7 Steps To Vows That Wow!
The Six-Hour Elopement Is Here To Stay
The Most Romantic Beach Engagement!
I love it when a groom contacts me to plan the engagement session. It is very sweet and endearing when they’re willing to get involved and be just as excited as the soon-to-be bride. Steven contacted me, and he had a general idea and a few pictures of what he was looking for regarding the location and timing. He wanted guidance on the timing and what to wear and was interested in my ideas for them. His original idea was Baker Beach because he’d seen a photograph, and many people “think” they want to go to that beach. However, a few other beaches nearby are actually a little better for what we wanted to do. I sent him photographs of a few of my favorite locations, and he chose Marshall Beach as his spot.
How should you decide where to have your engagement photography session? I will give you a few ideas to inspire your brain because if you’re reading my blog, I bet you’re thinking about your planning.
Favorite neighborhood haunts. Do you have a favorite vintage movie theater, retro bookstore, or cozy coffee shop where everybody knows your name and all you have to do is murmur “We’ll have the usual” as you head over to “your table”? That’s a no-brainer as a possible photography backdrop.
Your next couple’s weekend away. Surprise proposals and engagement sessions fit hand in hand with someplace romantic enough that you’ve already planned an intimate weekend away together. Whether it’s warm sandy beaches, a quaint small town, the splendor of national parks, or the glamour of a big city, you’ve got all the makings of the perfect outdoor backdrop for your photographer to wow you with pictures of the two of you. I’m based in San Francisco, and as a prominent tourist destination, I often get requests from couples from out of town for their engagement moon!
The place where you had your first date. (Or where you met each other.) Nothing stirs up emotion as much as revisiting the past and the very place where your love story began to unfold. Engagement photographs are used for many purposes. One is to keep this memory forever, another is to share with friends and family, or maybe use the pictures on save the date cards for your wedding. By choosing to have your session in this special place, you’re inviting everyone to see the book’s first chapter!
Steven and Miriam wanted a location within a few hours’ driving distance from their home, a pretty beach at sunset, and nice restaurants where they could book a romantic dinner afterward. San Francisco checked off all their boxes, so we planned their time with us.
I gave them the general colors that work best, and they came up with the perfect outfits that complimented their skin tones and didn’t detract from the moment.
I wanted to set a stage for them, bring my votive candles, and light up the “Marry Me” sign. They’d decided to get married during a chill conversation, so they hadn’t had that big surprise “will you marry me” moment. We decided it would be fun to recreate it so that they could experience it after all.
Our half-mile hike down to the beach with all the gear was more than I could do alone, and Amelia came to help me. I have to credit her for the beautiful heart set up as the sun sank fast. Props are an excellent way to add a little wow factor to your couple’s photography session. Still, another second set of hands is the best way to ensure your photographer can focus on you and have everything perfectly set up and broken down without costing you precious sunlight. This was an excellent lesson for me when testing out these props, and I now know that an assistant will always need to be included, and they’re well worth the extra fee.
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Everyone had an exhilarating time, and as Steven, Miriam, Amelia, and I headed the half-mile back up to the parking lot, we agreed it was worth the work and the vertical climb back up. They were thrilled with their images, and I know they feel more confident posing for their June 12 wedding pictures since they’ve had this trial run.
Please reach out if you’d like to inquire about your own engagement or surprise proposal session.
