Photographer’s Perspective: Engagement Session Locations

Photography Tips

photographers-perspective2

The sky is the limit when it comes to choosing engagement session locations. You can browse Pinterest all day, but when it comes to actually making a decision, it can be hard to determine which location is the best fit. When in doubt, ask yourself the following questions:

Do you want an Urban or Outdoorsy feel? My style of photography is best reflected in situations where there is an open field/plenty of sunshine in the background. That’s how I achieve the “sunset glow” look in my photos! You may notice on my blog that I rarely shoot in urban settings. I’m happy to do so as long as we make sure to schedule some sunset photos in a more natural area as well. An urban setting tends to have a more formal atmosphere. Outfits are a little dressier, and locations can include city skylines and tall buildings. On the other hand, an outdoorsy photo session tends to be more relaxed. These sessions take place in a field, state park, ranch, etc. There is also a greater chance of getting a beautiful sunset in the background. Plus, tall grass, flowers, and picnic blankets look AMAZING in photos!
When is your wedding? This question is a toss-up. Some couples prefer to take their engagement photos in outfits that will “make sense” when they are on display at their wedding. For example, you may not want to display photos of you and your fiance bundled up in scarves and gloves if you are having a summer wedding. This just depends on your personal preference! Some couples love having winter engagement photos and summer wedding photos just to get some variety in their images. It is also helpful to think about whether or not you will be sending out Save the Dates using your engagement images. Here is a helpful link from the Knot about when to send these out.
What season is it? Some settings work better depending on which season it is. For example, I’ve taken photos in a vineyard in August, and everything was in bloom. However, if I were to go in February, there would be nothing but dead vines. Same goes for flower gardens. It’s important to make sure everything is in bloom during whatever season it is. Additionally, the season will affect the outfits you wear. My husband, Alex, and I both agreed that we like wearing winter clothes, i.e. sweaters or flannels, a lot more than summer clothes. We planned our engagement session for October so we could dress accordingly. If you want to take photos near a body of water, you will want to wait until spring or summer so you can wear a sundress and walk around barefoot outside.
Are you comfortable changing in the car? You might be confused by this question, but it is definitely a small detail you need to think about. I always warn couples that they will need to change in their cars when we are taking photos at a field. There are no bathrooms or changing areas for you out in the wild! This usually works out well because we can all take what I like to call an “AC break” whenever a change of clothes is necessary.
Do you mind having an audience? There are some really beautiful public locations, like a college campus. If you think you will feel awkward interacting in front of the camera with people walking by, you may want to reconsider taking photos on campus. People may yell “Congratulations!” at you when you kiss your fiance, or you might have a campus tour stare at you.
Do you want to play it safe or take a risk? Taking a risk includes driving to a different city for your photos, or coming up with an idea that has never been done before. You can either base your decision off of which locations are MY favorite, or you can do some research to find a spot that is YOUR favorite. I have always wanted to take photos in the snow, on a beach, and in the mountains. I would do a happy dance at any of those engagement session locations!
Do you have access to any special places? Before you choose a location, think about whether you or your fiance have access to any unique places. Do you have a ranch with horses, a beach house, a boat, etc.? You might have access to the perfect location or prop and not even realize it!
Do you want to maximize your shooting time or get more variety? I usually recommend a max of 2 locations for an engagement session. Switching up the backdrop can give you more variety in your images, but it also means we will have to allocate some “drive time” into your session. If we stay in one location, you can usually wear up to 3 outfits instead of just 2. (Sidenote for all of you ladies who know your fiance like the back of your hand: I have noticed that travel time in the middle of a session can make it harder for your guy to snap back into “picture taking mode.” If you think it will take a while for your fiance to warm up to the camera, then we don’t want to make him start over again at location #2!)