Your Engagement Session Location

Finding The Perfect Location For Your Engagement Photography Session

 

The first question all our couples ask after they have confirmed a date and time for their engagement photography session is where should they have their session. The location is important to the session, but the spots we find that have the best light is what makes the session. Having a great location is a must, more so than having a favorite spot at the location we are going to.

 

I always want the location to be meaningful to you two. It makes a big difference if both of you have a personal connection to the place where we are shooting the engagement session. The location can be the place where you first met, got engaged, a favorite spot to walk the dog or area of town that you enjoy. We go to one or two locations during the engagement session, so if one of the places is, say a park where you two were engaged, then we can easily shoot in the park and then go to another location if needed. If the park is big enough, like Dawes Arboretum or Inniswoods Metro Gardens, then we can spend the entire session at one park! A lot of the times we do stay at one park, but the option is always there for another location depending on the time.  Travel time between the locations should stay around 5-10 minutes so that we are spending more time shooting and less time driving!  The light is only super gorgeous for a short amount of time and we want to make sure we make great use of it!

 

Many times our couples select private residences which I LOVE. It guarantees that the location is going to be meaningful since it is a personal residence, and most likely you feel way more comfortable because you know the people that live there! I have done many engagement sessions at the homes of our couple, their parents’ or grandparents’ home or even a friend’s house! The list is endless and the sessions are always a blast. If you do not have a private residence that speaks to you, then there are lots of public locations that are great!

 

The next question I get in emails is, “ If we cannot think of any meaningful locations to go to, then where should we go?” I always answer that question with a question! I know, fun, right? What do you two like to do? Where do you two like to go? Do you two spend more time wandering around the city and popping into shops on your day off, or are you more into going to a park or setting out on a hiking a trail with the puppy? Do you two enjoy images of couples in woods, fields and by lakes? Or do you want more of a city skyline in the backdrop? The answers to these questions really helps me figure out some great locations for you two to look at.

 

One great resource is this blog – check out the engagement link to the left and you will be able to scroll through tons of engagement sessions and see everything from cities to parks to private homes. One of the parks might peak your interest, or you might want something similar and know of an awesome new location! I always enjoy shooting at locations we have yet to go to, or ones we haven’t been to in a few years!

 

One thing that I tell my couples often is to care more about the location and not so much about a specific tree, rock, wall, etc. The reason for this is because the light might be really harsh on the cute bench. I would rather us find a bench that is in better light or a different spot all together that has amazing light because you will enjoy the pictures so much more when they are the soft, glowy light versus everyone squinting in the pictures just to be at a park bench that is cute. What sounds better – Cute park bench and squinting into the sun, or a nice bush/tree with you two surrounding in a happy glowing light? My vote is the happy glowing light! Now, if we can find a cute bench in happy glowing light then we are doing awesome!!

 

I hope this blog post helps you in your search for the perfect location for your engagement session. There are tons of great places in Ohio and outside of Ohio! We travel all over for engagement sessions and are happy to plan a destination engagement session with you. If you ever need help in figuring out a location, make sure to email me and I’ll send a couple of ideas based on what you two like!

Buckeye Lake, Ohio

 

Chicago, IL

 

Charleston, SC

 

 

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