Sometimes when I ask a couple if they have any idea where they would like to have their engagement photos taken they're not really sure. That's not a problem. I have lot's of ideas to offer, but here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your engagement portraits are the very best they can be.
1. Make it Personal
Is there somewhere you met or hang out or used to hang out that is meaningful to you? Maybe where the proposal happened? Those may be good options to consider. Many of our couples met on a college campus and want that as the backdrop for their engagement session.
Not everyone met "the one" in college. They may have moved out into the world and began their career. If this describes you, likely, you are currently living in a different city from where you will be getting married. That scenario fits about 60% of our clients. Where you now live and work together is part of your story. Using that as a backdrop makes your photos meaningful by taking you back to that time and place in your lives together. We've been to New York, San Francisco, Boston, D.C., Miami, and many other cities for our client's sessions.
If you're new to this area and don't yet have a personally meaningful spot, then...
2. Make it About Your Style
Not everyone has a specific place that is meaningful to them as a couple. However, nearly everyone I work with can quickly tell me if they are more into a natural setting like a garden or a downtown/ city vibe. Maybe you know you want to be at the beach, but don't care about which specific beach.
Matching the location to your style as a couple is an essential element in creating images that will still be meaningful to you in thirty years. Matching the location to your personality can go far beyond only urban or nature. I've had couples request an amusement park for their session because that best matched their style as a couple.
This session is an opportunity to be creative!
3. Leave it up to us!
Not everyone has a preference, and this session is more about you as a couple than the place we create the photos. We want this to be a fun, relaxed experience for you both. Our clients often say, "We trust you; just make us look good!" We can handle that.
In that scenario, we choose locations that offer a ton of variety but focus on you as the couple. In some photos, the background isn't noticeable at all, merely a hint of your surroundings.