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Engagement Photo Shoot Ideas

Author: The Printique Team

Colby Stopa/flickr

Colby Stopa/flickr

Engagement photos should be as unique as the relationships they capture.
Working with a setting that’s already special to you — be it your favorite outdoor spot or a local restaurant — is just one way to create a vibrant and romantic photograph that encapsulates your personality as a newly engaged couple.
Not only should you love the setting of your photo, but you should have some fun at the shoot, too! Let these photos inspire you as you select the place that will help you take home some timeless and genuine photographs.

The Outdoor Setting

Wendy Nelson/flickr

Wendy Nelson/flickr

This is an especially exciting photo, because it makes great use of a couple’s natural ease with each other. Laughing and smiling together, the bride and groom to-be could be on a casual walk that onlookers have been lucky enough to stumble upon.
Though the photo focuses on the couples’ relationship, their trust in one another is accented by a gorgeous natural landscape — the simple backdrop doesn’t distract from the couple, but actually highlights their special moment.
The photographer can make use of specific times of day and the unique lighting each provides, ideally backlighting the scene with a warm, golden tone. The lighthearted and warm vibe generated by the subjects as well as the natural setting make for an unparalleled image.

Trains!

John Hope/flickr

John Hope/flickr

Engagement photos tell the world that you’re starting a new journey together, no matter where your jumping off point is. There’s no better way to say as much than with the railroad — this means train stations, or even posing beside a beautiful old-fashioned car like this one.
The warm colors in the shot reflect the vibrancy of the couple’s adventures to come, and their optimism is infectious. Meanwhile, the blurred and vintage look remind you that couples have to hold on to the past even as they move forward together.
This kind of attention to detail makes an already great engagement photo wholly unforgettable.

Local Landmark

Geoff Livingston/flickr

Geoff Livingston/flickr

You want to share your engagement with the community you care about and with the people who care about you. What better way to do this than to stage your photo by a local landmark that your friends know and love?
In this photo, the couple stands by the DC Tidal Basin — this connects them with the Washington tradition of couples having their photo taken here in time for the cherry blossoms, and it clearly carries a special significance for them. 
The shot is excellently composed: you’d expect the couple to be in the center, but, instead, the eye curves along with the cherry blossom to find them on the right. Amazingly, this makes the impeccably dressed pair more of a focus than if they were center-stage.

Out & About in Town

John Hope/flickr

John Hope/flickr

This photo combines the best of two worlds — a happy couple in an outdoor yet urban scene that evokes energy and culture. The classic shot of a winding road helps to represent the journey on which the couple is about to embark, with the different shops representing the choices they face. Meanwhile, the skyscraper in the background ads an futuristic touch to a classically British scene.
This image is a great source of inspiration for how you can use your city to spice up your photo shoot; remember to choose a place that holds some sort of meaning to both of you. But that said, keep the focus on the most important part of the composition: the two of you, of course!

On the Water

Rodney Martin/flickr

Rodney Martin/flickr

This is another great example of how you can maximize the potential of an outdoor setting for your photos, with the couple’s romance carefully set against the greens of the environment and the glint of the water. The couple is so relaxed that their kiss above the calm water makes the viewer want to celebrate with them.
Unlike the other photos in this post, this picture captures the couple in an informal moment, pants rolled up, making for a unique vibe to these engagement shots. It takes a lot of confidence to go unscripted for such an important photo, but this makes it feel far more relaxed and natural. If you can pull this look off, definitely try it for yourself!

Share Your Love

Although weddings are, of course, about the couple, your engagement photo is the perfect way to invite others to celebrate your happiness and that special moment! And your unique history as a duo offers perfect opportunities to create images that you’ll treasure forever.
Printique can take your favorite settings and make them shine in new ways, maximizing the light, color, and detail of your favorite spots and shots! Whether you want to frame these photos for your home or send them out to friends and family, we’ll help you fall in love with your photo shoot and the images that come out of it.