Couple: Sam and Stu
Photographer: Julie Barron Photography
Engagement Shoot Date: 28/05/2015
Location of Shoot: Middlesbrough Reference Library
Wedding Date: 22/07/2017
Why did you have an engagement shoot?
“We love Julie’s work. She’s very creative and very much likes to personalise each shoot to the couple involved. Also, the proposal was rather unusual and we wanted to capture it in a similar way.”
Why did you choose the shoot location?
“The shoot location was Julie’s idea based around the proposal, which was perfect and very personal to both of us. We knew we wanted somewhere book-related, and considered classic book shops before deciding on the Middlesbrough Reference Library.
“Stu proposed by the river in our village on Boxing Day this year, having got me there on the pretext of a winter morning walk. He spent 10 years as an actor, performing mostly Shakespeare, and I’m an English teacher, so we are both very passionate about The Bard, sharing amongst other things, a love of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He had (with the help of friends!) prepared a picnic rug and my favourite champagne on a jetty decorated with crystals and bunting, which we walked up to. He then presented me with an early edition of the play in which he’d written something very sweet before closing with ‘The Bard and I have a question we would like to ask you. Turn to…’. He’d then highlighted the words ‘marry me my love’ in a speech between characters, which was adorable, before presenting me with the most beautiful engagement ring. It was perfect.
“So you can see where the reference library link came in; it seemed like a natural link to both our passion for literature and drama (we both work in education), and our local area.”
How do you feel that having an engagement shoot will help with having your wedding pictures taken?
“The engagement shoot, apart from being a great deal of fun, really enabled us to have a trial run of the wedding pictures. It enables you to really get to know your photographer and ensure that you’re all thinking in the same way. We’re really lucky with Julie. She’s very creative, has the most amazing ideas and always looks for the unusual and quirky shots, which is exactly what we want.”
Which is your favourite picture?
“Now that’s a really difficult question because as a collection they tell a story and we love them all! I personally love the pictures that incorporate the ring and the Midsummer Night’s Dream proposal text because they’re classic and personal, but my favourite would probably be the ones on the metal stairs outside because they play to my love of musicals. I think they’re very West Side Story.
“As for Stu, he likes the ones outside with him in his top hat (it’s a stage prop which he wears when performing in his band, and a present which I got him from Camden!) and me in my leather jacket as they very much show the music side to our relationship. Promise you’ll never make us really choose though as we love them all!
“It was a great shoot — rather funny to do in a silent library, but Julie ensured we had a lot of fun and gave us exactly what we were looking for.”
Images © Julie Barron Photography