A couple months ago, I started a series on my blog with tips and tricks for engagement sessions and today is all about location, location, location!
Even though I allow my clients to choose the location for our session, a lot of my couples tend to have questions in regards to where we should do their engagement photos. While I like to think my answer is simple, I wanted to share my tips on choosing the best location for your session that will make for beautiful and natural photos.
My main answer is choose a location that you both love and that you feel comfortable in. This could be a variety of places: Maybe a park or coffee shop that you both love spending time at together after a long day of work. Or the place where your fiance proposed. Or your favorite date night spot. Basically anywhere that is significant to the both of you. Choosing a familiar location will help you both feel more at ease and comfortable during the photos and will help to better tell your story.
Nita and Jordan lived next to Crocker Park in Sacramento, CA. They spent a lot of time there and enjoyed going on walks next to the Crocker Art Museum.
Elli and Kevin decided to have their engagement session in the cute little town of Winters, CA because of the significance it held for them. It was here where they had their first date and also where he proposed!
However, if there isn’t a special place that you both love, this piece of advice won’t quite work. So here are my other suggestions. Think of a place that is opposite of your wedding location. If you are getting married on the beach at sunset or if you are having a beautiful garden wedding, maybe choose an urban setting such as the downtown area of your city. If you are having your wedding in the courtyard of a historic museum or a quaint little church, maybe opt for an open meadow or orchard. Choosing a location that has a different look and feel from your wedding venue will make your engagement photos more special and unique.
Tiffany and Matt will be getting married at the Crocker Art Museum and chose to do their session on trails near their home. This location was great because it creates a contrast while still being familiar!
My other suggestion is to choose a location that is new to the both you. Now, this suggestion is a little contradictory from my main answer, but if you don’t have a place you both love, choosing somewhere new will forever make it a special location. If you both are adventurous and have always wanted to visit the beach an hour or so outside of town or a special winery, take this opportunity to make new memories. For years to come, every time you visit that location, you will remember your engagement session and the season in your life leading up to your wedding. When you travel there with friends, family, or your future grandchildren, you can tell them “this is where we had our engagement photos taken!” Part of your love story will live there forever!
Sandra and Emmanuel live in the greater Sacramento area but they wanted to do their engagement session in Napa Valley. A few weeks prior to our session, they visited some wineries and decided on doing the photos at the Castello di Amorosa.
My only advice on choosing a different or new location is to try and still make it you. For example, if you are afraid of heights, don’t choose the side of a cliff or the top of a waterfall. One of the main goals for my sessions is for my couples to feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, and if you are scared or worried, it will show in your photos. Also, if you and your fiance don’t enjoy spending time at the river or lake, either of those types of locations will seem out of place in your photos. Even if it’s beautiful. So try to choose somewhere that still feels like you and where you will feel comfortable.
Again, feeling at ease is one of the most important things for your engagement session. Chance are, this is the first time you and your fiance are having professional photos taken together. It can be a little nerve racking to have your picture taken especially during such a special time in your life and when you want your photos to feel natural and romantic. Having one less thing to worry about really helps make your session go more smoothly and you will be even more thrilled with your results! I promise!
I hope you found these tips helpful! If you would like some additional tips on how to have the perfect engagement session, be sure to check out my first post in this series all about what to wear and also sign up for my newsletter and I will send you my 5 Ways To Rock Your Engagement Session guide!
