Kelli and Nairn
There’s always something really special about pre-wedding shoots. They give couples a chance to slow down for an hour, spend some time together away from wedding planning and get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day arrives.
I recently met up with Nairn and Kelli for a quick pre-wedding session ahead of their upcoming wedding at Tonbridge Castle - and I’m already so excited for their wedding day.
Their ceremony will actually be taking place inside the castle itself, which is going to be absolutely incredible. Tonbridge Castle is such an iconic local venue, full of history (and apparently quite a few ghosts too!), character and beautiful surroundings, and it makes such a unique backdrop for a wedding.
The aim of this shoot was partly to have a relaxed practice before the wedding, but also to explore the grounds together and test some of the lighting and portrait locations ahead of the big day. It’s always so helpful being able to walk around with couples beforehand, especially at venues like Tonbridge Castle, where there are so many lovely little spots tucked away around the grounds.
Even though the session was short, it gave us such a good chance to get to know each other better before the wedding. One of the biggest benefits of a pre-wedding shoot is that couples realise very quickly that they don’t need to worry about “posing perfectly” or feeling awkward in front of the camera. Most of the best photographs come from simply chatting, walking together and relaxing into the moment.
Nairn and Kelli were an absolute dream to photograph because they genuinely spent the entire session laughing together and just enjoying themselves. Nothing felt forced or overly posed, they were constantly joking, smiling at each other and having fun, which always creates the most natural photographs. We captured a lovely mix of romantic portraits, relaxed candid moments and some quieter shots around the castle grounds whilst chatting about their wedding plans and exploring different locations together.
One thing I’m especially excited about is photographing inside the castle itself on their wedding day. The atmosphere, beautiful architecture and history of Tonbridge Castle are going to make their ceremony feel so intimate and special. Combined with their fun, relaxed energy as a couple, I already know their wedding gallery is going to feel incredibly timeless, joyful and full of genuine moments.
They also absolutely mastered “The Dip” pose on their very first attempt, which honestly impressed me! It added such a fun, romantic energy to the session and perfectly summed them up as a couple - relaxed, playful and completely comfortable together.
Nairn and Kelli, thank you for such a lovely afternoon exploring the castle grounds with me. I cannot wait to capture your wedding day properly soon - it’s going to be such a beautiful celebration.
