ENAGEMENT PHOTOSHOOT FISTRAL BAY - Luke & Melissa

My motto, certainly when it comes to business, has always been, "Go big or go home." Go the extra mile, stay the additional hour. Take the last few pictures, set the tripod up, do the recce a couple of weeks beforehand at the venue. Go out in the cold or the rain to get the venue shot at night, of course, on a weekend. Contact shot helpers, and help them understand what they need to do. Make sure there's a wedding plan signed off of their photography and not just play it by ear on the day. I'm not saying, I always nail it. But I love to feel prepared for myself.

Now when it comes to wedding photography or pre-shoots, clearly, you have to have willing parties, there's no point in trying to reach for the stars and create the best possible images you can and pull out all the stops, unless the people in front of your camera are up for it too. I sometimes get that leaving your wedding party to go out and get sunset shots, getting up early and doing your pre-shoot at sunrise because it's the most magical light of the day, isn’t for everyone, but Melissa and Luke were certainly willing playmates. Both being keen surfers, Fistral bay was the place where Luke proposed. It was a no-brainer for me. Knowing that they got engaged at sunset... deal done!

Crazily, although the week before had been balmy, and had seen me, at times, in shorts, the day of their pre-shoot was howling icy winds and freezing cold conditions. After a quick beer and a catch up on their plan for their wedding photography, we headed out. These two had come thoughtfully prepared with blankets, woolly socks, and even their dry robes to ensure that they kept warm and dry.

As the shoot went on, it was apparent to me that these two were going the extra mile to get the amazing images that they both wanted. We did the usual beautiful stuff in the sand dunes. It was lovely walking along the beach with the spray but I could see just from watching the sun go down, that this was going to be a pretty magical sunset.

As we made our way back towards the car park, I knew they were freezing, but I also knew that if I didn't say something now, then the opportunity would be missed. This told me that a photographer doesn't regret the pictures they take, they regret the pictures they didn't take. I knew that this was just going to be one of those situations. I never want to push my clients out of their comfort zone or make them do something crazy that they don't want to do.

Tentatively, I asked them how much they trusted me and whether they had just another tiny bit left in them. After looking at each other for a bit of reassurance, they were like, "Yes. All right." Seeing that from the top of the rocks, there was going to be the most magical view and I could get not only them in, but the setting sun. With a little bit of guidance and lots of help, we safely managed to get them partway up the rock, but that wasn't it. I knew that from there, I wasn't going to be able to get a clear shot of both of them. In that horrible moment where you sit there and you think, "I know this isn't right, and I know if I don't say something and move them, then I'm going to kick myself forever."

Despite the fact that neither of them could feel their feet and poor Mel was absolutely dithering, they listened to my rationale and scrambled up the rocks a little bit further to get the shot. With their dry robes back on and thrusting blankets and fluffy socks at them, we clambered back up the rocks to the café and the waiting, warm cars.

Mel and Luke, I know you thought I was crazy and I promise you, I won't do this to you on your wedding day, but I do hope that moment of uncomfortableness will give you images and memories that you'll remember for the rest of your life. Thank you so much for being a willing playmate and going the extra mile to invest in your images.

Venetia xx