Engagement
Photography
Engagement sessions are about capturing the real energy between you, the quiet looks, the inside jokes, the way you naturally fit together. It’s a snapshot of your love story before the whirlwind of the wedding day begins.
It’s also our chance to work together in a relaxed, low-pressure setting so you feel confident and comfortable in front of the camera long before the big day. No stiff posing. No awkward “what do we do with our hands?” moments.
And yes, you’ll walk away with beautiful, versatile images perfect for save-the-dates, wedding invitations and those “we’re getting married” posts.
Before the dress. Before the aisle. Before the timeline takes over
Enjoy a fun and stress-free photoshoot. It’s the perfect opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera before your big day.
Share the joy of your engagement
Before the camera even clicks, we take the time to get to know you and your story. How you met, who fell first.
We’ll chat about locations, outfits, the energy you’re drawn to, and any moments that matter most to you. The goal? Images that actually feel like you. Feeling a little nervous? Completely normal, most couples do, but don’t worry, not many people we photograph are models so we’ll guide you the whole way. From a simple prep guide beforehand to relaxed, natural direction on the day. Nothing stiff or forced, just the two of you, feeling confident, comfortable, and genuinely present with each other.
Before your session
Our role? To move seamlessly through your shoot, catching the in-between moments just as beautifully as the “okay what do we do with our hands?” ones.
We bring more than cameras, we bring the energy. Calm when you need grounding, hype when you need a confidence boost. Gentle direction that never feels awkward or over-posed. We know when to guide, when to tweak, and when to step back so the real stuff can unfold. The laughs, the soft looks, the effortless way you are together.
Let’s create photographs that still feel just as good in 40 years… when you’re showing the grandkids how cool you were back in the day.
On the day
You’ll receive a beautifully curated collection of images that capture this in-between season – the just-said-yes glow, the laughter, the hand squeezes, the “we’re actually doing this” moments.
All high and web-resolution files are delivered via a private online gallery, ready to share (or not… we fully support gatekeeping your favourites). Your images are safely archived for two years, because life moves fast and this chapter deserves to be kept.
And when you’re ready to turn them into something tangible, we’ll guide you through choosing your favourites for prints or an album, something beautiful you can hold onto long after the ring selfies slow down.
AFTER YOUR SHOOT
what's included
Your engagement shoot starts with making a plan so we can make sure you get the best out of your shoot! You’ll receive my comprehensive what to wear and how to prep Guide, and your beautiful photos will be delivered via online gallery—perfect for easy sharing with family and friends.
$1,500
60 minute shoot
All digital images (60+)
$900
60 minute shoot
30 digital images
$650
30 minute shoot
10 digital images
We’ve captured couples celebrating their engagements and weddings for over 15 years.
We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t, and it’s our job to help you plan to have the most successful day possible. Our breadth of experience means we think on our feet and focus on keeping everything on track.
Our approach to photography focuses on showcasing the individuality and innovation that sets you apart. We capture the essence of who you are and what you stand for. This makes you unforgettable.
We have the flexibility of a talented team, all aligned around producing excellent imagery with the same overall look, feel and editing style. If you would like to request a specific photographer, you’re more than welcome to when you book.
your team of
photographers
Ruth Gilmour
Holly fulforth
Alicia miller
Founder and Creative Director
Studio manager
photographer
Recent
Shoots
as seen in
"When you've lost someone you love in life, photos become so much more than just the images you have. "
Kate Griffin
"Thank you so much for our beautiful photos. As always, they are amazing. When you've lost someone you love in life, photos become so much more than just the images you have. So thank you for capturing the true essence of our family. I simply wouldn't use anyone else."
"She did an amazing job photographing a large, slightly chaotic event I organised recently."
jody pawley
"Ruth is a talented photographer who I would work again with in a heartbeat. She did an amazing job photographing a large, slightly chaotic event I organised recently. I was extremely happy with not only the beautiful photos that resulted from the night but also the whole process start to finish, from booking in, and giving details to the different reminders and confirmations. It gave me confidence that everything was discussed, understood and would be delivered upon, and it was. Thank you Ruth, can’t recommend you highly enough."
"My toddler was incredibly distracting but Ruth took it in her stride, got him involved and just carried on"
Hannah Farrant
"Thank you so much Ruth for an amazing photoshoot in the comfort of our own home. Thank you for not only capturing some beautiful pictures of our newborn Milo but also his big brother. My toddler was incredibly distracting but Ruth took it in her stride, got him involved and just carried on with the task in hand. All our family & friends absolutely loved the pictures as much as we did. An experience we will treasure forever. We highly recommend Ruth for all your photography needs. Thanks again!"
"The photos she captured hold such a special place in our lives and we cannot wait to work with her again."
Veronica Couttes
"We are so incredibly happy that we chose Ruth as our wedding photographer. She is an excellent photographer with amazing people skills and truly captured the essence of what we wanted on our special day. Ruth managed to keep everybody happy, made us feel so special, and delivered images that are simply priceless — they look incredible. She was professional and discreet during the ceremony, yet still captured the most beautiful, meaningful moments. If you feel anxious about having your photo taken, or have family members who need a slightly firmer (yet always compassionate and gentle) hand, you won’t go wrong with Ruth."
"With that amount of young children to wrangle, It could have gone terribly wrong, but she was calm and engaging"
Jen Cooper
"We had Ruth Photograph our extended Family. We are a large family With 10 immediate family members, and all of their partners and children. She was an absolute legend. With that amount of young children to wrangle, It could have gone terribly wrong, but she was calm and engaging and managed to draw out some absolutely stunning photos. Highly recommend Ruth! And we will be coming to her again when we do this in the future."
"we feel so much more comfortable having been in front of the camera, and knowing what its all about before the wedding"
Rebecca Newland
"We are so glad we did an engagement shoot before our wedding! One, because we cant believe the awesome photos we have, its going to be so hard to pick some faves to get printed! But also we feel so much more comfortable having been in front of the camera, and knowing what its all about before the wedding. Ruth was amazing at making us feel totally comfortable and as if we knew what we were doing. She totally understood what we were wanting, with photos around our farm and even made our cows look pretty! I totally recommend Ruth as a photographer, and we cannot wait for her to capture our wedding day."
"We are totally in love with the outcome of the photos we received."
Taylor Symons
"Ruth is definitely one of the best in the business! Such a good experience and she made my partner and I feel super at ease with having our photos taken as well as Ruth has a great sense of humour too. We are totally in love with the outcome of the photos we received. Will definitely be organizing to see Ruth again in the future for more family pictures!"
"there are lots of laughs and you end up with the most incredible shots of your family to turn into art"
Sarah Greenfield
"We’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with Ruth on numerous occasions from our pregnancy shots, newborn pics and most recently a family photoshoot. Ruth’s family sessions are awesome as she makes you feel totally relaxed, there are lots of laughs and you end up with the most incredible shots of your family to turn into art to dress the walls of your home."
Not sure what packages to choose yet?
I hate getting my photo taken! What do I do?!
When do I get the photographs back?
How does the payment work?
Where do we go for the shoot?
What if it rains on the day?
FAQS
If you want to book, but aren’t sure how much time or number of photographs you’ll need, just select the middle package and you can change this at any stage throughout the process.
What can we do with our photographs?
Not sure what packages to choose yet?
I hate getting my photo taken! What do I do?!
When do I get the photographs back?
How does the payment work?
Where do we go for the shoot?
What if it rains on the day?
FAQS
You’re really not alone in this! We work with many couples who are not keen on being photographed, and we take great care to get the best out of even the most reluctant subjects. We've been photographing weddings and engagements for over 15 years and have spent much time helping people relax and forget we're even there.
Your engagement photoshoot is a great way to become more confident in front of the camera before your wedding. Check out my engagement shoot gallery here.
What can we do with our photographs?
Not sure what packages to choose yet?
I hate getting my photo taken! What do I do?!
When do I get the photographs back?
How does the payment work?
Where do we go for the shoot?
What if it rains on the day?
FAQS
We know you’ll be desperate to see the photos, so we’ll send you a sneak peek within 7 days of your engagement photoshoot. Your full gallery of online photos will usually be delivered within 3-4 weeks.
What can we do with our photographs?
Not sure what packages to choose yet?
I hate getting my photo taken! What do I do?!
When do I get the photographs back?
How does the payment work?
Where do we go for the shoot?
What if it rains on the day?
FAQS
To secure your engagement photography date, we'll send an agreement. This covers what to expect and what services we provide so you have it all down in writing. To save the date we’ll send an invoice for $250 and this contributes to the final bill! A payment plan can be arranged on request.
What can we do with our photographs?
Not sure what packages to choose yet?
I hate getting my photo taken! What do I do?!
When do I get the photographs back?
How does the payment work?
Where do we go for the shoot?
What if it rains on the day?
FAQS
We've been photographing in the Waikato for almost 20 years, so have loads of great spots we can recommend, as well as our own studio. It can be a great time to explore a different look to what you’ll get out of your wedding photos. We will chat to you on booking about how you want your photos to look and we will make a plan!
What can we do with our photographs?
Not sure what packages to choose yet?
I hate getting my photo taken! What do I do?!
When do I get the photographs back?
How does the payment work?
Where do we go for the shoot?
What if it rains on the day?
FAQS
If it rains on the day we can reschedule, or alternatively we can plan for this with a studio shoot, or covered option in case of wet weather.
What can we do with our photographs?
Not sure what packages to choose yet?
I hate getting my photo taken! What do I do?!
When do I get the photographs back?
How does the payment work?
Where do we go for the shoot?
What if it rains on the day?
FAQS
Your images are designed to live far beyond your screen. They can be shared with family and friends, used for announcements and thank you cards, framed in your home, or preserved in heirloom albums that tell the full story of your day or your season of life.
Most importantly, they become part of your family history, the photographs on the walls, the album pulled out at Christmas, the moments you’ll revisit years from now and remember exactly how it felt.
Digital files are just the beginning. We’ll guide you through beautiful, tangible ways to turn your photographs into lasting keepsakes.
