Back in the day, certainly when my folks tied the knot, wedding photos were a brief and all too formal affair. The happy couple would get married and arrange themselves outside the church where the photographer would shoot a roll of film of stiff, awkward looking portraits.

These days, things are different - thank god! Wedding photographer can be, and should be, a fun endeavour that gives the couple value for money memories of their most important day. And the fun should always start with an engagement shoot. One of my recent shoots was to snap a bride to brand was arranged by the bride's sister as a gift. The shoot was late afternoon so, although the light was nice and golden, the low angle of the sun was breaking through trees and casting shadows everywhere.

To get around this problem, I busted out my latest toys - my Lencarta Safari portable flash heads. Pumping out around 800W of power, they're more than capable of overpowering the sun, and were just the ticket to light bride to be, Donna. Along with the light, the location worked out to be a great help too - a rustic gazebo with tall pillars framed Donna nicely.

I'd always recommend a pre-wedding shoot, even if it's just with the bride. It's a great chance to practise poses and get your subjects used to the camera - everyone's winner!