Couple portrait sessions: What to expect & how to make the most of yours

Most couples have photographs from weddings, holidays, and events — but very few have portraits that were made specifically for them. A couple session is an hour to slow down, to be present with each other, and to come away with images you'll genuinely love.

Who are couple sessions for?

Couple portrait sessions are perfect for any stage of a relationship:

• ◆Engagement shoots: A relaxed pre-wedding session to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day — and to have beautiful engaged portraits.
• ◆Anniversaries: Mark a milestone with portraits that capture who you are now. First, fifth, tenth — any anniversary worth celebrating.
• ◆New couples: Early in a relationship, when everything feels exciting and electric — a session captures that energy beautifully.
• ◆Long-term partners: Because it's rare for couples without a wedding to have beautiful photographs together. It's a worthwhile thing to change.
• ◆LGBTQ+ couples: All couples welcome, always. Inclusive, affirming sessions across all locations.

What actually happens during a couple session?

Couple sessions typically last 60–90 minutes. There are no stiff poses or complicated directions — just gentle guidance and natural movement. We walk together, I suggest simple activities (lean in, hold hands, tell each other a joke), and the photographs happen in the spaces between.

Most couples arrive feeling a little awkward and leave feeling completely natural in front of the camera. The first 10 minutes are an adjustment period; after that, most people forget the camera is there.

Choosing your location

Choose somewhere that feels meaningful — or simply beautiful. Ideas:

• ◆Where you met or first went on a date: The emotional significance adds depth to the images.
• ◆A favourite walking spot: Somewhere you're already comfortable together will show in the photographs.
• ◆Seasonal beauty: Bluebell woods in April, golden fields in August, autumnal parkland in October — seasonal colour makes powerful portraits.
• ◆Cambridge or your nearest city: Urban settings with beautiful architecture create a different kind of portrait — confident, contemporary, with personal connection to place.

What to wear

Coordinate rather than match. If both people are in completely identical outfits it can look staged; if one is dressed for a wedding and the other is in jeans it can look disconnected. Aim for a similar level of 'dressedness' and a complementary palette.

Suggested colours: ivory, cream, sage green, dusty blue, warm terracotta, camel, soft grey. Avoid very bold prints or logos. Bring a spare layer — a light jacket or wrap can look beautiful and also keep you warm in evening light.

Timing your session

Golden hour — the 60–90 minutes before sunset — produces the most beautiful available light for outdoor portrait photography. Soft, directional, warm — it flatters every skin tone and every setting. For summer sessions, 'golden hour' in England can fall as late as 8–9pm, which makes for wonderfully long, relaxed evenings.