Make Your Engagement Photos Uniquely You

Your Engagement session does not have to be boring

Engagement pictures are an exciting part of your journey to marriage! You’ve just gotten engaged and those gears have started turning on how to go about planning your wedding. Or maybe you have already started when you were 13 and you got your first Pinterest board like me and started pinning those awful trendy 2010s wedding dresses and teal and coral color scheme ideas with chevron accents. Maybe you’ve had your wedding all planned out since you were 13 but what about engagements? How you want to be proposed to or what that might look like. Engagement photos can be seen as cheesy smiles, stiff posing, shots of the wedding ring, etc. But they don’t have to be! You are telling yours and your partner’s love story and your engagement photos should reflect that!

Why do engagement photos even matter and should we do them?

Engagements are also commonly referred to as save the dates. These are used to announce to your friends and family that you are getting married and to make sure they request your wedding date off of work so they can come. If you are eloping and planning on not telling your friends and family, these pictures can still be used as memories telling the story between you and your partner leading up to your elopement. These images are usually more casual, unlike bridals that are for showing off wedding attire. This is a huge part of telling your love story and should be fun and feel more like a date rather than a chore to get pictures done. This is your chance to show off your relationship. Pictures last forever and you’ll cherish pictures more that show who you truly are and what you and your partner love to do rather than traditional posed photos.

Brainstorming for your engagement session

Think back to your very first date with your person. What did that look like? Is it something that can be incorporated into your engagement photos? What are some things you and your partner love to do together? Yes ANYTHING can be incorporated into your pictures! Except well…get your mind out of the gutter.

Here are a couple ideas to get you started:

Paint session – bring a white sheet and lay it out in a field. Wear some old tee shirts and jeans and get into a paint fight, show off those colors!
Picnic – bring some of your favorite foods and drinks and sit in a park you love to go together.
Hiking – put on your hiking boots and backpacks and hike up that trail you both love. Your photographer will follow behind you capturing every playful moment, sneaky kiss and hands brushing together.
Beach day – pack your bags with umbrellas, Tommy Bahama chairs and towels and get ready to run and play in the sand and crashing waves.
Coffee shop run – check with your local coffee shop and see if they will let you have a little photo shoot inside/outside the shop. Most coffee shops would be sooo down and love to have you showcase your love at their shop while grabbing a latte or two!
Bookstore – Again this one will have to be checked first, but it doesn’t hurt to ask your local book store! Having your engagements in a bookstore would be so dreamy and nostalgic feeling.
Arcade – Challenge your partner to a game of pac-man or air-hockey at your local arcade.
Food truck roundup – Lots of cities often do a food truck roundup one day of the week usually in the summertime. Grabbing your favorite foods with colorful food trucks in the background would suit for the perfect pop of color to your photos.
Drive in movie – after Covid, these started popping up a lot more! If you are unable to rent out an entire movie theater to yourselves (as most of us are haha) consider rolling up to a drive in movie with your partner in your pickup or rent a convertible for the day to make it that much more special!
Downtown carnival – Check your local cities schedule to see when they have their festival days. This is another option for some color in your photos! Grab some cotton candy and walk around holding hands with your partner.

Tips for a successful engagement session

To make the most of your engagement photo session, start by finding a photographer whose style matches yours and someone you feel comfortable with. This connection will help capture genuine candid and relaxed moments. When choosing outfits, aim for a cohesive look by selecting a color palette and style that represent you as a couple, and prioritize comfort for natural interactions. Pinterest is a great resource for looking up color palettes.

Choose a meaningful location, like where you had your first date. Focus on being yourselves, as the best photos often come from spontaneous, candid moments. Consider incorporating personal elements, such as items or pets that hold special meaning.

Think about the time of day for optimal lighting, like the golden hour just after sunrise or before sunset. Communicate your ideas and vision with your photographer in advance to ensure your session reflects you both perfectly.

Why engagement photos are worth it

Engagement photos are more than just a tradition—they’re a celebration of your relationship and a great opportunity to document this exciting chapter in your lives. These photos capture the joy and anticipation of your journey towards marriage and give you cherished memories to look back on for years to come. Plus, engagement sessions are a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera and build a rapport with your wedding photographer. It’s a chance to express your personalities and showcase the love you share in a relaxed setting.

At the end of the day, the key to amazing engagement photos is staying true to yourselves as a couple and embracing the moments you create together. Whether you opt for a grand adventure or a simple day out, the most important thing is that your photos reflect your unique love story.

Choosing your photographer

Choosing the right photographer for your engagement session can make all the difference in capturing the essence of your love story. As a couples photographer, my goal is to make sure that your engagement photos are not just beautiful, but also a true reflection of who you are as a couple. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, I strive to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere where you can truly be yourselves and have your session feel more like a date rather than a stressful photo shoot.

By choosing me as your photographer, you’ll have a partner who is dedicated to understanding and seeing your vision and bringing that to life. I believe in capturing those candid, authentic moments that showcase your connection and love for one another. Whether it’s recreating your first date or exploring a new adventure together, I’ll be there to document every laugh, smile, and stolen glance.

Let’s create something magic together. Reach out today to schedule your engagement session and let’s start planning how to make your photos as beautiful and special as your relationship. Your love story deserves to be told in a way that feels true to you, and I would be honored to be a part of capturing this exciting chapter in your lives!

Let’s Book!