If the thought of standing in a field at sunset and smiling at the camera makes you cringe, you’re not alone. One of the most common things I hear from couples is, “We want non-traditional engagement photos, but we have no idea what that actually looks like.”
The good news? Your engagement session doesn’t have to fit into a box. I pinky promise!! It can feel like a date night, a favorite hobby, or simply a snapshot of who you are together right now.
And, as a travel elopement photographer who has worked with hundreds of couples, I can walk you through what that would look like!
Start With Something You Actually Love
The best sessions happen when you stop worrying about what “engagement sessions” are supposed to be and start thinking about what you enjoy doing together. (It really is that simple!)
Maybe that’s getting lost in a cozy bookstore, flipping through records at your favorite vinyl shop, or wandering through downtown streets as the city lights come on. These sessions feel natural because you’re already doing something you’d ACTUALLY do in your normal life.
Here’s a few tangible ideas to get your wheels turning!
Take these non-traditional engagement photos ideas and pull out the threads that feel authentic to you.
- Visit your favorite bookstore or library
- Wander through a greenhouse
- Go to the zoo!
- Browse records at a local music shop
- Grab drinks at a cocktail lounge
- Go to your favorite grocery store (Trader Joe’s anyone!?)
- Explore downtown after dark
- Recreate your favorite date night
- Go to the place you got engaged
- Find a state park and do a camping session
- Spend an afternoon baking at home
Non-Traditional Engagement Photos Can Tell a Story
One of my favorite things about these types of sessions is how they unfold naturally.
Maybe the evening starts with coffee and record shopping. Then it turns into finding hidden corners downtown and stealing a few kisses under glowing string lights. Maybe you bring a second outfit and completely change the vibe halfway through. As a travel elopement photographer, you know I’m down for all of this!! I love creating pictures with you that feel like you! I love all the weird and wonderful and fun aspects of your vibe!!
Basically, the photo session plan should be an outcome of your dynamic that already exists. That’s when photos are going to look like YOU.
No sessions need to look the same, and that’s exactly the point.
The Goal Isn’t Perfection
Here’s a reminder: your engagement photos don’t need to feel polished or overly posed. They should feel like your normal life.
Because, at the end of the day, these photos should reflect your relationship, not a trend.
Whether your dream session involves books, music, moody city streets, cocktails, or something completely unexpected, there are endless ways to create non-traditional engagement photos that feel authentically YOU.
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