Ashleigh and Rebecca's Pre-Shoot at Palé Hall, Bala.

I love doing pre-shoots. There is absolutely no pressure on anyone and they always involve a lovely cup of coffee somewhere nice.

So when I got in contact with Ashleigh to arrange their pre-shoot and he said “why not do it at the venue of our wedding, so we can have a good walk around and familiarise ourselves?'“ I said “why not!” I’d never been to Palé Hall, near to Bala, North Wales, so I was up for it. It was even more important to do it there as Ashleigh and Rebecca were planning ‘an elopement’ wedding, with just the two of them there…and me…

So last Friday morning, I pootered over the Berwyn Hills and dropped down into Snowdonia and straight into…the poshest place I have been to for a long time.

Palé Hall is just gorgeous. I mean, seriously gorgeous. A grand Victorian mansion, converted into an 18 room luxury 5-Star hotel, set in a huge woodland with loads of pathways to explore, streams, tiny waterfalls, a lake, and carefully manicured garden and an orchard…even a helicopter landing pad - just in case you can’t be bothered with the drive…

So I arrived, in my dirty Nissan, wearing my shorts and walking trainers, needing a shave and a haircut and…totally underdressed for the building. I felt such a plonker. I mean I know I am going to be working there, but, well, you know. I know I was totally out of my depth when I was asked if I wanted a coffee and it came, not in a mug as I normally expect, but rather in a silver coffee pot with a bone-china cup and saucer…

To make matters worse, Ashleigh and Rebecca arrived looking amazing, well up for a good chat about their day and some pictures.

A pre-shoot isn’t just an excuse for a chat and some snaps. I think it’s really, really important for both sides. For me, it’s important so that I can see what a couple are like in front of the camera and how they stand; how relaxed with the whole situation they are. I don’t want people to be models, I just want them to be themselves. And that way I can manage my own expectations about your wedding pictures. And I can also manage their own expectations too. I can show them that they aren’t going to die in front of the camera and no magic ray-beams fly out from my camera to zap them. I can also show them how relaxed and easy it is going to be - being forewarned about how I take pictures means they are forearmed with the knowledge of the content and style of their portrait shoot and so they will have less to worry about.

Not that Ashleigh and Rebecca have anything to worry about for the photographs on their big day. Two gorgeous people, easy-going and relaxed, paired with a bloody gorgeous location. I can’t wait for their wedding day - it’s going to be absolutely mega…