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5 Tips For Choosing Your Engagement Session Location THE EDUCATED BRIDE

The Educated Bride

February 21, 2019

an engagement session with a bride sitting on her soon to be husbands lap kissing and hugging in front of a waterfall at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham NC

When it comes to planning for your engagement session, the first question that’s typically asked of us is “what location should we use?”

It is such a great question, but it has felt like we needed to address something. When it comes to photographing your session, remember that it is about the two of you and no one else! While you might see people sharing these “Instagram worthy” photographs, don’t feel pressured into choosing a location that isn’t reflective of who you are.

As we go through preparing our lovely brides and grooms’ sessions, we wanted to share with you some of the top tips we give when it comes to choosing your engagement session location!

NUMBER ONE

Choose a location that is best suited to you and your fiance.

No matter what the entire point of this is to celebrate and photograph that treasured time between dating and marriage. Of course, it is a great time to get to know your photographers better and maybe have save-the-date cards! However, this engagement session really defines and shares (not only with you) but others what your love is like.

So let us ask you, what do you like to do together? Do you like an in-home date night? Then consider doing an in-home session! Do you enjoy walking around the gardens in your local neighborhood? Consider doing a session there right as the flower is in the peak of their bloom! Do you love local coffee shops? Then let’s go to your favorite one, grab your favorite cup of joe, and capture your pure joy right then and there!

a black and white photograph of a groom holding onto his bride from behind kissing her cheek and making her laugh for choosing your engagement session

NUMBER TWO

Matching clothing styles to your location.

We think that it is important to point out that if  choosing the right location reflects your personalities, your clothing styles needs to be included into that. If you wear ripped jeans and love industrial locations, don’t choose a lush garden that doesn’t have any industrial textures. The location, your personality, and your style should all come together to represent you two as a couple!

NUMBER THREE

Be aware of policies and permits when photographing in certain areas.

As professional photographers, we know that certain gardens or downtown locations will need a permit and payment when it comes to photographing in their area. It always a good thing to ask your photographer about these requirements and to always secure an extra day as a rain date!

Bonus tip – if you are photographing in a garden in early spring, check their schedule to make sure they’re not having any sort of events during your session so you don’t have to reschedule OR fight the crowds!

a groom lifting up his bride and kissing her on UNC Chapel Hill's college campus

NUMBER FOUR

Remember that lighting does change season to season.

It is easy for us photographers to remember this, but when it comes to planning a wedding – lighting can easily be overlooked when it’s so critical to giving you gorgeous photographs! So remember that going out to that garden in early April, won’t have the exact same lighting in early fall.

NUMBER FIVE

Want to bring your pup with? No problem, but let’s pick a less dog-populated place!

We seriously love sessions that include your pups with us! When preparing we will always ask you and give you helpful tips for them specifically! You can see a few of our favorite pup included engagement sessions below. We also have shared tips on including your pups on the wedding day which you can read about here! Anyways, when thinking about location, try to find a place that doesn’t have a lot of pups around!

a bride and groom at their engagement session at the American Tobacco Campus kissing behind their sweet pupA Whalehead Club & Corolla Beach Engagement, Michelle and Sara Photography, Corolla Beach NC, Beach Engagement Session a bride and groom at their engagement session at the American Tobacco Campus kissing their sweet pupA Whalehead Club & Corolla Beach Engagement, Michelle and Sara Photography, Corolla Beach NC, Beach Engagement Session

Sara and I hope that reading through these five different tips will help you when choosing your engagement session location to showcase your love story!

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