What to Expect From a Couples Sunset Photoshoot in North Wales
No script, no ceremony. Just the two of you under a glowing sunset.
Short summer reads…
Not every anniversary needs a ceremony. Some couples simply want an evening together, somewhere beautiful, with someone capturing it so they can keep it forever. That's exactly what the Couples Sunset Shoot at Twilight Ceremonies is for.
If you've never had a photoshoot as a couple, or the last time was on your wedding day, you might be wondering what actually happens. Here's what to expect, from planning to the moment your Polaroids develop.
Who the Sunset Shoot Is For
The Couples Sunset Shoot is for couples wanting a quiet space to celebrate their marriage together without a ceremony. There are no words to write and no vows to learn. You pick a place, we meet as the light turns golden, and I capture the soft, intimate moments through my lens while you enjoy the evening.
It's a lovely fit if you're celebrating a "normal" anniversary rather than a milestone, if you're a little camera shy and want something relaxed, or if you just want some new photos of the two of you that aren't selfies.
Candid, Styled or a Mix
In the months before your shoot, we'll talk about how you'd like your photographs captured. You might choose a fully candid shoot, where I stay in the background and you simply get on with your evening. Or you might like a mixed shoot, with some gently styled poses alongside the candid moments.
Most couples choose the mix. A few guided photos give you something for the wall or a frame at home, and the candid ones are where the real personality shows through. Either way, my aim is the same: capture you being you. And if you can't decide, we can work it out on the evening itself. There's no wrong answer.
Things to Do While I Photograph
The best way to forget there's a camera is to have something to do. I always suggest one of these:
A picnic on the beach or a hillside, with a blanket and a flask.
An evening walk along the shore or a headland path.
Simply watching the sun go down together, somewhere quiet.
Keeping your hands and minds busy means you'll laugh, chat and lean into each other naturally. Those are the frames that feel most like you when you look back on them.
What to Wear
There's no dress code for a sunset shoot. Wear something you feel comfortable in and like yourselves in, whether that's a summer dress and a linen shirt or jeans and your favourite jumper. Soft, natural colours sit beautifully against golden light, and it's worth bringing a warm layer for after the sun goes down, because coastal evenings cool off quickly, even in summer.
If you're heading onto sand or a headland path, shoes you can walk in will make the evening far more relaxed. You can always kick them off for a barefoot paddle.
Choosing Your Sunset Spot
North Wales has no shortage of places to watch the sun go down. On my locations page, I've gathered some favourites, including Llandudno West Shore Beach, which has some of the best sunsets in North Wales, and the Great Orme, home to goats who may photobomb your photos.
If you'd like the Great Orme, Conwy County Borough Council runs the Marine Drive Toll Road, a 5 mile scenic drive around the base of the headland that's open all year. The toll for a car is £5.80, you can pay with PayByPhone or cash at the toll booth, and your toll ticket also covers parking at the summit. Anglesey's lighthouses and the lakes of Eryri are wonderful options too, and I'm always happy to suggest a spot that suits the evening you have in mind. Sunset times shift a lot over the summer, so we'll fix your meeting time once we know the date and the place.
Little Touches That Make It Yours
If you'd like the evening to feel extra special, bring something that means something to you both: a bottle of fizz from your wedding, a playlist, or the blanket you've taken on every picnic since you met. Small touches like these make the photos feel like yours rather than a postcard of a sunset. You might also choose the drone extra for a wide view of the coastline, which shows just how much space you have to yourselves.
What You Receive
Couples photography starts at £95. That includes ten Polaroid photographs handed to you the same evening, and sixty digital photographs for socials, prints and sharing. Drone coverage is available as an optional extra for £50, depending on the location. You can see this alongside the milestone ceremony and renewal of vows on my anniversary offerings page.
The Polaroids are my favourite part. Watching a couple pass a print between them as it develops, still warm in their hands, while the sky is still glowing behind them, never gets old. Your digital photos are delivered within 4 weeks, ready for you to revisit this anniversary time and time again.
Seeing the Style First
If you'd like a feel for how I photograph couples before you decide, the imagery page at Leon Bagnall Experiences shows work from across my proposals, elopements and anniversaries. And if there's anything you'd like to ask first, my contact page comes straight to me, and I'll get back to you within 24 to 48 hours. Messages that arrive over the weekend are answered the next working day.
Bring the picnic blanket, and I'll bring the Polaroids.