A Forest Engagement Photoshoot near Bordeaux

Couple embracing among tall pines in a winter forest, engagement session

An engagement photoshoot in the forest is an original idea when you live in Bordeaux, close to the ocean. Originality is something of a common thread for this endearing couple, whom I loved accompanying on their wedding journey.

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A Pre-Wedding Photoshoot in the Forest

It would be such a shame to miss out on everything our beautiful Gironde region has to offer.

Engraved wooden sign resting at the foot of an ivy-covered pine

Man in a grey jumper leaning against a pine trunk in the forest

Red-haired woman holding a bouquet of red roses on a forest path

Couple kissing against an ivy-covered trunk during the engagement shoot

Taking photos in the forest is also a chance to capture lovely emotions and romantic poses before your wedding. That is the whole point of an engagement session.

Couple embracing while standing on a stump in the pine forest

Red-haired woman laughing in her partner's arms

Just a few kilometres from Bordeaux, there are vast, magnificent natural spaces, such as woodlands and municipal forests. My future bride and groom, Tiffany and Geoffrey, and I headed to the forest of Canéjan.

Playful couple in the woods, bouquet of roses resting on his shoulder

Tall rows of pines and russet ferns in the Canéjan forest

An engagement session in the pine forest

The Gironde borders the Landes, so the further south you go in the Gironde, the closer you get to the great Landes de Gascogne forest. Heading towards Cestas, we passed through Gradignan and then Canéjan, to find ourselves at the foot of the Landes pines. My bride and groom-to-be were determined to have their pre-wedding couple photos taken in this natural setting.

Tiny figures of a couple at the end of a pine avenue, forest engagement session

Couple embracing at the foot of slender pines, dry ferns in the foreground

This forest engagement session was full of fits of laughter, not least because of Géo’s shyness: he took part in this friendly exercise to make his bride-to-be happy.

Bouquet of red roses resting on a stump among dry ferns

Forest path lined with pines in the Canéjan forest

The forest close to their hearts

As a child, Géo spent hours exploring the forest of Canéjan. He grew up near this beautiful natural area, and every time he returns he feels a deep sense of serenity. The trees and nature are part of his fondest memories, and in his forest he feels at home, surrounded and safe.

Engraved wooden sign on a mossy rock at the foot of a footbridge

Woman in a floral dress by a forest stream, bouquet in hand

The spirit of the forest has surely shaped his love of ancestral martial arts. Nature is vast and intimidating. It demands respect and self-control, and it helps you grow spiritually. You can feel that bond between Géo and nature.

Man sitting on a wooden footbridge over a forest stream

Raised hand showing the engagement ring, man blurred on the footbridge

Geoffrey, also known by his nickname "Géo", teaches chanbara and holds a 3rd dan black belt, no less! He is also a black belt in naginata, a Japanese weapon used in the practice of naginata-jutsu. When you see the photos of Géo in action, believe me, you will be impressed!

Red-haired woman in a floral dress smiling among the trees

Man in a grey jumper smiling on a wooden footbridge

Smiling woman leaning on the railing of a forest footbridge

Couple's hands intertwined by the railing of a footbridge

Thanks to Géo and his flawless knowledge of the forest of Canéjan, I discovered all sorts of different viewpoints throughout our walk of nearly 7 km.

Light-eyed woman gazing into the distance, her partner in the foreground

Smiling woman nestled against her partner's cheek

The two of them love spending time together walking in this forest; it calms them enormously.

Close-up of the engagement ring as he holds her hand

Couple embracing on a small stone bridge over a green stream

A few words from the bride-to-be

(Translated from French.)

Man crouching on an old stone weir above a small waterfall

"We met Tristan almost a year ago and it was love at first sight, both for his approach to photography and for the person he is. Before our wedding, we wanted to do a session to get used to his camera. The engagement session was planned for November 2020, but with the bad weather and the health restrictions it proved difficult to find a date. Tristan was extraordinarily accommodating and even offered to do the session on a Sunday. In the end, we managed to arrange it on a weekday. Tristan checked the weather every time, never hesitating to postpone and to advise us. On the day, he was a wonderful guide, and it felt more like a walk in the forest with friends than a photoshoot. Two days later, we received these incredible pictures, and we were so moved!

Woman sitting with her bouquet by a weir, her partner crouching behind

Man in a grey jumper crouching on the weir, waterfall in the foreground

If you are looking for a good, human photographer in Bordeaux, look no further!

Smiling woman with her rose bouquet, partner seated on the weir

Man in a chanbara stance on a metal footbridge in the woods

Thank you again, Tristan, and see you very soon ;)"

Man in a chanbara fighting pose on the footbridge, arm raised

Man stepping forward in a fighting stance on a metal footbridge

Engagement Photographer in the Gironde

As a Fine Art photographer in the south-west of France, I invite you to discover my previous engagement sessions near Arcachon Bay, at Cap Ferret and in Lacanau.

Man raising his arm in a chanbara move, looking at the camera

Chanbara kick towards the camera on the footbridge

Man performing a high chanbara kick on the footbridge

Woman holding a bouquet and wooden sign on a forest footbridge

I have chosen to show you these engagement photos because they are similar in spirit to Geoffrey and Tiffany’s forest engagement session.

Man leaping behind his partner as she holds the bouquet and sign

Man in a grey jumper in front of a stack of cut logs

Marie-Sophie and Sébastien at Cap Ferret:

Engagement session among nature and shorelines at Cap Ferret

Claire and Mohamed at the Réservoirs de Piraillan:

Engagement session on Arcachon Bay

Man with arms outstretched in front of a log pile in the forest

Couple's joined hands in front of a pile of logs

Flavie and Guillaume on the beach at Lacanau:

Engagement session in Lacanau

Couple photographer

Alongside engagement sessions, I also photograph couple sessions. This kind of photoshoot can take place outside any wedding plans. A couple session needs no special occasion: it is simply a way to treat yourselves to beautiful couple photos, set against the many natural backdrops of the Bordeaux region.

Couple holding hands in front of a woodpile, sharing a look

Smiling couple holding hands by a log pile, bouquet of roses

In the same spirit as the engagement sessions above, this one was created for Élise and Jérôme in the summer of 2020.

Man standing on top of a large log pile beneath the trees

Man doing a handstand on top of the log pile

Couple photoshoot at Cap Ferret

Man sitting on the woodpile, his partner standing below with her bouquet

Smiling portrait of a red-haired woman in front of logs

Conclusion

With Tiffany and Geoffrey, we spent three months moving the date of this forest engagement session, first because of lockdown and then because of the weather. It has to be said that it had rained a great deal in the Gironde in the preceding months!

Smiling woman looking up at her partner, blurred in the foreground

Woman crouching with her bouquet among fallen leaves, looking up at her partner

This engagement session did them a lot of good, as they had had to make the painful decision to postpone their wedding from mid-April to early November.

Flowers: Artmania Fleur

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can we have a forest engagement photoshoot near Bordeaux?

For example in the forest of Canéjan, a few kilometres south of Bordeaux, towards Cestas, among the Landes pines.

What is an engagement photoshoot for?

To capture beautiful emotions before the wedding, and to get used to the photographer’s lens before the big day.

What happens if it rains on the day of the photoshoot?

We move the date: for Tiffany and Geoffrey, the session was postponed several times, because of lockdown and then the weather, until we found the right day.

Planning your wedding in France?

As an engagement photographer in Bordeaux, I photograph engagement sessions and weddings in Bordeaux, the Gironde and across France. Discover my wedding collections, or tell me about your plans.

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