A Fresh Spring Sunset Session In Heptonstall and Hebden Bridge

Catherine and Chris met us for their engagement shoot sunset session ahead of their wedding in spring.

A pre-wedding photo shoot is a perfect way to meet me, your photographer, before your wedding day. Whether you have already booked your wedding photography or you're considering my photography services for your wedding day, it's a great opportunity to meet, get acquainted and experience what it's like to be photographed professionally in a relaxed and natural, documentary photography style.

I planned Catherine and Chris' sunset session couple's shoot around the types of places that they like to spend time together. Being based in Hebden Bridge, I plan locations around the local area. Whenever I go out for a walk or on a bike ride, I keep a notebook of views and locations around the Calder Valley that are perfect for couple's photo shoots and family photo shoots. I have a little stock of places around Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Todmorden that are perfect for walks with couples and make the most of the Calder valley's rich and varied landscape.

20 Photographs of a Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall Engagement Shoot

I'm open to travelling to locations that are important to my couple's too, whether it's the location of a first date or a favourite activity, my photo shoots are tailored to my couples and families so that their photographs are even more special and the experience of being photographed a memorable and precious experience.

Catherine and Chris met us in the centre of Hebden Bridge, to ease them into the feel of the sunset session, we walked along the bank of Hebden Beck, past the historic Town Hall, built in 1897, enjoyed views of the river passing through town and under the road by the Town Hall.

One of the advantages of having your engagement shoot in the evening is that it's quieter, we are less likely to need to wait for passers by to clear our frames and you'll feel less on show in public.

We then took a walk past some of Hebden Bridge's best known cafes and pubs, The Shoulder of Mutton and made the most of the spring evening by taking our engagement shoot route via the cherry blossom trees in the town, which run alongside the market square. The blossom trees provided a beautiful, soft backdrop for the photographs of the engaged couple. By this time Chris and Catherine were feeling relaxed around us and our cameras, we had talked about the town's history and we were ready to move on to our second location.

We drove up the hill to Heptonstall to catch the last of the evening's sun, which by now was warm and soft, and tonight rather dramatic. This is the golden hour, perfect light for photographs, I like to ensure that we optimise this time when photographing wedding days as well as engagement and family shoots as it is a very flattering and cosy light, which when low and directional like this can add drama to photographs too. We took our engagement shoot to Heptonstall Rocks, also called Hell Hole Rocks, famous for climbing in the area. The view from the top of Heptonstall Rocks is captivating, as it is possible to survey the Calder Valley's steep sided hills and the towns meandering through the valley bottom. Here you get a real sense of how the valley has shaped the lives of those who live within it. Our engaged couple, Catherine and Chris enjoyed the view and some local history knowledge from my second shooter, who is secretly a mine of local information! He should write a book.

After Heptonstall Rocks, we took our engaged couple through the village of Heptonstall, to enjoy the historical architecture of the hilltop village, with its cobbled streets and church ruins.

By the time they had finished their engagement shoot, these two had received the unofficial tour of Hebden Bridge, Heptonstall and been filled in on West Yorkshire history! That's not always where our conversations lead, but tonight, we were full of facts!

If you're looking for a wedding photographer in Hebden Bridge, Todmorden or further afield across the north of the UK, you can experience natural and relaxed wedding photography without posing on your wedding day with my fuss-free approach. Look at Janet Wareing Photography online, on Instagram and on Facebook for more information.