Barbican Engagement Shoot: Heather & David

I've never quite been able to work out my feelings towards the Barbican. It's a striking feature in the middle of London, but it doesn't exactly reach out and give you a hug. The Barbican punches you in the face and says 'YEAH I'm here, aren't I awesome?'. But when the sun is shining and you take some time to explore the tetris of stacked walkways and buildings, it will win you over.

Heather & David picked it for their engagement shoot because, simply, they love going their together. It turned into a really relaxed couple of hours, with them giving me a tour of the parts I'd never seen (there's a massive cactus conservatory there - who knew?!) and occasionally stopping for a quick snap. And the architecture makes for a great urban alternative location for a London pre-wedding shoot.

Engagement shoots, pre-wedding shoots, couples shoots or whatever you want to call them can seem like a strange idea. But they don't have to be hard work, being shouted at and forcing awkward poses. They're a really good opportunity to have a wander round somewhere you love, spend some time with your best friend, and get used to being in front of a camera before your wedding. And you get some nice pics out of it too!