I know a lot of you out there right now are trying to come up with great ideas for engagement photography inspiration.  I’ve come to realize that the best photography comes not necessarily from the locations that you are shooting in, but how natural you can behave in those situations.

being natural is the key.

So how can you be “natural” while someone has a camera in your face?  super awkward… i know what you’re thinking. and it is a little awkward, especially if you’re not familiar with the photographer, or if this is the first time being photographed since… well… your senior pictures.

Pick a location you can actively DO SOMETHING.

how about an apple orchard where you and your fiance can pick apples?

a candy shop where you can dip your own carmel apples, roll your own taffy, and have fun eating the rock candy and lollypops

go to a library where you can hang out in the book stacks, or cuddle up with your favorite novel that the two of you fell in love over

a carnival (oh imagine the nights at light!!!!  it’s a photographer’s eye candy) where we can ride the rides and eat cotton candy

ride a row boat out onto the lake with a dozen giant balloons trailing behind

a picknick with a red checkered blanket and a basket full of goodies (think glass coke bottles with straws peaking out the top)

highschool sweethearts? maybe the playground and inside the classroom are places choc-full of memories.

All of these suggestions (and there are endless ones if you brainstorm!) help loosen you up so your photography wont look posed (aka senior pictures) and you wont even realize you’re being photographed. so many people have told me that the wedding day photography is SO EASY, that they didn’t even realize i was there.  (it’s because they had tasks to do, and weren’t paying attention. don’t worry, i was actually there).  the engagement sessions were the toughies because they KNEW they were being photographed, and give me a break…. WHO is really natural in front of the camera by instinct?  not me, i’ll tell you that much.

So if you try to make engagement sessions more like the wedding day by giving yourselves activities to pay attention to rather than the camera lens, it will not only be more fun for you, but we will get a truck load of natural, artistic, amazing shots that you didn’t even realize were being taken at the time.  Don’t worry, we will do a few posed shots, but i think you’ll agree that you’ll be more comfortable and happy with having an activity planned!

Think back on your relationship.  what was your first date? when did you fall in love? was there a favorite vacation you took together? are you inside people or outdoorsy? is there a time that you spent with your sig other that sticks out in your memory?  or maybe there is something youve always WANTED to do that you haven’t (for me it’s the apple orchard).

Step out of your box of locations and imagine a place where there is something to do to help distract you and your fiance from what’s actually happening (the engagement shoot itself).

happy hunting!