Best Of Edinburgh Engagement Session

David & Tony’s Edinburgh engagement session photos from last summer are probably my favourite of the year. They make the best of Edinburgh’s romantic old town and Scotland’s dramatic landscape all in one shoot.

I love the story the photos tell with their mix of candid moments messing around, and intimate, unposed portraits.

Photographing a same sex couple, I think it’s more important than ever to avoid the standard poses. Keep it relaxed, fun, and allow it to be genuine.

David & Tony were great fun and warmed to the camera quickly, despite the initial nerves. I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding in May at Edinburgh’s grand Balmoral Hotel. You can see the hotel behind them in the final photographs on Calton Hill.

The portrait session started slowly with drinks at The Inn On The Mile. Always good to ease into things. We spent the next hour wandering the Edinburgh’s old town. The guys looked great in their outfits. Like a couple of gents from The Avengers.

Next we headed to Arthur’s Seat. We’re so lucky to have this Scottish scenery in the heart of the city. It’s like being in The Highlands, but with a backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The drama of The Crags is hard to beat.

I love having Edinburgh on my doorstep. What better place to inspire beautiful photography?

If the wedding is half as good as the engagement photography, it’ll be a great day.

It was destination Sydney for this super cool portrait session with perfect newlywed couple Arianwen & Marcello who were a joy to photograph as they embraced some wonderfully alternative ideas, and produced what must be my best (belated) engagement shoot.

I’d been unable to make it to Australia to photograph their wedding a few years back, and had promised to compensate with a couple’s portrait session at the first opportunity. Of course I would though. What photographer wouldn’t want this pair in front of their camera? Arianwen is just as cute as a button, and Marcello, well, such a strapping and hunky example of Aussie manhood!

The couple are both great actors (more about that later) and theatrical types to the bone. They even met working at the Sydney Theatre. This means that not only are they relaxed and know how to look good in front of a camera, but were ready to improvise brilliantly with some of the quirkier ideas for posing.

We were inspired by some film styles, including the work of Wes Anderson and Stanley Kubrick, for some of those surreal, self-aware portraits that are among my favourite photographs of all time. But as much fun as those shots were, I didn’t want the session to be nothing but us messing about. We needed some romance and intimacy that would say something genuine of this loving couple’s relationship. Fortunately it seems actors have no problem forgetting all about the camera when they want to, and I had the natural and relaxed photos I wanted.

I knew the amazing natural light in Australia can be harsh, but would look great over Sydney’s old town, The Rocks, as evening turned to sunset. So we had some time to spend in Paddington’s incredible subterranean Reservoir Gardens and nearby streets before parking up by the iconic Lord Nelson Hotel for a bit of old town Sydney back street action, finished off with an only slightly ironic tourist view over Harbour Bridge.

You might recognise Arianwen from her role as Olivia Bligh in long running Australian drama A Place To Call Home, where she is, of course, nothing less than outstanding.  It’s been showing on BBC2 here in Scotland, and I believe you can also download the box set on Sky.  So check it out.  And take a look at Arianwen’s IMDb page here.  You can also follow her on Instagram or Facebook.

Marcello Fabrizi is no less a powerhouse of burning creativity, whether he’s narrating a Lion taking down a gazelle on Animal Planet, directing films, or working on his amazing animated series I’ve had a sneak preview of, and love – hilarious! But he’ll always be most fondly thought of to me as DJ Kev, heartbreakingly brought to life in the episode of Home & Away where I first saw him. Follow him on Instagram here.

So much love for these people and the photographs from this session, so I hope you enjoy…