One of the great things about planning an engagement photoshoot (sometimes referred to as a 'pre-wedding shoot') is that it's really an opportunity for you to celebrate you and your partner's love story in a way that is wholly and uniquely you.
When couples book with me, I always like to tell them they have carte blanche in terms of planning their ideas for the session. It can be classic, it can be goofy, it can have a theme - but it's always best when done in a location that feels special to them with a vision that feels like them and their story. To help make the session even more natural, I tend to take a docu-first approach - choosing to focus on prompts instead of poses and allowing you to naturally interact with each other while I document it. Ultimately I want my couples to look back on their engagement session and instantly feel transported back to that moment. I want them to feel giddy and remember the excitement of being newly engaged, and feel like their photos really reflect their relationship.
If you're planning your engagement session and wanting some interesting ideas - scroll below for some of my favorite unique engagement session ideas!
And if you're looking for an engagement photographer - hi, hello, it's me - I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out on my contact form, and have a look here for the full experience.
My planning process always includes a call and questionnaire to understand your vision, as well as a custom moodboard that ties all the ideas together so we can have an amazing, fun and memorable shoot.
1. At Home Vibes
I truly, truly love an at home engagement session because nothing feels more like you or can put you at ease than being in the comfort of your own home. And there are endless possibilities for how this could look - making breakfast together, watching your favorite movie, or even playing video games. In the session below, K&N chose to eat pizza in their apartment!
2.Your favorite shared hobbies
I love stories of couples who enjoy the same activities - rock climbing at a gym, seeing a concert, taking cooking classes. Why not do something out of the box - but fully you! - for your engagement photos, and treat the session as a 'date night'? For Maria and Eric, it was soccer! We headed over to the pier at Long Island City and they enjoyed kicking a soccer ball around as the sun set.
3. Include your pets!
If you have a fur baby, they should absolutely join us for the session! I love animals (I'm a cat mom myself) and will never say no to an opportunity to include your pets. Pro Tip: if you're bringing your dog to our session, ask a friend to join us so they can hang on to them while we take a few shots of just the two of you!
4. Meet at your date night spot.
Whether it was the place where you first met or a shop you frequent often, planning an engagement session in a restaurant, coffee shop - even a record store! - has the potential for the most unique engagement photos. Eric and Jess chose their favorite wine bar, Vin Sur Vingt, on the Upper West Side as their session location. If you call the spot ahead, most places are more than happy to have to take photos and often just ask for a social media tag. Easy peasy!
