NORTHERN UTAH WEDDING AND ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | NORTH SHORE OAHU HAWAII COUPLES BEACH ENGAGEMENT DESTINATION SESSION
You are likely very familiar with the typical, run-of-the-mill type of photo shoot. Scour your closet, obsess over recreating Pinterest poses, show up for photos, maybe fight on the way about cooperation from your partner, and “get through it” as painlessly as possible and hope that you got ”at least one good one”. This is all too commonplace when it comes to expectations for having your photos taken, but it doesn’t have to be. You CAN achieve beautiful, story-telling photos while enjoying yourself. Let me say that again. You can enjoy your session AND leave with not just some smile and cheese photos that make you slightly cringe, but with images that truly depict your connection. Tangible, raw, and full of real emotion. How? Here’s 4 ways to make your engagement or elopement an experience:
- 1. Don’t try to make your photo session larger than life. I mean, don’t try to stage some too-formal outfits and look for an outcome that doesn’t reflect your real life. You’ll end up feeling stiff and inauthentic. Instead, pull outfits that you are truly comfortable in, what you would gravitate to for a date night, or makes you feel comfy for a night snuggling in. I promise that by mindfully choosing a wardrobe that feels like YOU, you’re taking a big step towards turning your session into an authentic representation of you and keep the focus on your connection to each other.
- 2. Use props, but only when they help tell your story. We’re past dragging a couch into a field (I mean, I remember those days, and well, it was an odd time for all of us- moving living rooms outdoors). Think of something that can double for an activity. A surfboard, your motorbike, a pair of beach cruisers to take to a market, etc. incorporating a relevant prop can elevate your photos and take some pressure off of you to “perform”. You can enjoy doing something together, that again, emphasizes your bond and feels unique and real, to you. THAT is the secret sauce to loving your photos. Not your hair and make up or designer clothing. Feeling comfortable and authentic and considering me to be there to capture you as you are, not try to create something that isn’t real.
- 3. Plan an activity. This one builds on tip #2 for your engagement or elopement photos, but it is important enough for its’ own bullet point space. This is a fool-proof approach to capturing your essence, to have something to do during your session besides stand and smile. When you are engaged with cooking in the kitchen, sharing a beer on the patio, or taking a walking tour of your local hot spots. Taking the lead with something you truly enjoy doing, will help you to relax for your photo session. You’ll enjoy yourselves together because, well, you’re simply spending time together, and I’m simply documenting it. Whether its on horseback, or splashing on the beach, you will forget there is anyone else there, but the two of you, and you images will reflect a relaxed, raw, real version of yourselves that will make you smile so big you’ll WANT to hang it in your home to remember.
- 4. Remember why you’re here- to celebrate your love. So take the pressure off, lean into the celebration of your love, and enjoy being in the moment together! If you aren’t wildly excited for your photos yet, go back through these tips and I promise, it will transform your session into an experience you’ll treasure in itself. This is such a special time where you get to press pause on everything else in life and just be together. So, just be. And I will show you how special it is to be around a love like yours.
Whether you’re looking to elope and want to add something to your day to make it feel more “you”, or planning your engagement session somewhere exotic, I’m here to help you plan & prep to have the most magical time together! I love to travel, so whether you’re looking at an exotic location like Hawaii or are local to Utah like me, just let me grab my gear and I’ll meet you at the beach or on your end of the continent. Let’s do this, and make your photography session a memory to last.
