Let’s dream together for a second. It’s 30 years from now. You are snuggled in with your kids, maybe your grandkids, your hubby. You are looking at old photographs and come across an old album of engagement photos. Seeing those images for just a moment, takes you alllll the way back. Back to the time before your wedding when you were young and giddy with excitement about marrying the love of your life. Back to that day when you got all dressed up together and had your pictures taken for the very first time. Back to when you couldn’t keep your hands off of each other and you stole kisses every chance you got. Those images told a story— your story.
I want that for you. I want your engagement session to be something you remember for years and years to come. I want you to look back and think, “Yep, that is so us”. Your photos should be a sneak peek into who you both are, how you interact and connect, and a glimpse into your love story.
So let’s make it happen. Let’s tell a story. Your story.
Choosing the Perfect Location for Your Engagement Photos
Where to take engagement photos is one of the biggest decisions when planning your session. Your location is the backdrop, the setting, and the landscape you are going to bring to life. Each location brings its own vibe, colors, textures, and theme. There are truly infinite possibilities so I see where it could be overwhelming to choose.
Start by asking yourselves these questions:
Where do you have the most fun together?
Is it at home baking cookies or making dinner? Or do you love going out on the town and having a fancy meal? Are coffee shops your thing? Or maybe you are an outdoorsy couple that loves a good hike?
When/where are you the most comfortable with each other?
If it is the same answer as the one above, then we may just have our location! If not, maybe we hit a couple of spots! Or choose someplace that is nostalgic and already full of your memories?
Where is somewhere you would LOVE to go on a date?
Dream big here. Would you want to go on a day trip to a lake or take a weekend and go to the mountains? Or is just ice skating and hot coco the perfect combo?
Audrey and David thought through these questions and chose to do a destination engagement session in Malibu, California.
LA will be their new home after their wedding this summer and David has already made the move for work! They wanted their engagement session to reflect this unique stage of life as they transition their lives to the West Coast.
Why a Unique Location For Engagement Photos Matters
A lot of people just end up choosing downtown or a local park. I have shot these spots countless times and can still make those locations look unique. However, let’s get creative friends, we don’t have to default to a generic spot. Turn on those creative juices and start dreaming.
I don’t want your engagement photos to look like everyone else’s and neither do you!
Let’s go back to that dream you’re having in 30 years. The one where you are showing your engagement photos to your grandchildren. Is there a place that is a cornerstone of your relationship? Maybe the place where you met. Or the little cafe down the block where you had your first date. How special would it be to have that place captured on film?
Think out of the box and know that more than one spot is okay! Your story was built in so many different settings. Let’s capture as many as we can.
We drove up into the mountains, anticipating a scenic California drive, but found them barely visible. Despite the fog, we danced and ran around in the road, exploring the area and finding the beauty.
Green is one of Audrey’s favorite colors and these Malibu mountains were luscious and overflowing with green. We didn’t want to mis out on the chance to have these vibrant colors in their photos so we headed back to Sycamore Canyon when the sun was shining.
One of Audrey and David’s favorite things to do together is to watch the sunset at the beach. We chose El Matador beach, it was so dreamy! But once again, the clouds followed us to the water.
So, we headed to Leo Carillo State Park in the morning at sunrise to soak in all the sunshine.
So, Where Will You Take Engagement Photos?
Now it’s your turn. Go off and dream with your person. Walk down memory lane and find those spots that hold significance you want to hold onto forever, and those spots that you’ve dreamed of visiting and experiencing with your fiancé.
Then shoot me a message and let’s get together to tell your love story.
