Linda + Brad: Real Engagement Session

Today, I'm featuring a real engagement session. What prompted me to share this session, wasn't that there was a huge amount of DIY ideas for an engagement session, or simply that Linda and Brad are adorable. But, more so that the session is a perfect illustration of how sometimes less is more and at the end of the day all the little details that go into a wedding aren't as important as the relationship between you and your partner. Plan an engagement photography session that centers around places you love and have fun with your future husband or wife! Thank you so much to Linda for sharing your story with us! Congratulations to you and Brad! From Linda: Brad and I met almost seven years ago when we both worked at a Chicago Loop restaurant. Funny enough, our first encounter was nothing like love at first sight. We saw the bold, stubborn, loud characteristics in one another right off the bat. But slowly, through working together and living in this big city we came to be friends and find feelings beneath that friendship. Though we had moved away from Chicago, we returned so our friend and incredible photographer, Blythe (http://blythecollins.blogspot.com/), could run our photo shoot. She knew me very well and us as a couple, so we asked her to suggest sites which she thought would have good character for a shoot. Since Chicago was woven into the fabric of our meeting and courtship, if you can call it that (though we're not very old school), we wanted it to be evident in the photos. We even wanted to feel it as we spent the afternoon together. Blythe took us to an alley which had cobblestone street pieces and a huge iron garage door. It was, symbolically, also located near the seminary where I studied for my Master's degree (Moody Bible Institute). Cool! We shot a series beneath the Brown Line train tracks, which I used to ride to visit Brad at his apartment. So Chicago. And we finished at a quirky used book store in Old Town called Open Books which is vibrant, colorful, and had a huge stuffed gorilla, by chance. Brad and I, about 3 years before we decided to get married, talked seriously about getting married (and decided not to). But we donated to a gorilla relief fund and "adopted" a gorilla. Her name was Segasira. It was the first unified thing we did together. And we were a couple who never lived together before marriage, so our gorilla daughter, Segasira, was this unity symbol we had. Somehow, I think it was always an indicator that we were meant for one another. Brad and I were married on October 8, 2011 in Palos Park, IL, just outside Chicago on a stableground. We had a Western themed wedding and processed into our ceremony on horseback, wearing cowboy boots and (Brad) a holstered gun and hat. It was such fun. Since being married, I've learned that Brad doesn't mind eating his food lukewarm. I always love my food to be piping hot, right out of the oven. But, Brad is never in a rush to get down to business at dinner. I can't believe I never knew! Share your story with us here!

Engagement Session Ideas for Every Season

A huge thank you to Carolyn Scott, the talented Raleigh wedding photographer, for sharing this feature with us!

We wish you an amazing new year!

Engagement Session Ideas by Carolyn Scott


(photographs by Carolyn Scott)

Lots of clients approach me between their late October engagement and their spring wedding and lament the woes of having to take engagement pictures in the winter. I’m here to tell you that it’s not so bad! You can definitely pick a spot and have engagement session pictures taken, but you can also plan an activity to base your photos around more candid looks. Here are engagement session location/recreation ideas for every season. ☺

Spring:

a. Flowers are in bloom! Why not take a walk to your local park or arboretum?

b. Get your pup out of the house and walk him around town. There’s nothing cuter than dogs in engagement session pictures.

c. Have a garden? Travel with your honey to the local plant shop and bring your photographer to document you picking out the flowers. Then head back home to plant them (with your photog in tow) for some great shots!

d. Have a spring rainy day session by visiting a local park or city, bringing umbrellas and boots in tow.

e. Have a friend with old-time bikes? Take a ride around your ‘hood’ or local bike trail and bring your photographer along to document the action!

Summer:

a. Hit the beach, pool, or lake! Bring an old-time bathing suit, a few towels, some old fashion Cokes and have yourself a fun photo shoot with tons of candid images as you and your sweetheart splash around.

b. Have a cool hobby like boating or horseback riding? Take this sunny and warm opportunity to bring your photographer with you as you and your fiancé pursue your favorite activity.

c. Walk down to your local milkshake or ice cream shop and have a fun, summery engagement session.

d. Plan a fun camping themed engagement session by dragging out your old tent into the woods and setting it up! This gives a fun background and context for your photog to work with.

e. Have a day in the city with your sweetheart! Make sure to stop by some fountains or fun city water installations for fun summer shots!

Fall:

a. Hit up a park as the leaves are changing for a color background to your pictures!

b. Like pumpkins? Travel to the local pumpkin patch and have your photographer document the trip and the subsequent carving of the pumpkins!

c. Have a Halloween or fall themed engagement session by making a deal with a local farmer who has a nice corn field.

d. Spend the day at a winery and pack up your photographer to document the trip and take pictures of you and your fiancé in the hills.

e. Plan a trip to the zoo or aquarium with your photographer in tow to capture the day!

Winter:

a. Ice-skating never gets old this time of year and makes for nice outdoor portraits!

b. Stay home! What better place to document your life and love for each other than hanging around the house? Bake cookies or play a game for fun candid ideas in addition to portraits around your house.

c. Movie buffs? Plan a trip to a local theater and take some pictures inside.

d. Plan a date night to a funky restaurant you frequent and have your photog tag along!

e. Go skiing, tubing, or simply build a snowman in your yard on particularly snowy days. This provides for winter scenery as well as great interaction between you and your fiancé.

***NOTE: Make sure you ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION before going to any business to take pictures. Call ahead and tell them your plans to make sure they’ll allow the photographs. More than likely, they’ll be happy to help out, but occasionally they’re not… and that’s an awkward situation. So make sure you call ahead and ask!