Creative Engagement Photo Ideas

So you and your honey have just gotten engaged and you want awesome photos.  But how do you decide where to take them?

You can always go for a cool location that you both enjoy.  Whether this is a picturesque setting or a place that’s special to you, these kind of photos are what most couples opt for.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this type of approach.

However, my favorite shoots are always ones that tell a story about the couple.  This doesn’t mean it’s the entire story, but it should show off some aspect of what makes you two unique.   It doesn’t need to be overly complicated–if your first date or proposal happened at a picnic, that is something simple that works wonderfully as a setting.  This type of shoot does require a bit more planning on your part and possibly on the side of the photographer, but the results are absolutely worth it.

To begin, make a list of things you enjoy together.  Maybe you love to ice skate or go fishing together. Dancing, bowling, boating, bicycling, cooking, playing board games…whatever it is, put it down (even it sounds totally unrealistic as a photo backdrop).  If you are aspiring astronauts and want shots on the moon–put it down anyway!

Next, make sure to add how you met or where you had great dates.  Maybe your first date was at a movie theater and you went for burgers and a shake beforehand.   Maybe you spent a warm summer night stargazing and talking all the way through the morning.  In addition to helping you brainstorm ideas, it will be fun to reminisce about some of these moments you’ve shared.

After you’ve jotted down a few ideas, it’s time to settle on the best one and get creative on how to make it work.  Here is where the only thing stopping you is your imagination.  Remember that outlandish moon idea? Maybe a friend or your photographer knows about Scott Carpenter Park in Boulder; its play spaceship that would be great for photos.  Perhaps an empty fishbowl is all you need for a makeshift space helmet, another detail in your fun and whimsical shoot.

If all of this sounds silly and playful, you should know that there isn’t anything wrong with that. After all, if your relationship is filled with silly, playful moments, this is an opportune moment to share that feeling with your friends and family.

As you start to really think about the practical side of all your ideas–will the skating rink allow you to come in for photos; will the movie theater manager allow you to come in early on a Friday to get some shots all to your lonesome in that big, dark theater– your list will begin to narrow and you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly the kind of shoot you want to have.

If you get stuck, brainstorming with your photographer can be a good idea too.  They may know the perfect setting for your session or may even have been saving one in mind for just such an occasion. They can also help handle any logistics, like calling up the theater manager and getting the proper clearances.

The awesome photos above are by James Moes and the ones below were taken by my company, Nina Barry Photography.

The photos below are from a collaborative shoot I did with Indie Bliss’ Cori Cook Floral Design, who did all the fantastic florals you see.  We tried to not overthink anything and make this particular picnic shoot as fun as possible.  Even thought these are technically not “engagement” photos, you can easily picture a cute guy having a fabulous picnic with Laura in these, right?

There are a ton more photos from this shoot over on my blog.

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