Congratulations—you said YES! 💍
Now that the excitement of the proposal has settled in, you're probably diving into wedding planning. Before you get too caught up in venues, vendors, timelines, and seating charts, take a moment to celebrate this incredible season of your lives together.
An engagement session is one of the first milestones of your wedding journey, and it's about so much more than getting a few nice photos. It's an opportunity to spend time together, get comfortable in front of the camera, and create images you'll use throughout your engagement—from save-the-date cards and wedding websites to guest books, invitations, and social media announcements.
Many couples tell me they realize they don't actually have many professional photos together. An engagement session changes that while giving us a chance to get to know one another before the wedding day, making your wedding photography experience feel much more relaxed and natural.
If you're looking for inspiration, here are ten engagement photo ideas that never go out of style.
1. Choose a Location with an Incredible View
Colorado offers no shortage of breathtaking scenery. Whether it's mountain overlooks, alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, historic parks, or dramatic red rock formations, choosing a location with a stunning backdrop instantly elevates your engagement photos.
Even if your wedding venue doesn't have mountain views, your engagement session can!
2. Include Your Pets
Your dog (or even your horse!) is part of your family, so why not include them?
Pets add personality, laughter, and genuine moments to your session. They're also a wonderful way to involve them if they won't be able to attend your wedding.
Just remember to bring treats, a favorite toy, and someone who can take them home once we've finished their portion of the session.
3. Show Off the Ring
You waited for that proposal—and your fiancé picked out the perfect ring!
We'll capture beautiful close-up images of your engagement ring while still keeping the focus on the two of you. These details make wonderful additions to save-the-dates, wedding websites, and albums.
4. Make It Personal
Some of the most memorable engagement sessions include activities that reflect who you are as a couple.
Think about what you enjoy doing together:
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Rock climbing
- Skiing or snowboarding
- Visiting breweries or coffee shops
- Dancing
- Riding motorcycles
- Reading at your favorite bookstore
- Playing board games
- Exploring downtown
When your session reflects your personalities, your photos become even more meaningful.
5. Walk Hand-in-Hand
Simple? Absolutely.
Timeless? Every single time.
Walking hand-in-hand creates natural movement and allows you to focus on each other instead of the camera. These candid moments often become some of my couples' favorite images.
6. Don't Forget the Classic Portrait
While candid moments are wonderful, it's important to capture a few traditional portraits looking at the camera too.
These are the images parents and grandparents love to frame, and they're perfect for announcements, holiday cards, and your wedding website.
7. Schedule Around Sunset (and Stay a Little Later!)
Golden hour—the hour before sunset—is one of the most beautiful times to photograph couples.
The warm, soft light creates a romantic glow that's hard to beat. If you're willing to stay just a little after sunset, we can also capture stunning blue-hour or nighttime portraits using city lights, string lights, or seasonal holiday displays.
These images often become showstoppers.
8. Find an Urban or Historic Backdrop
Not every engagement session has to be in the mountains.
Downtown streets, colorful murals, historic buildings, industrial architecture, and artistic wall murals can create a fun, modern look that's completely different from traditional nature portraits.
Choosing a location that matches your personality makes your session uniquely yours.
9. Go in for the Kiss
Don't worry—I won't ask you to pose awkwardly.
Instead, I'll guide you into natural moments that lead to genuine laughter, hugs, and kisses. Whether it's a dramatic Hollywood-style dip, a forehead kiss, or a quiet moment together, romantic images are always a favorite.
10. Embrace the Sunshine
Backlighting the two of you with the setting sun creates gorgeous, dreamy photographs full of warmth and emotion.
Whether the sunlight is peeking through the trees, glowing over the mountains, or creating a beautiful silhouette, using natural light creatively adds an extra touch of magic to your engagement gallery.
Bonus Tip: Relax and Have Fun
The best engagement photos happen when you're simply enjoying each other's company.
Don't worry about knowing how to pose—that's my job! I'll guide you every step of the way so your photos feel natural, authentic, and full of genuine emotion.
My goal isn't just to create beautiful portraits—it's to tell your story.
Ready to Celebrate Your Engagement?
Whether you're dreaming of mountain views, downtown Denver, a quiet forest trail, or a location that's meaningful to the two of you, I'd love to help create engagement photos you'll treasure for years to come.
Your engagement is a once-in-a-lifetime chapter. Let's capture it beautifully.