Today we are featuring our very first engagement shoot. Having an engagement shoot (sometimes called a pre-wedding shoot) before your wedding is an ideal opportunity to get used to having your picture taken, feel at ease with your photographer, and for your photographer to get to know you as a couple.

Of course, the best bit about an engagement shoot is you get some amazing pictures of the two of you, which you could use for your Save the Date cards, or even on your wedding stationery or as pictures on your wedding tables.

When choosing a location for your engagement shoot think outside the box. Where do you love to go for a walk as a couple? What do you love to eat? Where is your favourite location? A lovely walk in your local park or city centre, afternoon tea at your local boutique hotel, or even a hot air balloon! Try and be as imaginative as you can, and why not take some props along, or even your fury four legged friend!

Our first engagement shoot is a fabulous shoot captured by Shaun Menary Photography, with Lindsey and Jarrod going up, up and away in a hot air balloon…

Engaged couple in hot air balloon

Couple: Lindsey and Jarrod

Photographer: Shaun Menary Photography

Engagement Shoot Date: 24/03/2012

Location of Shoot: Private residence in Franklin, Tennessee, and downtown Nashville, Tennessee

Wedding Date: 19/05/2012

Why did you have an engagement shoot?

“My uncle lives in Franklin, Tennessee and owns a hot air balloon. Franklin is such a beautiful part of the country and we have always wanted to go visit. We thought, ‘Why not do it now, and why not take our amazing photographer with us?’. So we did! It was amazing. Such a fun adventure with people that we love so much. I wouldn’t change a thing about the entire experience.”

Engaged couple sitting on couch

Engaged couple sitting on couch

Engaged couple playing pinball

Hand on pinball machine

Woman with hand on man's shoulder

Engaged couple in front of map

Man lifting up woman in front of map

Engaged couple in front of map

Engaged couple in front of map

Woman with arm in the air

Engaged couple in front of fireplace

Engaged couple doing dance Engaged couple doing dance

Mona sitting on man's lap

Engaged couple

Engaged couple kissing

Engaged couple about to high-five Engaged couple high-five

Engaged couple kissing

Engaged couple walking

Engaged couple walking

Engaged couple in woods

Man lifting up woman

Engaged couple kissing under umbrella

Engagement shoot selfie

Engaged couple in front of house

Engaged couple kissing

Engaged couple walking holding hands

Engaged couple holding hands

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Engaged couple on grass

Engaged couple in front of red building

Engaged couple

Woman winking at man

Do you feel that having an engagement shoot helped with having your wedding pictures taken?

“I always thought my fiancé would be the one who was awkward in the photos, but it turns out I was! Jarrod was a stud, and I was so nervous and freaked out. I am so glad we did photos before the wedding so that when the day came, I was relaxed and comfortable.”

Engaged couple walking across field

Engaged couple in distance

Engaged couple walking across field

Engaged couple in front of hot air balloon

Engaged couple

Engaged couple in front of hot air balloon

Engaged couple sitting in front of hot air balloon

Engaged couple sitting on blanket

Engaged couple kissing in front of hot air balloon

Man kissing woman on cheek

Woman holding sunflowers Sunflowers

Engaged couple in front of inflating hot air balloon

Engaged couple kissing in front of hot air balloon

Flame of hot air balloon

Woman standing in front of man sitting on edge of hot air balloon basket

Engaged couple on edge of hot air balloon basket

Engaged couple kissing on edge of hot air balloon basket

Engaged couple and hot air balloon

Engaged couple kissing in front of hot air balloon

Engaged couple in hot air balloon

Engaged couple in hot air balloon

View from hot air balloon

Engaged couple in hot air balloon

View from hot air balloon

View from hot air balloon

Which picture is your favourite?

“Shaun is a genius at capturing natural light. There is a photo he took when we were in the air and Jarrod was kissing me. This photo captured the ethereal beauty of the countryside from a couple hundred feet in the air. Keep in mind it was probably 45 degrees Fahrenheit and our feet were freezing and wet from running around in the grass before we went up in the air. But, in that moment, floating through the sky, everything disappeared and we were just in awe of God’s beauty. It was so natural, the kiss just happened and Shaun captured it. It was perfection.”

Engaged couple kissing in hot air balloon

Engaged couple in hot air balloon

Engaged couple in front of hot air balloon

Engaged couple wrapped in blanket

Engaged couple sitting in front of hot air balloon

Flowers on blanket

Hot air balloon deflating

Engaged couple on wall

Engaged couple on wall

Engaged couple walking up steps Engaged couple kissing on steps

Engaged couple kissing on steps

Engaged couple on roof

Engaged couple hugging

Engagement ring on finger

Engaged couple holding hands in road

Engaged couple hugging in road

Engaged couple kissing

Man kissing woman on head

Woman smiling with man

Engaged couple against red check wall

Woman Man with sunglasses

Engaged couple

Woman kissing man on cheek

Two men wearing sunglasses

Images © Shaun Menary Photography