5 ways to make your engagement photos unique
Getting your engagement photos taken shouldn’t just be another box to check in the never ending list of wedding planning to-dos. Yes, they’re great for save the dates, and as a way to get to know your wedding photographer. But they can be so much more than that. Engagement photos can be a time for you two to celebrate this milestone in your lives, commemorate your relationship, and get excited for the future!
Creative ways to make your engagement photos special
So how can you really take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime moment and make your engagement photos unique and special to your relationship? Consider these 5 simple ideas to help you make your photos stand out and showcase your love story!
1. Bring a pet
Do you and your partner have a fur baby? Incorporate them into your photos! This could mean choosing a dog-friendly location so you can bring your pups or taking your photos inside your home so you can include your cat (bird, lizard, or any other cute little creature you may own). By incorporating your pet into your photos, you’re capturing the full picture of your relationship and the love you two share.
Plus they can double as family photos!
2. Take them at a spot that’s special to your relationship
Do you two have a special place that means something to your relationship? This could be the place where you got engaged, went on your first date, said I love you for the first time, or watch the sunset every weekend. By taking your photos in this meaningful place, you’re capturing not only your love and this life milestone, but commemorating where you shared a special moment together.
While taking photos at Yosemite or Mount Rainer or Joshua Tree are extremely popular and beautiful, taking your photos in a place that has meaning can be just as stunning and so unique!
Bonus: you’ll be in a familiar location, so if you’re extremely uncomfortable in front of a camera, this can help a little with those nerves.
3. Bring props that are important to your relationship or an inside joke
Do you and your boo have a favorite drink, game, food, movie, or anything else you can think of? Bring it! Whether you two like to spend your evenings building puzzles or cooking together, or you share a love of visiting Disneyland or grabbing a beer at your favorite local brewery, you can incorporate this element of your relationship into your photos. I’ve had couples bring Mickey Mouse ears, matching masks, their favorite beer, and pears!
No idea is too silly! If it means something to you two, then you should absolutely include it in your engagement photos.
4. Emphasize your style
Do you and your love have a distinct style? Maybe you follow the latest fashion or you own a pair of shoes that are just so you. Wear it! While I recommend wearing soft patterns and neutral colors (they tend to photograph better and don’t distract from you two), if you’re the kind of person who likes bold patterns and bright colors, you should wear those instead. The most important thing is to genuinely reflect your personalities and the love you share—never feel forced to wear what you think everyone else is wearing in their photos. Just be you!
5. Do an activity you both love
Do you and your partner have an activity you love doing together? This could be hiking, cooking, playing tennis, walking on the beach, golfing on the weekends, going for bike rides around your neighborhood, you name it! If you two have bonded over an activity that you both love, consider doing that during your engagement photos. This will make them incredibly unique and special to you and your relationship. Plus it’ll help you two relax and forget that there’s a camera there and the photos will be a ton of fun to take!
Think outside the box
Don’t feel pressured to take the photos that you see everyone else taking. You don’t have to travel to Seattle or the Oregon Coast for beautiful mountain photos or to Joshua Tree for those desert neutrals—yes, they’re stunning. But if that doesn’t feel like you, don’t do it! You can take your engagement photos in your living room or at your favorite brewery if that feels more like your relationship!
My advice: brainstorm with your love about the things you love! Whether it’s your fur baby, a food, an aesthetic, or an activity, you can absolutely incorporate that element into your engagement session so that it truly feels like you two.
