Why Stormy Pre-Wedding Shoots Are Secretly the Best

Let me guess. It’s one of the first things that pops into your head when you book a pre-wedding session.

But what if it rains?

I hear it all the time. And I completely understand why. You’ve got your outfit planned, you’ve thought about your hair, you’ve been looking forward to it for weeks – and then you open the weather app the night before and your stomach drops a little.

So let me tell you about Rhiannah and Andrew. And what happened when the Scottish weather showed up in full force at Loch Muick

It started as a light drizzle

Which, honestly, in Aberdeenshire? We barely blink at a light drizzle. We headed out, the light was soft and moody in the most beautiful way, and Rhiannah and Andrew were completely relaxed. Laughing, holding hands, utterly unbothered.

And then the heavens opened.

Not a gentle pitter-patter. A full, proper, glorious Scottish downpour. The kind where there is absolutely no point running for cover because you’re already soaked and actually – it’s kind of brilliant.

Here’s what I love about couples like Rhiannah and Andrew

They didn’t hesitate. Not for a second. They looked at each other, they laughed, and they just… went for it. Completely in it together, completely present, completely them.

And that’s when the magic happens. When the plan goes out the window and you stop thinking about your hair and just exist in the moment with the person you’re about to marry – that’s when I get the images that take your breath away. Rain running down your faces. Wet grass underfoot. Loch Muick in all its dramatic, atmospheric, unapologetically Scottish glory behind you.

You can’t manufacture that. You can’t replicate it on a sunny day with perfect conditions. It’s real, and real is always, always more beautiful.

Oh, and Rhiannah’s makeup?

She’d had her makeup trial with the absolutely incredible Trisha Cameron shortly before the shoot. And that session at Loch Muick? It turned into the most unexpected – and most thorough – product test possible.

It stood up to every single drop. Rhiannah looked flawless from the first drizzle to the full downpour. If you needed any more reason to book Trisha for your wedding morning, there it is. Waterproof credentials, certified by a Scottish loch in November.

So what do you do if it rains on your pre-wedding shoot?

You show up anyway. You bring a spare pair of socks. You hold hands and tilt your faces up and let me do what I do best.

Rain doesn’t ruin photos. Rain makes photos. It adds drama, softness, atmosphere, and – more often than not – some of the most genuine laughter I’ve ever captured. Because when you’re both absolutely drenched and it’s ridiculous and there’s nothing to do but laugh – that’s the real you. That’s the two of you. And that’s exactly what your pre-wedding session is for.

The images from Rhiannah and Andrew’s session at Loch Muick are some of my absolute favourites. Moody skies, glittering water, two people completely and utterly in love and unbothered by the weather. Honestly? I’d take a downpour over a grey, flat, nothing-day every single time.

Thinking about booking a pre-wedding session?

I’d love to chat about what yours could look like – rain, shine, or anything in between. Pre-wedding sessions are included in my wedding package, and one of my favourite things to do, and not just because they give us beautiful images. They give you the chance to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day, so that when it matters most, you’re completely at ease.

Ready to dance in the rain? I got you!

Samantha x