Chez & Fraser // Foxton // Leicestershire
An evening engagement shoot in Leicestershire
Foxton, in Leicestershire, and a couple with a history there
If you’re looking for a Foxton engagement photographer, Chez and Fraser’s shoot was a relaxed evening built around a place that mattered to them. We started at The Black Horse, walked towards Foxton Locks, chatted the whole way and finished with one more creative portrait when the evening stayed overcast.
Why did Chez and Fraser choose Foxton?
Foxton had memories for both of them, which made it a much better choice than somewhere picked just because it looks good in photographs. There was also the story of Fraser falling into the canal not once, but twice. A place with that kind of history is never going to feel generic. He stayed dry this time, for the record.
We began at The Black Horse, then headed towards Foxton Locks, which is only a short walk away. The location gave the shoot a natural rhythm. No rushing between places, no complicated production.
What is an engagement shoot actually like?
It’s mostly a walk and a chat with a camera nearby. I give you a little direction when it helps, but I’m not expecting you to turn up knowing how to pose. Chez and Fraser said what lots of couples say, that they hated having their photograph taken. You wouldn’t have guessed it from the photographs.
The first few minutes are usually when people feel most aware of the camera. Then they start talking, laughing and forgetting about it. That’s the sweet spot. The aim is photographs that look like you spent an evening together, because you did.
How can a shoot help if you’re worried about wedding photographs?
An engagement shoot gives you a chance to see how I work before the wedding. You get used to small bits of direction, learn that you don’t have to perform and find out it can actually be quite fun. By the time the wedding comes round, I’m not a stranger turning up with a camera while you’re trying to get married.
It’s not compulsory. Some couples don’t want one, and that’s completely fine. But if the thought of portraits makes you nervous, it’s a really useful way to take the pressure off.
How did I work with an overcast evening?
The evening was dull and overcast, so instead of pretending it was something it wasn’t, I used a creative lighting technique for one final photograph. It gave us a different look from the rest of the shoot and suited the mood of the evening.
I don’t use creative lighting for everything. Natural moments and the two of you being yourselves are always the main thing. But sometimes a small change at the right point gives you a photograph that feels a little different while still being recognisably you.
What makes a personal location work for portraits?
The best location is often somewhere you already have a connection with. It might be a local walk, the pub where you first met, a place you spend weekends or somewhere with a story that always makes you laugh. Personal context gives photographs more meaning than an impressive backdrop alone.
Foxton gave Chez and Fraser both. Familiar places, the canal nearby and the ease of being somewhere that already felt like theirs. We could concentrate on them rather than making a location do all the work.
How do I approach an engagement shoot?
I keep it relaxed. We talk, walk and take our time. I’ll guide you where needed, but I won’t turn it into an all afternoon performance. You get photographs you love, and the confidence that your wedding portraits can be just as straightforward.
Thanks, Chez and Fraser
Thank you for being so open, and for a really good evening in a place that means something to you both. If you’re planning an engagement shoot in Foxton and want it to feel like an evening out rather than a formal session, get in touch and tell me your ideas.
