Four Tips for a Stunning Engagement Session

Tips and Advice

A newly engaged North Dakota couple share a kiss at golden hour during an engagement photoshoot on their farm.

So, you’re recently engaged and ready to photograph the occasion to use for save the dates and future family photo albums?  Congratulations!! This is such an exciting time and engagement sessions are some of my favorites to shoot.  Every couple has a story to tell, and there are a few things to consider when scheduling your session to tailor it to you as a couple to make it personal and over-the-top special!

A collage of photos depict a newly engaged North Dakota couple's golden hour engagement session on a family farm.  The couple share a smile on a lace blanket and walk hand in hand out of their family barn.

  1. Consider a Lifestyle Session

What do you two enjoy doing as a couple?  Do you share a hobby or have a standing date night at your favorite local restaurant?  Consider incorporating these things into your session to add even more romance to an already romantic shoot.  Lifestyle sessions are designed to meet you where you are and are fantastic if you’re looking more for candid, authentic, maybe even documentary style photos completely unlike engagement photos of the past.

An engaged couple wearing coordinating black outfits pose for engagement photos on a family farm near Williston.

2. Select a Meaningful Location

Where did the proposal take place?  Where did you meet?  Do you already share a home?  These are questions to ask yourselves when planning your photoshoot and remember that in-home sessions are incredible options as well.  Picture your future together.  Are you looking forward to dancing in the kitchen together when your future (or current) children are tucked into their beds for the evening? Whether you’re the type of couple who opts for a cozy night in, wrapped in your favorite throw watching movies together on a lazy Sunday or you prefer to be out and about adventuring together, a picture is worth a thousand words and it should convey your story.
With the photos you see in this post, Gwen & Casey opted to have their shoot on his family’s land and even included his Grandmother’s Camaro that he’s admired since he was a child. What started as an interesting concept became a unique and deeply personal session celebrating the start of the next chapter of their relationship while working in his family’s legacy. (Fun side note- Casey’s grandmother bought that beautiful car in 1974 and her payment was $27 a month. Can you even believe that?!)

Leaning against a red 1974 Chevy Camaro, a North Dakota couple embrace during their golden hour engagement session with Williston based engagement photographer, Kellie Rochelle Photography.

3. Make a Date of It

Photo sessions don’t have to be and shouldn’t be stressful!  Make this something you will both enjoy by planning a date together and consider me a fly on the wall with my camera.  Locations are nearly limitless, and I’m happy to accommodate just about every idea my clients have to give you the session of your dreams.  Here’s a fun idea: plan a picnic dinner at a spot that is meaningful to the two of you.  Enjoy a gorgeous sunset and  a glass of  champagne, dance in the headlights, and have a truly unique gallery to show for it.

Leaning against a 1974 Chevy Camaro, a newly engaged North Dakota couple cheers to their engagement during an outdoor evening photoshoot.

4. Choosing a Wardrobe

If you’ve already begun planning the big day and plan to use your engagement photos either as save the dates or to display at your wedding reception, choosing pieces that incorporate your wedding colors can be a great added touch.  Keep the background in mind as well as the weather.  When shooting outdoors, comfort is key so that discomfort doesn’t come across in photos.  Choose pieces that feel like the two of you and consider the vibe you want to achieve, and if you need some additional tips, I’ve got a blog post to help!

An engaged couple wearing black and jeans embrace and share a kiss leaning against a John Deer tractor on the family farm belonging to the soon-to-be groom during a North Dakota farm engagement session.

A young woman showcases her new diamond engagement ring during a North Dakota engagement session at golden hour on her fiance's family farm.

I value my clients’ stories and the emotions behind them. My goal is to create heirloom quality photos for you to display in your home and show future generations when the time comes. Ready to tell your love story? You can start the process here for an engagement session of your own, and if you’re looking for more inspiration from locations to wardrobes, follow me on Pinterest!


If you liked this post, you might like these:

The Perks of In-Home Sessions

The Best Time to Book Your Maternity Session


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