New Forest Engagement Photos With Alice & Giles

Apr 10, 2024 | Engagement Photographs

New Forest Engagement Photos Adventure

Given the recent deluges and storm winds we are keeping a constant check on the weather forecasts. I  was worried about the heavy rain forecast for the morning I had arranged to meet Alice and Giles for their New Forest engagement photos.

Two people walking hand in hand through a forest with tall trees, their engagement photographs capturing the moment in the New Forest, Hampshire.

Embracing the Unexpected

With a gifted window of three hours of clear skies and warm sun we decided to wait until that afternoon. What we hadn’t realised was that the world and his wife had also seen the gap in the weather. They had also decided to take a walk around the New Forest.
Man and woman smiling at each other outdoors during their New Forest engagement session.
Two people sharing a laugh outdoors during their New Forest engagement session.
A couple sharing a kiss during their New Forest engagement session in a wooded area.
Two people smiling and laughing at each other outdoors in a woodland area, captured in engagement photographs in the New Forest.

When taking New Forest engagement photos we always try to keep a relaxed atmosphere to the proceedings. I could tell that neither Alice nor Giles would be comfortable having their photographs taken around the hordes of day trippers. So instead of the popular walking paths, I suggested we went ‘off-piste’.

For this to work, I had to ascertain a couple of important things very quickly:

 

  • How comfortable the happy couple would be getting a bit wet and muddy?
    Their bright white trainers said no, but the fact they merrily marched off jumping over muddy puddles said yes!
  • How happy would they be venturing away from the marked paths?
    The moment I watched Giles happily help Alice jump over a rainwater stream, I realized they were up for an adventure.
Two people walking on a woodland trail in the New Forest during their engagement session under a blue sky with clouds.

Unveiling The Natural Beauty Of The New Forest

Getting away from the main paths meant several things. Alice and Giles were all of a sudden really relaxed in front of the camera. We talked about their life together in London and their wonderful plans for their wedding photographs at Smedmore House. They were also really interested in photography and the process we were going through. Which I found refreshing. I was able to explain the rationale and passion behind everything I was doing. It really felt like a creative collaboration.

Avoiding the muddier areas we found some areas of gorgeous high contrast lighting. Here the trees, grasses, and shadows really popped. Alice and Giles were so happy in each other’s company. They were so focused on each other that I didn’t need to ‘gently approach from afar’ as I would normally when creating New Forest engagement photos.

Two people dancing in a sunlit forest clearing during their engagement session in a woodland in Hampshire.

Capturing Intimate Moments In New Forest Engagement Photos

Our exploration took us to more stunning locations away from the beaten track. We found a fallen tree covered in a blanket of bright green moss, contrasting the oranges of the ferns and leaves.

All the time we were able to chat and joke. The mood varying between jovial hilarity and some real intimate moments with loving hugs. Soon, the low afternoon sun stretched out the shadows of trees and branches across the forest floor. Adding some warming lens flares to the images.

Couple sharing an intimate moment in a sunlit woodland during their engagement photographs in the New Forest, Hampshire.
A couple embracing in a sunlit woodland, sharing a moment of affection during their New Forest engagement photoshoot.
Couple sharing an affectionate moment during their engagement session in a sunlit woodland.
Couple embracing in a sunlit woodland clearing.
Two individuals engaged in laughter and jovial conversation during their New Forest engagement session in a sunlit forest in Hampshire.
A couple sharing an affectionate moment during their engagement session in the New Forest.

A Truly Memorable Experience

Out from the cover of the forest canopy, in the hot, bright sunshine we found some beautiful clearings. This, then allowed me to include more of a sense of the location and the stunning blue skies. By this point, Alice and Giles had completely relaxed into having their New Forest engagement photos taken. They genuinely loved seeing how the process worked and partaking in it.

An engaged couple hiking through a forest with tall pine trees and a bed of dry ferns under a blue sky with scattered clouds, chosen as the scenic backdrop for an engagement session in the New Forest, Hampshire
Two people engaged, smiling in the New Forest with dry ferns.
A couple standing amidst tall, dry grasses in a sunny forest clearing with evergreen trees in the background for their New Forest engagement photos.
Engaged couple hugging in a sunlit forest clearing with tall trees in the background.
A couple embraces in a sunlit field during their engagement session, with the sun peeking through their silhouette.

Next, at the end of one of the paths, we found an idyllic pasture with grazing New Forest ponies. We all thought such iconic creatures should be included in their New Forest engagement photos. After 5 minutes of being in the space, Alice revealed she wasn’t at her best in the presence of horses. So, knowing this I kept them as far as I could from the horses and quickly departed! As you can see from the photographs she was so relaxed her entire focus was on Giles.

A blurred frame of a smiling woman gazing at a man during their New Forest engagement session, with an infocus background featuring a horse.
A couple shares a joyful moment in the woodland outdoors during their engagement session.
A couple exchanging a tender kiss outdoors during their New Forest engagement photoshoot.

Amongst Ancient Giants 

Now heading back on ourselves the skies shifted between dark clouds and bright hot sun. The contrast between dark forest and sun patches made for some wonderful lighting for the final New Forest engagement photos. Before we finished, I wanted to show the grandeur of the new forest. I wanted to incorporate a sense of just how large some of the trees are, with the couple walking through them.

Two people smiling and holding hands while walking outdoors, captured in their New Forest engagement photographs.
A couple walking hand in hand through a sunlit woodland clearing during their New Forest engagement session.
Two people walking through a serene woodland in Hampshire with sunlight filtering through the trees during their engagement session.

Needless to say, Alice and Giles are thrilled by what we achieved in their New Forest engagement photos. We can’t wait to work with them again on their wedding day at Smedmore House. Their enthusiasm for creating stunning photographs is energising.

Want to see more? Check out our other engagement photo shoots:

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