As an engagement and wedding photographer for the last 8 years, I've had the privilege of capturing moments that couples will cherish for a lifetime. But this session was extra, extra special because it was for my best friend and her fiancé!!! Lindsey met Chris shortly after I met my husband, Brian, and watching them fall in love over the last year has been magical. I was on the east coast to celebrate their engagement party with her family, but we woke up early that morning to catch the sunrise at one of her favorite state parks on the coast and I am SO glad we did.

Timing Your Engagement Session

Choosing the time for your engagement session totally depends on the location. While golden hour (the time leading up to sunset) is universally pretty great, there are some spots, like a beach on the east coast, that will shine much better at sunrise. A good rule of thumb is to avoid the harsh midday light, but use online resources like the weather or Sunseeker (my favorite app!) to see where the sun will be during your session.

Film + Digital: Blending the Best of Both Worlds

This year I officially started incorporating film photography with all of my digital work, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! The reason? Each medium has its strengths. Film offers a timeless, organic feel that's hard to replicate. Its texture and the way it interacts with natural light adds an irreplaceable depth and warmth to photos. Digital, on the other hand, provides clarity and precision, allowing for a wide range of post-processing options. By combining the two, we captured not just images but memories, each with its own unique touch and feel.

The Importance of Location

Choosing the right location is crucial for an engagement session. For this shoot, we selected a spot with diverse landscapes – rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and grassy dunes. This variety gave us the flexibility to create different moods and settings within the same session. When picking your location, think about the diversity of backdrops it offers and its significance to your relationship. A meaningful spot adds an extra layer of emotion to your photos, but it can also be fun to explore a new place together!

Outfit Choices and Styling Tips

Outfits can be hard to choose for your engagement session, so I have a few tips for my couples if they don’t know where to start. First I like to say that comfort is key! If you need to constantly adjust your shirt or dress, or feel like you can’t sit comfortably in your jeans, then that’s not the outfit for you. I want you to be able to focus completely on each other, and that won’t happen if you don’t feel physically comfortable in your clothes. I recommend muted earth tones, because super bright colors can be distracting in a photo. Chris and Lindsey chose light colored linens to wear, which felt like a great fit for the chilly morning at the coast, and we added a cardigan and hair scarf for their second set! You don’t have to completely change outfits halfway through, but bringing a jacket, hat, headband, etc. can help add lots of variety to your engagement photos.

Capturing Authentic Moments

My approach to engagement sessions is all about capturing the genuine connection between the couple. It's not just about posing; it's about creating an environment where they feel comfortable enough to be themselves. Of course I’ve known Lindsey for 10 years and got to know Chris as soon as they started dating, but it was a great reminder to me that everyone feels a little awkward in front of the camera at first, even my best friends. But that’s where I come in with coaching you through and cracking dad jokes until you get warmed up!

Final Thoughts

Lindsey and Chris, I love you to the moon and back and I can’t wait for your wedding in December. I can’t believe we started the year with Lindsey as my maid of honor, and we get to end it with me being her maid of honor! Love is a beautiful, beautiful thing, and it should be shared y’all.