Engagement shoot locations
My favourite engagement shoot locations around Hertfordshire and beyond.
In my previous post, I talked about what an engagement/ pre-shot is and what to expect. Today I will be sharing some of my favourite locations around Hertfordshire. Spoiler alert! At the end of this post, you might find yourself in a car on your way to one of them. Don’t ever say I didn’t warn you!
Whether you would like to have a chilled and romantic stroll in the woods, explore beautiful gardens or enjoy cityscapes, I’m sure this will cater for all of those and beyond.
Stoke Poges memorial gardens
One of the most stunning parks on the border of Hertfordshire. The grounds are in full bloom from March, when the cherry trees bloom, to the end of May to see the purple wisteria. Stoke Poges memorial gardens feature water components, an extraordinary colonnade, rose garden, woodland, rock garden, etc. It also looks fabulous in the autumn with golden leaves falling from the trees.No doubt it is breathtaking, but you need to remember that if you would like it to be your engagement location, remember that there is a fee of £50 to be paid before our shoot, or we will be chucked out (literally!)
Hampstead Heath Pergola
Located on the outskirts of London and called London’s hidden treasure. Hampstead Heath is another of my to-go location for engagement, maternity or family shoots. It is equally beautiful all year round. In addition, on its doorstep, there is a woodland trail leading to the Golders Hill Park for a few more fantastic backgrounds!
Virginia Water
Very close to Stoke Poges, with huge grounds, a beautiful lake, and a little luck – fabulous golden hour! This is usually my to-go location because of the variety of backdrops. Also, every time I shoot there, there is always a new thing or two to explore there. This is definitely your spot if you would like to up your steps game for the day. Did i mention that four-legged furred friends are welcome there too? Doesn’t it sound like a win-win?
Your wedding venue
If you would like to do a trial run of photos at your wedding venue like Rachel and Alasdair have at Farnham Hall, an engagement shoot there is the perfect opportunity.
Ashridge Woods
This stunning location is a woodland area to explore. There are a lot of different entrances to the grounds, which offer different sceneries, making sure every shoot is as unique as you are. Apart from the infamous bluebells (blooming from April till May), there are beautiful fallen trees to climb on, hidden viewpoints and more. It’s a perfect location for an engagement and family shoot with or without your four-legged family member(s).
The city of London
If you are in love with the City and are an early bird, this one will be for you. London has a lot to offer with its landmarks and iconic buildings. Think of Big Ben, London Eye, stroll down the Thames with a couple of stops along the way. My only advice here will be to start early. London is a beautiful but busy city. To make the most out of it, be ready to start your day at sunrise.
Cassiobury Park
The most popular park in Watford, Hertfordshire, is also at my doorstep! Very convenient, I know, but that is not the only one of its advantages. There are many lovely open spaces with our infamous waterfall; it’s very close to the canals where we can grab a local coffee at one of the barks and escape to the connected Whippendell woods if it gets crazy busy!
I have shared my favourite engagement shoot locations but this doesn’t mean we cannot go on to a rapeseed or a wheat field. I am always open to suggestions because at the end of the day, I want you to feel comfortable during our time together.
Engagement session at Ashridge Forest
Explore bluebells in the pouring rain!
Jessica and Adam have met through work. Adam was a firefighter at a station where Jess used to work as a paramedic. If this wasn’t faith, then please tell me what is!
When Adam got in touch with me, announcing his engagement, I couldn’t be happier for them both. They have been together for so long; it was about the time they have finally tied the knot.
We have not exactly been spoiled with the weather for these last couple of weeks. April was full of showers every other day, but it was about the time we have done their engagement shoot. This time we have met at the beautiful Ashridge Forest.
As soon as we have walked into the woodland, I have spotted gorgeous blue flowers, and it suddenly clicked – it’s bluebell season! The whole forest was literally covered in pretty little bluebells, and it was insane! We have walked through already made paths to use these as our backdrop. There is absolutely no need to destroy those fragile flowers. We wanted to respect nature as much as possible.
We couldn’t avoid all those slight showers that April had in the offer, but it was fine! Actually, we have made even better use of it! Instead of whining about how wet everything is, I have asked Jess and Adam to cuddle up under an umbrella, and I took this fab shot with a puddle reflection! That’s an A in creativity right there! Now I can’t wait to share your wedding day with you guys!
This year’s wedding season is super busy with all the 2020 postponements. I’m super happy to confirm I’m fully booked during the summer season but still have availability from November onwards. I am also taking bookings for 2022, so please get in touch! 🙂
Lots of hugs and love x
Hampstead Heath Pergola E-Session
Giggles, laughs and piggy bags at Hampstead Heath Pergola!
I’ve known Lukasz ever since we went to school together (shout out to everyone who went to Bushey Hall School, aka The Bushey Academy! ), and when he asked me to do his and Kasia’s engagement photos, I couldn’t say no! We have met on a beautiful, sunny day in July and drove together to Hampstead Heath Pergola to discover the most wonderful grounds London has to offer!
This session at Hampstead Heath Pergola was full of cosy cuddles, cheeky kisses and few swirls to practice their dancing moves! Let’s not forget about the laughs we had together while getting on with the piggy bags and all that! Honestly, I’m quite surprised Lukasz didn’t come up with making the Dirty Dancing lifting move as this is something that would generally come up with, haha!Now, I know the pandemic has changed everyone’s plans, but I know they are still planning their wedding to take place in Poland, which I am absolutely thrilled about! I can’t wait to capture them saying their I do’s soon!
If you are planning a wedding or are interested in having your couple photos done at Hampstead Heath Pergola or anywhere else, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am taking bookings for 2022 and still have limited dates available for 2021.
Lots of love, Karolina x
Karolina x
Pre-shoot at Alexandra Palace with Claudia and Dan
Giggles, laughs and wedding talks.
These are some of the reasons why I love pre-shoots! I’ve met up with Claudia and Dan back in May to go over their planned wedding at Merriscourt.
We were super lucky with the weather considering it has been slightly wet a few days before! All of us had a great time exploring the grounds of Alexandra Palace. It is a famous spot to overlook London, and I think it is not just my opinion.
Claudia and Dan have chosen to have their engagement shoot at Alexandra Palace because it’s so close to their heart. They live within walking distance, they often go up here for a stroll, and even their favourite pub is nearby – what is not to like?
If you are still looking for your photographer to document your most important day, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Our families loved the engagement shoot photos, they can’t wait to meet you at the wedding
Pre-Shoot at Farnhams Hall
I had such a fantastic time exploring Farnhams Hall with Rachel and Alasdair for their pre-shoot session. They have spent quite some time exploring Japan, and they have decided to book Farnhams Hall for both, their engagement and wedding because it’s gardens reminded them of all the good times and memories!
The grounds at Farnhams Hall are simply unimaginable! We took our time to take a wander around the venue to show me where their wedding ceremony and reception will be taking place. That was super thoughtful and made it easier for me to navigate on their wedding day!
We did the pre-shoot in the middle of April, and we were actually surprised with the 30 degrees heatwave! We took a stroll down the gardens. The grounds amazed us with two beautiful bridges, Japanese Garden pilgrimage and tea house and lots more! We spent quite a while wandering this beautiful place and outlining where we would go on their wedding day.
It’s going to be the most beautiful wedding at Farnhams Hall!
If you are still looking for your photographer to document your wedding day, please don’t hesitate to get in touch here or via my email karolina@kayzieba.co.uk . I look forward to hearing all about your wedding plans and ideas!
Pre-shoot – What to expect?
To begin with, let me tell you how much I adore pre-shoot sessions!
Before we get to get out there, I usually offer to grab a coffee (if available) in the nearest coffee shop around your chosen location.
What a pre-shoot actually is? Apart from getting professional photographs of you and your other half, you are also getting the opportunity to get to know me – your third wheel. The person who is going to be with you for the whole day.
Let’s be honest, it might be awkward at first, but once we get talking and discover a thing or two about each other, we’ll become super comfortable. Think of it like a first date with your photographer, and a few days later you will receive beautiful portraits of you and your fiance.
I aim for you to enjoy your time and have fun! What was the funniest thing you have done together? Maybe you love festivals or funfairs; I would like you to think of that time and help me recreate all the joy you had! So be creative, silly with each other – just be you.
It all sounds great, so when do we book and how do we approach it?
I usually keep pre shoots within 30 minutes from Watford; however, I do not want you to feel limited by it. If you both love Paris and you would have your pre-shoot done over there (or any other places abroad), feel free to tell me about it – I am on board! Or maybe both of you have joined interest or hobby? I’m sure we can arrange everything for you to make the most of it!
What’s the best time: You can book your pre-shoot as soon as you book your wedding. Any time of the year is excellent for me if it is for you. Autumn and golden leaves are gorgeous, but if you wish for those extraordinary golden hour portraits, then spring/summer are your best friends.
My personal favourite is the golden hour, It is the last hour of the day which gives warmer, softer and more flattering tones of light. I wish I was a magical weatherman. I’d flick my fingers and always have clear skies and perfect sunsets. However, until I gain those skills, we need to use what we are given. If the day is overcast, then the middle of the day will work best for bright light.
Where do we go: Paris, Barcelona … no country is the limit. Deciding on the scene is very significant, and it should be somewhere that means something to the two of you. The place you met, became engaged, or somewhere totally different. If you love big cities, then London offers a lot of urban and bold locations. We can also go to the beach, a riverside, a village, the woods, a forest, botanical gardens or maybe even a museum. The ideas are endless, so make the most of it!
Bonus! Check out my Pre-Shoot location blog for a bit of inspiration!
What can we do: Smoke bombs, sparkles, balloons, confetti, party poppers, paint powder, space hoppers – whatever comes on your mind! I’ll be more than happy to provide some of those – just please let me know in advance! Let’s not forget about your pets! They are also more than welcome to join us!
What do we wear: Pick something to fit your location and make sure you feel comfortable. Please keep it simple, your outfits should be colourful, but I’d advise staying away from patterns. Complement each other. Pre-shoots are fun, but at the same time, it should be a private and unique encounter.
To sum it up – just be yourselves!
On the day I want to see the two of you being a couple, I want to see you engaging with each other, your personalities and the love you guys share! I wouldn’t want you so just stare into my lens with cute smiles because those should be shared between the two of you and THIS is what I want to capture! There might be few tips and poses I’ll share with you however I’d love to keep it as relaxed and romantic as possible. I want to capture your emotions and moments you will always remember.
