Ettington Park Hotel & Spa


Firstly let me say how fun Simon and Graham are as a couple. I loved working with them and I think this is important for couples, to get on with their photographer. Building a relationship before your wedding day with suppliers is a great way to feel more comfortable with who you are working with on what most people say is one of the most important day of their lives. Pre wedding sessions are a great way to do this! If you're not a couple who would want to have one of these sessions then I would recommend meeting in person for a coffee to have a natter and break the ice.


Simon and Graham wanted to have their session at their venue; Ettington park, which is an absolutely incredible venue. With generous grounds, a variation of greenery, flower beds, trees and patios - there's plenty to explore (40 acres to be exact). Thats just the grounds, the  Grade I listed, Neo-Gothic mansion is truly a sight to behold and made the most gorgeous backdrop for the session.

Two men smiling on an ornate staircase with decorative iron railings and a vintage lantern in a grand interior.
Two people holding hands while walking along a tree-lined path in a sunny park.

We started the session with a walk round the grounds, inside the hotel and met the staff that have been helping Simon and Graham plan their special day. We then sat for coffee (americano with a splash of milk for me!) and talked about their plans in a bit more detail as the wedding was short of a couple of months away. it was great to hear about the finer details of their day; each couple do have their own unique ideas when it comes to what they want and I love hearing about them.

Once we had coffee we then started taking photos. One thing I always say to my couples is that the first few photos are going to feel a little uncomfortable and a little strange - this is totally normal and absolutely fine! I find acknowledging this helps rather than continuing. The first few photos will usually be just a simple stroll together and I won't be far away taking pictures and just making sure my camera settings are correct.


We can then start to have more fun once you've warmed up. It didn't take Simon and Graham long before they started to really enjoy the session. At this point I start giving more prompts to them to create a variation in composition and perspective.

Historic stone castle tower with manicured hedges, fountain, and tall trees under a blue sky.
Two men holding hands and smiling while walking in a formal garden with ornate stone archway backdrop.
Two men laughing together in a lush garden beside a stone building, one in orange sweater, one in striped vest.

What is a 'Prompt'

Prompts not poses I say! To give a more natural and documentary approach that is in line with my style, I issue 'prompts' to my couples. These are not direct poses and positions but more ideas. How a couple interprets these prompts is totally up to them and this is what creates more natural, fun images.

So I might say, “Pull each other in and out like you’re dancing badly in the kitchen". This sort of prompts encourages laughter and smiles and allows you to have fun together and it's entirely up to you how you action this.

Two people sitting on a wooden bench in a sunlit courtyard garden beside a historic stone building.
Close-up of Mahonia shrub with clusters of blue and green berries among dark green leaves in sunlight.
Two people walking on lush green lawn beside historic stone building with large trees on a sunny day.

The session comes to an end when we'd explored the venue and I had been introduced to the staff that would be working there on the day of Simon and Grahams wedding. It was really great for me, Simon and Graham to get more familiar with eachother. The feedback I received from the session made me so happy.

All I want for my couples is not just to deliver a beautiful, curated collection of images, but to also provide an experience that is memorable, informative and creates a relaxed stress free journey knowing that when it comes to your photographer, everything is under control.

"Thank you for Sunday, you made the whole experience, relaxed and fun. It made us feel very comfortable working with you"

-Simon & Graham