Choosing an Ideal Location for Your Engagement Session
Location, location, location. It’s not the most important part of your engagement session, but it can have a big impact on how your images turn out. Choosing the right location for you as a couple may require some thought and compromise, but it will be worth it to get images you love.
Pick a place that suits you as a couple
When choosing a location for your engagement photos, think about your lifestyles and how you like to spend your time. Do you love exploring new places and going on adventures? Choose one of your favorite spots in town or even go hiking! Do you like to visit local restaurants or coffee shops? Order a latte and settle in. Maybe you’re a homebody and you feel most comfortable on your couch. Opt for a lifestyle session in your home then. Your engagement photos should encapsulate the love you feel for each other and what makes your relationship unique to the two of you.
When you choose to book Michelle Coombs Photography as your Orlando engagement photographer, I can help you choose a location for your engagement photos! Central Florida is an AMAZING place with gorgeous venues, parks, beaches and farmland. You can literally have any scenery you choose for your engagement photos!
Think about what you want to wear
If you’re not sure where to have your engagement session but you absolutely know what outfit you’re going to wear, then let your clothes guide you. For example, you wouldn’t wear a formal dress to the beach or a flowing gown in an urban environment. Consider where your clothes would fit in best, and if you’re unsure, talk to your photographer. They’re likely to have plenty of great locations in mind!
Some quick tips for your Florida engagement photos:
Beach engagement photos: Ladies, wear something light and flowy! The camera LOVES when the breeze and the flowy clothes work together 🙂 Guys, wear something light and flowy! Kidding!!!! A great pair of shorts and a polo is great! Engagement pictures at the beach tend to be more on the chill side and because of the calm setting, getting those candid, organic engagement shots are the icing on the cake!
Woodsy, parks, farmland, rustic engagement session photos: In my honest opinion, anything goes at these locations. I’ve seen engagement pictures of people in their jammies that looked amazing to people in formalwear that just stunned! Coordinating but not matching is key!
Urban and downtown engagement photos: First and foremost, we all know that you base your outfit around your shoes. I base all of my outfits around my flip flops because that’s all I wear. LOL (I despise wearing shoes and typically kick them off while shooting any session) But sometimes those beautiful downtown sessions will incur come serious steps added to those fit bits so choose your shoes wisely!
Draw inspiration from your love story
Think about the places that have been part of your relationship: where the two of you first met, the location of your first date, where you or your partner proposed. If you attended school together or met at a local event venue, consider incorporating this location into your engagement session. It’s a sentimental touch that reminds both of you of where it all started and how far you’ve come together.
Head to your hometown
Whether you both share a hometown or you’ve made your home in a new place together, the place your love story blossomed and grew can be the perfect spot for your engagement photos. Maybe you met in college and want to incorporate your alma mater into your session. Think about the places that matter most to you and how they can help you tell your love story.
If your hometown is in Orlando, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Winter Park or Tampa or any other Central Florida location, rest assured that you will find the most amazing location for your engagement photos!
Choose a favorite date spot
Do you have a favorite local restaurant or coffee shop? Maybe you have a museum you like to visit. If there’s a nearby spot that you love to enjoy together, it can be the perfect location for your engagement session. You’ll already feel comfortable in a familiar place, so you can focus on each other and worry less about the camera pointed at you.
Maybe you love spending time at one of the coffee shops downtown like Downtown Credo or enjoy the theme parks in the area. Those locations mean something to you and so should be reflected in your engagement photos.
Keep the time of day in mind
When it comes to photography, lighting makes all the difference in the world. If you have a sunset or golden hour shoot in mind, talk to your photographer about the best places to capture that specific type of lighting. And if you’re just not sure what time of day has the best light, I guarantee your photographer will know!
Plan for the season
If you want fall photos with changing leaves or spring photos with blossoming trees, do some research and find out where the best natural colors are in your area. And don’t forget to plan your outfits accordingly! Be sure to check the weather before your engagement session to know what clothes you need to wear, and don’t be afraid to bundle up if it promises to be cold out. Cozy photos can be very cute!
Visit your venue
If you’ve already chosen a wedding venue, it can be a romantic location for your engagement session. This is an especially good idea if your venue is picturesque or has a beautiful garden or outdoor area that you can walk through. You can even recreate some of your engagement photos on your wedding day!
