Top 5 Locations for Engagement Photos
Although not strictly necessary, a pre-wedding shoot, or an engagement shoot, with your photographer is a good idea for many reasons. Firstly, and most importantly, it gives you a chance to get to know your photographer and build a rapport with them. This is especially helpful if you’ve not met them in person before, or you’ve maybe not even had a chance to hop on a video call with them prior to booking - it takes all the awkwardness that comes with meeting for the first time out of your morning preparations, and naturally you’ll want your wedding day to get off to the best start possible.
Secondly, if you’re at all shy or squeamish about being on camera (don’t worry - you’re not alone), an engagement shoot allows you some extra time in a low pressure environment to get used to it and have fun taking photos. That way, when you’re walking down the aisle you can focus on the important stuff, rather than being self conscious of being on camera.
Lastly, if you’re the type of couple who wants to go the extra mile, it’s always a great idea to plan ahead and take some pictures to include on your invites, or other wedding stationery. Maybe you or your best man is preparing a slideshow to accompany your speech - engagement photos can come in very handy for that too. Even if you don’t want to go over the top, they’re nice to have for your social media, printing out, and not to mention they’ll be included in your wedding gallery as an extended part of the story of your wedding day.
So if you’ve decided to book an engagement photoshoot along with your wedding photography package, where exactly do you go? Well, the possibilities are nearly endless, since it can be such an informal and casual session, meaning there’s room to get creative and take good, unique photos almost anywhere, but listed below are just a few suggestion from my personal top 5. These are locations around Aberdeenshire that make the photo-taking process easy; they offer enough space and variety to always be inspiring, complement a lot of different styles, and look effortlessly good on camera. Take a look…
Duthie Park
First up, here’s an easily accessible central location in Aberdeen that you’re probably already very familiar with. When people are unsure of where to go, one of my first suggestions is usually Duthie Park.
It’s a popular spot with lots of different backdrops, ranging from wide open lawns to park benches tucked away in amidst the lofty trees, and even the inside of the winter gardens if it’s the right time of year.
Bonus points if it’s autumn time - the multi-coloured leaves add another great dimension to the overall look.
2. Old Aberdeen
Another great option is the cobbled streets of Old Aberdeen, as well as the Aberdeen University campus.
What I love about this one is it gives us the opportunity to walk around and see what we find. Using the campus as our ‘base’, it’s an easy spot to start from and return to with its grand architecture, but we can also wander around and take a few picture on the High Street and anywhere in between.
A lot of the obvious location options for your photoshoots will utilise the beautiful natural scenery that we have just a short drive away from civilisation here in Scotland, which is obviously fantastic, but this is just an alternative if you prefer a bit more of an urban look.
3. Balmedie Beach
For a more unique result, Balmedie Beach makes the perfect cinematic setting to take some dramatic shots!
Fair warning, though: you do have to be willing to go through a trek over the dunes and potentially smile through a baltic North Sea breeze. Not to worry, however, because my engagement shoots are never too long, only up to an hour. That gives me enough time to take plenty of stunning photos.
If you’re willing to work with the elements, this one is really worth the trip out.
4. Johnston Gardens
Just next to our second pick is the ever-popular Johnston Gardens; and there’s a reason why it’s a top choice for many.
The range of colours on display in the plantlife is perhaps unmatched anywhere else locally, and in many places the foliage creates natural framing to pose in. It’s a relatively small garden, so you don’t have to walk far at all before you find another good spot to stop and take a photo in, and I always love stopping on the iconic bridge and shooting through the leaves for that candid effect.
This really does make for the ideal location, so much so that it’s not uncommon to find two unrelated couples taking their wedding portraits there on the same day.
5. Dunnottar Castle
Finally, we come to my personal favourite. I think nothing screams “Scottish wedding” quite like the cliffs and coastal backdrop of Dunnottar Castle.
A true local gem, the castle is instantly recognisable, and always looks good in a photo no matter the weather. You may have to battle with the tourists for the best spot, but the scenery is worth it. A short walk away is a coastal path lined with tall grass on either side, creating that romantic feeling of running through a field of wheat together, with the Stonehaven War Memorial also visible in the distance.
If you’re feeling brave, we’ll take a walk down the many steps to the shingle beach, where you can be right next to the sea, with the marine cave behind and the castle still in view high up above.
So that’s my top 5, although I’m always looking for new places to try out, and always happy to go wherever my clients feel comfortable. If you’ve read this far, you might want to read more about my wedding photography here, and follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
