Engagement and pre-wedding photography by Marianne Taylor.

Tara & Simon : A Cornish Together Session on the Beach

March 30, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Ah, Cornwall in the Spring! In the beginning of March, I got to spend some time with Tara & Simon, who are getting married next month at their beautiful house in North Cornwall. The couple wanted their engagement session to take place on their local beach (how amazing is it to live in a place where you have a local beach, or five!), so we headed down to Constantine Bay.

To me, there’s really nothing better than a walk on the beach smelling the sea air and listening to waves crashing in. Needless to say, I enjoyed every minute of this session!

I can’t wait to see these two tie the knot in just a month’s time, it’s going to be a good one!

Anne & Archie : A summer evening engagement session

August 25, 2016 · 2 Comments

In my opinion, London is at it’s best on a gentle late summer’s evening. There’s a sweetness in the air that smooths the rougher edges of the always bustling city. I thoroughly enjoyed walking through their beautiful neighbourhood for Anne & Archie’s engagement session, and I can’t wait for their big day next year!

Jeannie & Billy : Coastal pre-wedding session in Cornwall

May 31, 2016 · 12 Comments

Jeannie & Billy, who are getting married in Hong Kong later this year, knew they wanted to have engagement photos taken in the UK. But since they were open to other locations than London I, of course, jumped at the chance to get to do their pre-wedding session in Cornwall!

Pre-wedding sessions are a common thing in certain countries where the wedding day locations (and huge sizes of the weddings themselves) don’t necessarily allow for a proper portrait session on the day itself. So, many couples opt for having a longer engagement session during which they’ll change into a few different looks, including a wedding gown, and often these images will be then displayed on the wedding day. I’ve been shooting pre-wedding sessions in London for many years, but now that I’m down in Cornwall I really hope my clients will see the potential of the amazing landscape here and travel down for some truly magical backdrops for their images!

Before getting started, Sally Orchard worked her make-up magic on Jeannie and Alice Jane Hair Design was in charge of the two different hairstyles of the day. During our three-part session, we managed to visit cute little villages, as well as some of my favourite beaches and majestic cliff tops. We also experienced a wide variety of weather from sunny and summery to full on fog during the same day!

P. S. I know there are a lot of images, but I’m finding hard to narrow them down further, I just loved every minute of this shoot, and I love all the photos!

Barbara & Bruce | Blossoming London Engagement Session

April 28, 2016 · 2 Comments

Love Affair with London - Spring blossom London engagement Together shoot by Marianne Taylor. Click through to see more!

Finally, London is starting to get it’s blossom on! It’s crazy how late spring feels this year, I really can’t wait for some warmer weather.

However, on the day of Barbara & Bruce’s London Engagement Session, the sun was out in full force, which felt like such a luxury along with the blossoming trees. Also, I can’t remember when I’ve laughed so much during a shoot! It was such a good reminder of how joy is absolutely one of the most beautiful things there are. Wouldn’t you agree?

Love Affair with London - Spring blossom London engagement Together shoot by Marianne Taylor. Click through to see more!

Kozy & Alan : London Springtime Engagement Session

March 29, 2016 · 3 Comments

This shoot really is a little testament to the magic of photography…

Kozy & Alan wanted to include some beautiful blossoms in their London engagement session, but the cold snap meant that when we met up in the middle of March, there was hardly any blossom around yet. We did, however, manage to find a few brave buds fighting to burst through and made the most of them in order to capture some of that spring magic.

I think you’ll agree that even the tiniest bit of blossom makes London look irresistible in the springtime!

The year in pictures

December 31, 2015 · 7 Comments

Favourite images from 2015 by Marianne Taylor Photography.

What a strange and wonderful year 2015 has been! When we were leaving Cornwall after a short stay last December, I remember saying a silent goodbye to the ocean and wishing I never had to leave… It’s kind of mindblowing that now, a year later, we actually live here!

Most of 2015 got swept up by the whole rigmarole of selling our old home, finding and purchasing not only a new house in Cornwall, but also a little ‘city base’ closer to London, and everything that goes with it, including two moves. We’re still trying to figure out the new rhythm of life, when to be where, how to get used to the travelling, but there’s one thing that’s certain – I’m never happier than under the Cornish sky, watching my beloved ocean.

Despite the year being a bit of a whirlwind with lots of new challenges on all fronts, I did get to take photos of some wonderful people and beautiful events, while also mentoring many incredible photographers via Her Lovely Heart. I hope you’ll enjoy this small collection of my favourite photos from 2015!

Coastline in Cornwall, UK.

Photographer in Cornwall.

Family Beloved Together Photography in Bushy Park London by Marianne Taylor.

Fine art destination wedding photography in the South of France by Marianne Taylor. Click through to see more.

Creative wedding reportage photography by Marianne Taylor

Coastline in Cornwall, UK.

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Victoria & Charles | Together

October 28, 2015 · 13 Comments

This story began at a party organised by friends, where Charles, who had just returned from a stint in Afghanistan with the army, and Victoria, who had just moved back from New York after deciding to move on from actressing, first got together. Later on Charlie proposed in front of an audience of sea otters, while the couple were driving down from San Francisco to LA. The rest, as they say, is history.

Victoria & Charles are getting married next year at Kensington Palace in London, and I can’t wait to photograph their wedding! As they are great lovers of the countryside, we got together in autumnal Somerset for their engagement Together Session. I think you’ll agree that this colourful forest is a bit of a fairytale setting!

Rebecca & Logan | Together

August 17, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Ah, it sure was nice to be back in London for some shoots!

Rebecca & Logan wanted to have their pre-wedding (i.e. engagement with a wedding gown) Together Session in London, where they both currently work. We had a lovely time walking around town and dodging tourists, while using their favourite landmarks as backdrops.

(P.S. if you’re thinking of a pre-wedding shoot, why not come to Cornwall for some stunning scenery!)

Kerstin & Dan | Together

May 11, 2015 · 5 Comments

Kerstin & Dan are from Chicago, where they are getting married later this year, but as they are currently based in London with their work, they wanted to capture their engagement session on the streets of their current home. We so very nearly rescheduled this shoot due to some horrendous weather, but I’m so glad we decided to risk it, as the weather turned lovely pretty much in perfect timing for our session! I love London in the spring, and thoroughly enjoyed my time with Kerstin & Dan.

Xueting & David | Together

May 5, 2015 · 3 Comments

Xueting and David are getting married in Singapore later this year, but before that, they wanted to have an engagement session in London, which would remind them of a city precious to them. We had a lovely time walking the streets of London, capturing iconic scenes, and discovering some new corners of the city. I adore getting to fall in love with London over and over again!

Rebecca & Craig | Together

April 13, 2015 · 3 Comments

Springtime in London! It was such a pleasure to get to know Rebecca & Craig while walking some of my favourite streets during their London engagement shoot. These two are getting married in Aynhoe Park later this year, which fills me with such excitement, magical things always happen at Aynhoe!

Sandra & Stefan | Together

February 19, 2015 · 4 Comments

Last week, at a Her Lovely Heart mentoring session, I demonstrated how to direct a couple with Sandra & Stefan. The weather was absolutely horrendous, but also a good reminder that you don’t need to let the circumstances dictate the outcome. I love how much joy Sandra and Stefan shared with me and my student, and I don’t think they could look much cuter, whether in sunshine or pouring rain!

The Best of 2014

December 29, 2014 · 14 Comments

Favourite images from 2014 by Marianne Taylor Photography.

2014 has been one of those funny years… on the other hand, it seemed like Christmas and the end of the year caught up with me way too fast, but at the same time it felt like a looong old year. So many challenges and changes took place that looking back it seems crazy it all fitted into one year. As well as spending a year working on developing the Beloved Collective until May this year, creating the Beloved Magazine, and, of course, getting Her Lovely Heart up and running, I did fit in lots of lovely shoots, and memorable moments filled with love and laughter. I have to say I feel rather relieved that 2014 is drawing to a close though, and I am so happy about feeling way more focused and excited for the next year than I was this time last year. I really think 2015 is going to be different, surprising and amazing!

Here’s to everyone I shared laughter, tears and meaningful moments with, thank you for making 2014 all it was! xo

P.S. as always, you can click on the images to see more.

Grace & Ian | Together

December 16, 2014 · 5 Comments

Grace & Ian were in London for only a few days, so we didn’t have many options for the timing of their sessions. As it turns out, the day we shot was absolutely freeeezing, with a chilling wind that gets right to the bone. Nevertheless, Grace & Ian pushed through the cold as they wanted to capture some of the iconic sights, and in some way I think the weather adds a real ‘London in the winter’ feel to the images.

Marie & Jens | Together

December 9, 2014 · 3 Comments

‘Missy, Oscaaaaaar, look over heeeeeere!’ This was the soundtrack to our anniversary session with Marie & Jens. It was just the loveliest to get to spend some time with these two again since their London engagement session last year. It was also such a pleasure to meet Missy & Oscar, who looked dashing in their matching jumpers! Despite the freezing conditions, we had the best time traipsing around London and playing a game of ‘turn that dog around’.

McKenzie & Cameron | Together

November 20, 2014 · 6 Comments

‘Cameron loves football (the proper kind, not the American kind, haha) and golf. He’s a total guy in every sense, but definitely has a goofy, sensitive side. I work in marketing and love paper crafts, sewing, cooking, baking, and reading. I am a complete bookworm. One of our very favourite pastimes is going on what you might call ‘everyday adventures’, which usually entail exploring a new neighbourhood or town and eating a lot of tasty food. I do more shopping on these outings than Cam would probably like! We’re quite a playful couple and love a good laugh.’

I think I’ve had a little bit of a girl crush on McKenzie ever since that first email I received from her. She is just so open, fun and enthusiastic, and I couldn’t wait for these two to get to London from California, so that we could go on our own ‘everyday adventure’ to celebrate their engagement.

McKenzie studied in London and the British Library is very dear to her heart, so it naturally became our starting point. From there we wondered the streets of Bloomsbury in search of pretty nooks and crannies, pretty much giggling all the way through.

I had so much fun during McKenzie & Cameron’s London engagement shoot, and I wish they have an amazing time planning their Californian wedding day!

Shira & Vladimir | Together

November 7, 2014 · 7 Comments

On a crisp, sunny autumn day, we got together with Shira & Vladimir for their engagement Together Session in central London, right in their own home neighbourhood. I had such a lovely time walking among the gorgeous colours of London and getting to know Shira & Vladimir better. I also loved watching them go from being a little bit shy in front of the camera, to embracing just having fun together! I think I also need to send an official thank you note to the sun for making an appearance after what had been an absolutely miserable rainy week up until then!

Jasmine & Russell | Together

October 24, 2014 · 1 Comment

Jasmine & Russell’s Bushy Park engagement session was quite adrenaline inducing, as it turned out that their adorable french bulldogs, Clouseau & Valentina, weren’t the biggest hit with the local deer population. There were a few occasions where we felt better to move on when a huge deer made it’s opinion loud and clear, or when another one went into Rambo mode and started coming at us across the pond!

Never the less, we did manage to avoid a major incident, and it was actually lovely to spend time with these two, as they were so clearly absolutely smitten with each other. And what can I said about Clouseau & Valentina? The deer might not have warmed to these two cuties, but they certainly stole my heart completely!

Hilda & Quain | Together

August 28, 2014 · 6 Comments

I must warn you, this one is going to be one of those ‘you won’t believe what happened next’ kinda stories you see circulating on Facebook. After a brilliant July, August decided to be a complete nightmare and just threw such horrendous weather at us that we had to postpone Hilda & Quain’s London engagement session several times. Finally, we just decided to take the plunge, and armed with our umbrellas we headed to the streets of Belgravia. It had been raining on and off for most of the day, but the rain stopped around five minutes before we started. How lucky, we thought. We had no idea just how lucky we turned out to be!

We had a lovely time walking the still damp streets, and once we changed locations to the South Bank, the sun was starting to go down and the sky began looking more and more dramatic. Finally, in front of the London Eye, I pressed the shutter for the final time. And at that exact moment, the skies ripped open, the wind exploded and a rainstorm unlike any I’ve witnessed before assaulted us with such force it nearly knocked me off my feet! The timing of it was just incredible, and I feel like some sort of magic must have kept the time we did our shoot dry. As an added bonus I got to capture a pretty dramatic sky for the last few frames. (I did get entirely soaked on the way home, mind.)

Marianne Taylor creative beloved engagement photography London

Ashley & Jacky | Together

July 14, 2014 · 8 Comments

How about a little bit of summer magic? Ashley & Jacky came all the way from Hong Kong to have their engagement, or pre-wedding shoot, in the UK where they used to study. In some places, such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, it’s quite common to have your wedding portraits done before the big day. Mainly because the weddings tend to be so big and busy with hundreds of guests, and often held at hotels with no access to wilder locations outside, plus it’s customary to have the portraits on display at your wedding.

We had such a lovely time traipsing around the Hampton Court & East Molesey area, and charming some deer in Bushy Park. I’m personally a little bit in love with these images, and I hope you’ll see why!

Marianne Taylor creative beloved engagement photography London Bushy Park