wedding day, you'll likely spend most of your day with your photographer by your side, getting to know them before the day leads to less anxiety and more trust.

Brides and grooms are bound to feel much more relaxed in front of their photographer if they've already experienced a photoshoot with them and I think most of my lovely couples would say just that.

Cain Manor: Your perfect barn wedding in Surrey?

If you've been dreaming of a beautiful, elegant barn wedding in Hampshire then Cain Manor could be the venue for you. Drive down a lush winding road lined with old forest and you'll find the Hampshire-based Cain Manor, this historic manor house exudes timeless elegance and rustic charm, creating a romantic atmosphere that's hard to match.

The expansive, manicured gardens provide endless opportunities for stunning outdoor shots, there are big doors and windows of the building that are lovely backdrops as well as trees, Italian-style box hedge gardens and a long pergola track. My favourite space is a lawn with long billowing grass that will be so gorgeous in the golden hour.

Inside, the manor's beautiful interiors, with their exposed beams and warm, inviting spaces, add a touch of classic English character to your photos.

Are you planning your dream wedding? I'd love to hear more about your big day!

Cat Brant Photography

Comments

hi! I'm cat and i am a full time wedding photographer

(and a little bit of a photography geek!)

I started taking photos as a teenager, my Dad was a wedding photographer and I would often help him. In 2021 I left my corporate job with a dream and hope that I could make photography a full time job. Since then I have been pouring my heart and soul into this business and have been honoured to be chosen as wedding photographer for so many lovely couples as well as being a portrait and event photographer.

I TAKE CLASSIC, TIMELESS, DOCUMENTARY STYLE PHOTOGRAPHS WITH MINIMAL INTRUSION

But I will step in and offer gentle guidance when it's right to do so, I have learned over the years to read the room, anticipate the next move, hold space when needed and offer support when I can.

aRE YOU LOOKING FOR A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

When choosing a wedding photographer, consider their style, experience, portfolio, and reviews from previous clients. It's also important to discuss pricing, availability, and any specific requests you may have.

Don't forget to meet with them in person to ensure you have good chemistry and feel comfortable with their approach.

Once you have narrowed down your list of potential wedding photographers, it's a good idea to ask them some key questions to help you make your final decision.

Here are a few questions to consider:

What is your photography style? Do you prefer a more traditional approach or a more candid, documentary style?
Do you have experience with weddings of a similar size and style to mine?
Can I see a full gallery of a recent wedding you photographed? This will give you a better sense of their consistency and quality of work.
Do you have backup equipment in case something goes wrong on the day of the wedding?
How do you handle difficult lighting situations (e.g. low light, harsh sunlight, indoor vs. outdoor)? This will help you gauge their technical expertise.
What is included in your packages? Are there any additional fees I should be aware of (e.g. travel, overtime)?
How long will it take to receive my photos after the wedding? Will they be edited and retouched?
Can you accommodate any special requests I have (e.g. specific shots, family portraits)?
How do you ensure that you capture all of the important moments on the day of the wedding?

By asking these questions and having an open and honest conversation with your wedding photographer, you can ensure that you find the right fit for your big day.