Thinking of booking an engagement shoot with your photographer (hopefully me!) ahead of your wedding day? Or are you looking for some pre-wedding shoot ideas in Liverpool specifically? You are? Great, read on!
A pre-wedding shoot or engagement shoot is a great way for you to get to know your photographer before the wedding day and to reduce some of the nerves you might have about getting in front of the camera. It’s just an hour or so of your time (unless we go for a beer or some lunch afterwards!) and not as cringey as it might sound, I promise! Think of it more as meeting up with a friend to go for a walk and chat about your wedding plans; the friend just happens to have a camera and is taking some relaxed shots of you both at the same time!
Engagement shoot locations in Liverpool
When it comes to choosing a location for your pre-wedding shoot, we really are spoilt for choice in Liverpool! You might want colourful and fun in the heart of the city or relaxed and natural in one of the city’s beautiful parks or nearby beaches! I often suggest to my couples to mix things up a bit with their pre-wedding shoot. So if you’re getting married at a country house in the middle of the Cheshire countryside but you live in the heart of Liverpool, then do your pre-shoot in town. That way you have the contrast of urban and rural in your images!
Colourful couple shoots in the Baltic Triangle
Without a doubt this is my favourite area of Liverpool city centre to shoot in, not just for pre-wedding shoots but also for families and weddings. It’s so full of character and bursting with colour everywhere, it really is the perfect backdrop for me and my style of photography! An added bonus is all the fab bars and breweries in the area so we can grab a beer once we’re done shooting!
“We booked Emma as our wedding photographer after seeing her photos and how natural they looked. The first thing Emma suggested was a pre wedding shoot to help us get to know her and so that we felt more comfortable on the day. When Emma suggested this we couldn’t think of anything worse as it felt very cringe/soppy!! We met Emma in a bar in the Baltic area to catch up first before we started taking photos. We had a drink as a bit of Dutch courage but the way Emma led the session, it really wasn’t needed! I don’t quite know what we were expecting but the pre wedding shoot was so relaxed and we actually had a ball! We walked around the Baltic Triangle and along the docks, chatting about where we were up to with our wedding plans and just life in general! Emma is so down to earth and so easy to talk to we kind of forgot we were on a shoot at times! There were a few more staged photos where Emma was clearly working out our comfort zones and how we posed together! We couldn’t stop laughing during these which just made us feel even more comfortable and it clearly shows in the photos! The pre wedding shoot definitely got rid of any possible awkwardness on our wedding day as we felt so comfortable with Emma and we are both so glad we had that opportunity! Emma, you’re a star!”
Briege & Leanne.
See more from their pre-wedding shoot here.
You can also see their wedding here.
Liverpool waterfront engagement shoots
Another fab location for a pre-wedding shoot in Liverpool is on the waterfront. The city is well known for it’s stunning architecture and buildings such as The Liver Building are world famous. A stroll round the Albert Dock is an afternoon well spent and really versatile for pre-wedding shoots. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous we could even hop on the ferry!
Relaxed pre-wedding shoots in Sefton Park
One of many beautiful green spaces in Liverpool, Sefton Park is a regular haunt for me and very popular for pre-wedding shoots, families and weddings (home to the Palm House!) Every season brings with it different colours and opportunities for photos meaning no two shoots are the same!
Allerton Towers engagement shoot
Situated in South Liverpool this place is a bit of a hidden gem so perfect for shy couples who might feel more relaxed in a quieter location. The orangery is absolutely stunning and I’d actually love to take one of my couples there on their wedding day!
Crosby Beach pre-wedding shoot
If you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city you have Crosby Beach less than half an hour away. You can take a stroll along from the marina to the beach, cuddle in the sand dunes or pose with the famous Iron Men. If it’s a nice day I might even let you treat me to an ice-cream!
Fun pre-wedding shoot at Formby beach and pinewoods
A little further up the coast is the beautiful beach and pinewoods of Formby. A firm favourite with couples and families alike, and for good reason! A really versatile location with stunning backdrops for your images.
“Our pre wedding shoot felt like a boss day out with a good friend! We decided to meet Emma at Formby pine woods as it’s our favourite place for a walk. On the day I was nervous thinking I’d have to pose for photos but these worries vanished as we started chatting with Emma. Her style is so natural and she has this incredible ability to put you at ease, make you laugh, and take some sneaky photos simultaneously! Having a pre wedding shoot meant that on the big day itself we were ready to enjoy every minute and let Emma do her thing.”
Laura & Sean.
See more from their shoot here.
You can also see their wedding here.
Pre-wedding shoot locations on the Wirral
New Brighton
Just over the other side of the Mersey you have an abundance of pre-wedding shoot options! First up is the seaside town of New Brighton with its mix of bars, arcades, beach and views back over to Liverpool. There’s even a bit of greenery if you look hard enough!
“We had our pre wedding shoot with Emma down at the beach and it was just amazing. We chose to do the pre wedding shoot so that we could get to know Emma before the big day and to talk about our plans. This was the best thing we could have done! We talked through how the day would look, how we wanted the photographs approached and who was important to us to be included in the arranged photographs so come the big day we could just relax. For me and especially my husband it took away the anxiety of having photos taken of us for the first time on the day and gave us a better idea of what to expect. It also gave us a chance to get to know Emma and how she worked which for me was the most important thing because come the big day during the chaos and nerves of getting ready she was a friendly, calm and reassuring face. I would highly recommend anyone getting a pre wedding shoot as not only do you feel prepared for the big day but you also have amazing photos to cherish of you together in a place that means something special.”
Melissa & Richard
See more from their shoot here.
You can also see their wedding here.
Thurstaston
Thurstaston is another really versatile location. Home to Wirral Country Park if you want some green space, Thurstaston Common if you fancy a bit of a hike and of course the beach with it’s stunning views of the Dee Estuary. It’s a good all-rounder and even better if you have dogs (see further down)!
West Kirby
Another gorgeous location on the Wirral Peninsula is the town of West Kirby. Great for a walk along the beach as well as around the Marine Lake. Great for water sports or sailing enthusiasts, or if you just like being near the water!
Pre-wedding shoots with dogs!
Before you even ask, YES! You can bring your dog along to your shoot! I absolutely love dogs so if you want to bring your furry best friend(s) along with you then that is totally fine with me! Give them a bit of a walk beforehand so they’re not too hyper and pack plenty of treats and water. A location that they’re used to also helps to stop them getting too excited!
“I’d never really thought about having a pre wedding photo shoot before as the hubby normally hates having his photo taken. Emma suggested it so we decided to go ahead, and it was honestly the best decision as come the wedding day myself and my now husband were so relaxed when in front of the camera. We chose to go to Thurstaston beach as it’s a fave dog walking route of ours and we also wanted to go somewhere different to where we would be getting married, so off we went doggies in tow to meet Emma for the first time! We got on so well, she had us laughing from minute one so there was no feeling awkward at all, it was just like having a catch up with an old friend! The dogs also loved Emma! Nobody would have even known we were out having our photos taken as Emma is so good at getting sneaky natural pictures of you. We got such an amazing variety of pictures from one location as Emma has such a good eye for a pretty background, she had us in bushes and even laid down on the grass herself to get some really cool shots of us with the dogs! I honestly couldn’t recommend having a pre wedding shoot more! It’s a great way to get to know Emma and for Emma to get to know you as a couple, you get some awesome pictures of you both together and it really prepares you for having your photos taken on your wedding day so you will be a lot more relaxed and enjoy the whole experience!”
Briony & Tom (and Sam & Poppy!)
See more from their shoot here.
If you’d like more info on pre-weddings shoots, availability and pricing then contact me here.