“Where should we do our engagement session?”
This may be one of my most asked questions I get! Truth is, there are SO many options that it can be totally overwhelming. Not to mention we are inundated with photos of magazine-worthy shoots of models in magical locations – woof. While it is great to take inspiration from what you see online, my hope is to get rid of the “what looks good on Pinterest” mindset & re-focus on what your love looks like. That’s what we should be capturing!
I love getting to take portraits on your wedding day, but they can be rushed and you can be distracted. Your engagement session is your time to focus on each other, doing something you love, or enjoying a place you adore. This is our chance to go somewhere unique to you, and take some awesome pictures while we’re at it!
Why Engagement Sessions Are Important
I have to start off first with why engagement sessions are important in the first place.
I love getting to do engagement sessions with my couples because I truly believe that they are a VITAL part of the entire process. During your engagement session, you’ll have the chance to get to know me, experience how I shoot, and learn how I handle posing and lighting. This session will make a HUGE impact on how the wedding day flows. I’ll arrive on your wedding day already knowing how you two interact, what your best poses are and how to photograph you in a genuine way! You will feel like such a pro on your big day because of the great practice you had during your engagement session.
When Kevin and I took engagement pictures I had no idea what I was doing. And I’m a photographer! This is what I do for a living! I honestly couldn’t think of how to hug or kiss him in a (in my mind) not awkward way. Hilarious.
I want you to feel confident on your wedding day. So many of my couples say “Oh, we’re not photogenic” or “we’re really bad in front of a camera”. I just giggle to myself. The truth is, you are perfect. And wonderful. And sometimes those awkward giggles make the best, most authentic photos. The exact kinds of photos I, and my clients, love!
And I’m here to prove you wrong! You are way better at this than you think. Seriously. You guys just get to love on each other for a couple hours and HAVE FUN. And your wedding day is a total breeze, because you trust me, and you trust the process. Wins all around.
5 Tips for Choosing Your Engagement Session Location
So with all that said about how important even doing an engagement session is, you still have to decide where to do it! So, I’ve put together my 5 tips to help you brainstorm your engagement session location! Let me be first to admit, it is totally legit & awesome if you want to do your session at a location simply because it is beautiful. I love that! But I just want to encourage you to think a little deeper about capturing your love at this moment in your relationship and lock in on that. I want to tell the story of you two as a couple, and your engagement session location can be a big piece of that puzzle! 
1. Personal Meaning
Jamie & Phil grew up just a few houses away from each other on this gorgeous lake just south of Seattle. During our session, Jamie reminisced about swimming over to Phil’s house’s dock & goofing around with friends at the park. It wasn’t until college when they finally connected, however, at a mutual friend’s going away party. Jamie & Phil decided they wanted to do their engagement session on this very lake where they have so many memories. After a dreamy sunset out in the canoe (with the most stunning view of Mount Rainier), Jamie & Phil jumped into the water! We roasted s’mores & toasted beers, and all-in-all had one of the best nights.
Now, this is a pretty unique “how we met” story – but the point of this example is to show how Jamie & Phil created their engagement session vision around their shared history of life on the lake. We concluded the evening with something they would normally do together on a summer evening, and I think it is so special to have beautiful photographs of those moments.
Another example of some personal engagement session inspiration is the first photo in this post of Elly & JJ. Elly grew up on Bainbridge Island and has spent a lot of time crossing the Sound on a ferry. When she suggested doing their session on this route – I immediately said yes! Elly easily guided us around the familiar ferry, and we took some truly priceless & beautiful photos.
So many places can have personal meaning to you two as a couple. Whether that is around the UW Campus, in your home, or where you got engaged, the sky is the limit!
2. Explore Somewhere New
Erica & Ryan moved to Seattle from Washington DC about a year ago & wanted to go somewhere totally unique and new to them for their engagement session. Something that wasn’t too classic PNW, but with a little twist. They also loved the idea of going wine tasting at Cave B before we started shooting! We landed on the Columbia River Gorge and the vineyard at Cave B Resort. Erica & Ryan took the opportunity of their session to explore somewhere new together and had a total blast. Having new adventures together is a great way to celebrate this stage of your relationship, and again, such a beautiful thing to get to photograph!
3. Favorite Hobbies
Kat & Paul love to go on adventures together – so something totally outside of the box, like hiking & backpacking in the North Cascades, was totally up their alley. These two love the outdoors more than anything, so it’s hard to imagine having done their engagement session anywhere besides the mountains! Kevin and I love camping together too, but it’s not usually an activity where you have (or want to have, ahem, no showers!) a professional photographer with you along for the ride. But how incredible of an opportunity is it to create that atmosphere (with freshly washed hair, no less!) for your engagement photos!? I loved feeling like I was able to capture them in their natural element (no pun intended).
4. Date Night
Karen & Jarrett love their neighborhood in Seattle and wanted to re-live some of their first date spots during their engagement session! They felt so comfortable strolling around their stomping grounds reminiscing about their budding relationship. Karen and Jarrett had their first, second and third dates at this ice cream shop, and the LOVE window display couldn’t have been more perfect!
Do you & your love like to go get a swanky cocktail on the weekend? Or take your pup to the local dog park? Any & all of the above are great ideas and can make for great photos! Your engagement session is a great excuse to get a little extra dressed up for date night!
5. Opposite of Your Wedding Vibe
Montana & Zach got married at a garden in the country, so they wanted an urban vibe for their engagement session to add a little variety to the photos framed around their house! It’s fun to mix it up and go somewhere opposite of your wedding venue. If you decide to get an album made from your engagement photos for your guest book, that will add an extra layer of interest & contrast for your guests to enjoy on your big day! This also applies for time of year. Some people ask if it’s weird to do engagement photos in the snow if they’re having a summer wedding. I say, why not?! Let’s do something different & enjoy the seasons. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to choosing your location or time of year!
Christina & Marc wanted to embrace their alma mater where they met! 
Kassie & Eric enjoyed cuddling up at home with their fur-babies!
I’m always down to discuss flying to a different city, state, or even COUNTRY for your engagement session! Let’s go on an adventure!
Above: Sarah & Andy in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Below: Naomi & Renan in Paris, France
