How to Capture Unique Engagement Photos
Every couple is so unique that no two engagement sessions will look the same. This means that you shouldn’t limit your session to the ordinary! There isn’t a single “right” way to do an engagement session so the options are completely open. The only way to get it “wrong” is to forget the fact that your engagement photoshoot should be true to who you are as a couple. Learn from this couple who made it their goal to create unique engagement photos that were all about them!
How to Plan Unique Engagement Photos
After getting to know a couple through our initial onboarding interview, I basically can’t wait to hang out with you! An engagement session is the perfect way to release some pre-wedding jitters, get comfortable in front of the camera, and for the three of us to figure out our photography flow!
The best way to build a session that will produce unique engagement photos is to start by asking yourselves some important questions. Even though these photos can serve the greater purpose of providing images for save-the-date cards, their only other mission is for you two to enjoy yourselves! So, start by asking the following questions to provide some fun engagement photo ideas:
What is your favorite activity to do together?
Is there a place that really represents the two of you?
Is there a location that’s part of your love story or proposal?
What are the activities or spots that make the two of you most comfortable?
After answering these questions together, you’ll come up with ideas for unique engagement photos that are both true to you and that you’ll actually enjoy! Treating your engagement shoot like a date is one of the top engagement photo tips I can provide! Doing an activity you love in a place that makes you comfortable can’t help but create a space for connection where your love will naturally shine through your photos.
When a Couple Finds Their Unique Engagement Photos Sweet Spot
I can’t help but smile (or even tear up!) behind the lens when I encounter a couple that’s so lost in each other and the moment for their engagement shoot photos.
Every couple has varying things they love to do together, what they first bonded on, and all that they want to experience together in life. These are the tidbits of information I lean into for your engagement session. Even how I photograph your unique engagement photos can shift between couples so that the entire experience wholly reflects the two of you.
Ben and Ali’s very first date was spent listening to old records while he showed off the vintage cars kept in his barn. These two have always thought of themselves as old souls born in the wrong era. When getting ready for their engagement session, it was a no-brainer that we would incorporate this nostalgia.
Ben’s love for his cars and home combined with Ali's love for the county fair created the perfect backdrop to their engagement shoot outfits, locations and the overall feel of their session. We started their session at Ben’s family property (also their future home!), and the vehicles used were both formerly his daily drivers. He absolutely loves them! These details were wonderful to witness as they were so in their element that they barely noticed I was there!
Think About It, But Not Too Hard
Before you begin planning your own engagement session, start thinking about what you love to do together. Reflect on those memories of feeling the most loved and seen by your partner, or the activities that have brought the most joy and excitement. For Ben, that was riding in his beloved cars and for Ali it was the classic swing ride at the carnival. Figure these out and then plan the session around those selections! It will be almost impossible for unique engagement photos to not come out of it!
Catch more ideas for your own session on my Instagram!
