Last summer, Esther and Laurie had a couple shoot at Rydal Water in the Lake District on a super bright and sunny day. Rydal Water is a picturesque lake located in the heart of the Lake District just north of Windermere, known for its stunning views and cool caves, situated just below Loughrigg. We met early at the lake to try and avoid the brightest sun of the day and before it got too warm. Esther and Laurie booked their couple photographs at Rydal Water for no other reason than to have some photographs together while they were holidaying here in the Lake District; in an age of phone photos and selfies it’s so nice to take photographs to mark the ordinary moments in couple’s lives as well as the big ones!

We headed up to Rydal Caves first and were lucky enough to have the entire place to ourselves for the twenty minutes which is unusual in the school holidays on a good weather day. Afterwards we headed down to the shores of Rydal Water for some pictures with more typical lakeland scenery. 

Top tips when planning your couple photographs at Rydal Caves

• Arrive in good time to find parking and have change for the car park. Pelter Bridge car park is quite small and my experience is that the parking machine can be a little temperamental. 
• You’ll notice that Esther is wearing fabulous heels for their couple photographs at Rydal Water; they look great but she changed into them at each location we stopped at! Our loop was about 2 miles long with a lot of uneven terrain and I don’t recommend doing that in heels… Bring good footwear for a much more enjoyable experience.
• It goes without saying that in the height of summer it’s much more desirable to photograph early in the morning or in the evening for softer light, but the same guidance goes for visiting Lake District tourist attractions such as Rydal Caves. We were able to photograph in the caves without any interruptions from visitors (meaning less photoshop for me but also a more relaxing experience for Esther and Laurie without being watched by other visitors)
• Weather can change quickly here in Cumbria so it’s important to check the forecast and to dress and pack appropriately.
• If you’re planning on coming with your children, be aware that the paths up to the caves aren’t pram friendly.

Are you getting married here in the Lake District?

(and mayyyyybe looking for your perfect wedding photographer too?)

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