Summer Woodland Engagement Shoot in the Cotswolds

If you ever decide to have an engagement shoot and you're a bit of a nature lover like me, then having it in a woodland setting may be a great option for you.

Nine moths ago I met Jon & Alice at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel Wedding Fair and I could already tell these were my people, evidently very kind, smart and super friendly.

When asked, they told me how they are both quite shy and don't particularly like being in photos so I knew I had to convince them to come along with me and get an engagement shoot done.

I often offer these as a "try before you buy" type of deal, and I particularly encourage it to those who aren't very keen to be in front of a camera in the first place. Engagement shoots are a great way to get used to being photographed and learn a few posing tricks in a relaxed environment with no pressure. If that sounds like you too, I highly suggest you give it a go before the big day. It helps massively with your confidence and as a bonus you get to have gorgeous photos of you and your soon-to-be-spouse during this special time in your lives.

Once J&A agreed to give it a go we got to brainstorming. It just so happened that they live only a few villages away from where I live and when they thought about the kind of images they wanted for their engagement shoot they envisioned something natural, relaxed, with woodlands or a beautiful view.

Well... I knew immediately where to take them that ticked all the boxes.

If you have never visited Wotton Hill you definitely should because, as you will see, it is quite a special place.

Situated at the western edge of the Cotswolds and 30min north of Bristol, Wotton Hill's lookout point is a very dramatic location with its formidable view of the whole valley and the Bristol Channel, and on a clear day you can see as far as the Wye Valley in Wales.

It was a beautiful summer day in July, the fields accosting the woodland path were covered in golden wheat and the warmth of the day was just enough to make us comfortable and able to show off Alice's pretty red dress.

Alice & Jon were absolutely great, and although they felt a little nervous to begin with they seemed to enjoy themselves by the end. With just a few simple tips and some direction we got some gorgeous shots of them connecting and celebrating their love - and fully equipped, ready for the big day.

It was humbling to see them trust me as I instructed them to twirl, to move their body in a certain way and tease each other.

By trusting me they were able to relax and let their sweetness and playfulness come out and shine through their photos.

Their wedding is now only one month away and I cannot wait to capture their fantastic day at the Great Tythe Barn in Tetbury, sharing their love and commitment with all of their family and friends. I know it's going to be a wonderfully happy day and hopefully they'll remember all those little posing tips from their engagement shoot that will lessen their self-consciousness.

If you're after some tips too, the most important things to keep in mind for natural and intimate photos are really just 3:

• Stay connected by maintaining a point of contact with each other - that could be holding hands, a stroke on the cheek or just placing your hand on a shoulder.
• When you feel stiff, movement is your best friend - this makes for great dynamic shots and makes you look more natural as you're not so hyper-focused on what your body is doing.
• Try and clear your mind and be present in the moment with your partner - it's not often you get to spend this type of quality time with them so enjoy it.