Are you just going with the photos someone perhaps snapped at the actual proposal, or are you going to be taking professional photos celebrating your exciting news? Engagement photos are an incredible way to celebrate this exciting time in your relationship – but let’s face it: a lot of the time, engagement photos can all look the same. So what kind of non-traditional engagement photo locations are out there? Let’s find out!
Pros and Cons of Different Engagement Photo Locations
When it comes to engagement photo locations, you’ve got three options: studio, in-home, and on-location. There are pros and cons to each option, so it really depends on the atmosphere you’re trying to create and the aesthetic that best represents you and your energy.
#1 – Studio
If you’re trying to choose between the three different kinds of engagement photo locations and determine which is best for you, here are some of the pros and cons of the studio setting:
Pros of Studio Engagement Sessions
- The privacy allows for greater focus on you and your partner and the connection you share.
- Rain or snow, this is one of the engagement photo locations that doesn’t get affected.
- The studio provides a blank canvas that we can play with to create some incredible photos. Check out this artistic couples shoot for an example of the heights you can reach!
- The photographer controls the lighting set up – it might sound small, but it makes a huge difference!
- The photographer will be intimately familiar with the space. Therefore they’ve got the upper hand to make magic happen.
Cons Studio Engagement Sessions
- Using a studio can be costly, but this is dependent on how much your photographer or the venue you’ve sourced charge for using their space. Some include it in an overall price, but always make sure.
- Depending on the size, a studio can be somewhat limiting at times.
- If the photographer isn’t prepared with set dressing or set pieces, you might find the shoot will produce lackluster pictures. A blank canvas shouldn’t remain blank. It’s meant to be a set that can be transformed to produce interesting photos, not generic corporate-style photos for an engagement photoshoot.
#2 – In-Home
If you’re looking at your engagement photo locations, you shouldn’t discount the idea of holding the photoshoot in your own home. Here are some of the pros and cons:
Pros of In-Home Engagement Sessions
- Shooting in your home means you’re in a familiar and safe environment where you’re likely to be more comfortable, relaxed, and aware of photo-worthy opportunities.
- There’s a chance to include pets in the mix, which always looks great if you’re looking to up the cute factor.
- There’s an intimacy to seeing a couple interact in their home that you’re not going to get in a studio or in a public setting.
Cons In-Home Engagement Sessions
- The con depends on your home. Is it a visually appealing space you want to remember forever? If the answer is no, maybe you should be looking at other engagement photo locations.
- If you’ve got a big family staying in your home, you might find it hard to get the peace you need to engage in a proper photoshoot.
#3 – On-Location
Now we move to not only the most popular kind of engagement photo locations, but my personal favorite. There’s a reason why shooting on location is great: the world itself. Sure, it’s not perfect, it has challenges, but love in the wild is sometimes the best moment to capture. Let’s dive into the pros and cons:
Pros of On-Location Engagement Sessions
- You can choose a location that might have some deep significance to your relationship. The place you met, where you proposed, or the place where you first said, ‘I love you.’ Any moment that means something to your relationship is worthy of being an engagement photo location.
- You can have a lot of fun with on location shoots by choosing engagement photo locations that fall outside of the typical kinds. Get pizza, paddle board on the lake, or play ping pong – these are just a few ideas off the top of my head that I think could make great engagement shoot ideas. There are so many opportunities to not only be a little different but to also be daring and wacky.
- You’re less likely to feel awkward and wonder what to do with your hands – if you’re out and about, you’ll naturally keep your hands busy.
- There’s more opportunity to be natural and spontaneous than it is in such a heavily controlled environment such as a studio.
- The potential for fun is significantly higher.
Cons On-Location Engagement Sessions
- The major flipside to this is the weather. You’re contending with mother nature. Sometimes, and I’m sure you know this, mother nature isn’t the best ally.
- Being in public can make you feel more self-conscious, not less. If the idea of showing affection in a public place is uncomfortable for you, an engagement session somewhere private is definitely better.
- In a less controlled environment, you’re dealing with potential problems around every corner. The photos are usually worth the hassle, but that doesn’t mean there is no hassle at all.
Engagement Photo Locations for the Non Traditional Couple
As you can see, there are plenty of options for you to break the traditional mold and create engagement photos that really reflect who you are as a couple. Clarify your vision: do you want something artistic and unconventional in a studio environment? Something raw and intimate in your home? Or something playful and free-wheeling when you head outside?
Where do you and your partner feel most like yourselves? When you have the answer to that question, you’ve probably found the answer to where you should hold your engagement shoot.
I’ve been capturing that loving glow of newly engaged couples in Philadelphia and beyond for years. So, folks, I might be the photographer you’ve been looking for. Want to learn more about me, my process, or my work? Check out my website! Like what you see? Let’s get in touch and take some great pictures for you to look back on every time you want a reminder of how special this time in your life was. I’d love to meet you, get to know you, and take a snapshot of your love story.
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