As you daydream about what you want your engagement photos to look like, it can feel difficult to come up with different ways to make your engagement session stand out from the rest. How do I make my engagement session feel like ME? How do I make sure my engagement photos are fun and represent the relationship I have with my partner?

While these questions start swirling around in your brain, let us be the guiding light to tell you all that stress is about to fade. We’re about to detail TEN different ways to make your engagement photos unique! After reading this blog post, you’ll be well on your way to having the engagement session you’ve always dreamed of!

1.) Incorporate an activity into your engagement session

The NUMBER ONE piece of advice we give to couples planning their engagement session is to incorporate an activity into their session! Two people who have never met before can go stand in front of a backdrop and pretend they are in love for the camera. But it takes two people who really know and love each other to go out and truly DO something together.

Now, we aren’t saying you need to go out and run a 5k with your partner to have the best engagement session ever (even though that would be kinda cool!). Some less intensive ideas could be taking a stroll around a park, going out for a drink at your favorite spot, grabbing a bite to eat at your favorite date night spot, or planning an adventure! Turn your engagement session into the ultimate date night and you’ll be guaranteed to have unique engagement photos!

2.) Bring two different outfits: one fancy and one relaxed

This may seem like a no-brainer to some but bringing more than one outfit can be a great way to make your photos unique! We typically don’t set a time limit for your engagement session so if we’re shooting for 2 hours in the same outfit, it can be nice to switch it up with an outfit change!

And don’t be afraid to use multiple outfits to your advantage! Put together a fancier outfit that you would wear out on a special date night or occasion. Then, bring a more relaxed, casual outfit that you can change into. This is a great way to make sure you are as comfortable as possible in front of the camera without compromising that special feeling of getting all dolled up in your Sunday best for your session!

3.) Take your engagement photos at a unique location

There are so many unique locations that can be used for your engagement photos! And half the time, they are right under our noses! While we like to encourage couples to go somewhere personal to them, don’t be afraid to do the opposite! Have a funky date night spot you’ve always wanted to try? Let’s do it! Wanna explore the weird sculptures at a sculpture park? You got it! Some unlikely places that we’ve had some amazing engagement sessions include a vintage bookstore, a rooftop, and even an arcade!

Wanna take your engagement session to the next level? Book a Connection Session instead! We’ll rent out an AirBnB, plan a day full of adventures, and leave you two to enjoy a night along! Basically, it’s like an engagement session on steroids! We get to spend the whole day with you and create some awesome memories along the way! Want to hear more? Read about this Connection Session we shot earlier this year HERE!

4.) Be prepared to move around!

If there’s one thing that you need to know about having your engagement session with Aaron and I here at Winsome Photos, it’s that we’re going to have you two moving around! We aren’t huge fans of the sit-there-and-look-pretty photography philosophy so that’s part of the reason we encourage couples to include an activity into their session. When you’re moving around and staying somewhat active, you have less time to worry about all the things that can get in the way of making your engagement session feel the most authentic!

5.) Use a prop or something fun to add some life to your engagement photos

Props are a super fun way to add some flare to your engagement session! One of the most popular props for engagement sessions are champagne pops! This can be such a fun moment for you two and it really adds to that celebratory feeling. Some other examples of props we’ve seen before are some fun sunglasses, sparklers, and even a picnic!

6.) Embrace the goofy, candid moments

Now, this is a piece of advice to those who can find themselves easily stressed out! There can be a good deal of stress on getting the perfect engagement photos from your session. But we’re here to tell you that in our entire career, there have never been engagement photos that we have liked more than the open-mouthed, squinted-eyed pictures where you can literally hear the laugh through the pictures. And we don’t pose or prompt those moments! So embrace the goofy, it’s so worth it!

7.) Make your engagement session feel personal to you

Every relationship is different so why not incorporate what makes yours different into your engagement photos?!?! When you make your engagement session feel personalized to you by attending your favorite date night spot or doing something you love to do, you leave your anxieties at the door and are truly able to be yourself during your session! Embrace what makes you different! If that’s Lays potato chips and Coca-Cola and Pepsi, so be it!

8.) Bring your pet(s) along for the action

Now, we may be biased because we love meeting all of your furry friends but you should totally consider bringing your pet along for your session! Often, a pet can feel like a child to you and your partner so why not take some family photos at your session?!?! To be honest, your pets really do love getting in on the action of your session just as much as we do!

9.) Create a vision board for your engagement photos

Vision boards are your friend! As you start planning your engagement session, don’t be afraid to turn to the resources available to you to tie together your vision. Pinterest can be a super helpful tool to pull inspiration from. Don’t be afraid to send us over your inspiration! We would love to help you put your own spin on some amazing ideas!

10.) Don’t let the stress of being engaged trump your excitement!

Like we mentioned in #6, it can be hard to not stress about getting that picture-perfect shot out of your engagement session! And it can be hard having so many ideas for what you want your engagement session to look like and being forced to narrow those down. The one piece of advice we can give to you for this is to lean into all the ups and downs of the engagement process. For many, the time you spend engaged is such a fleeting moment. Many people lock their blinders on and only focus on saying, “I do!” Enjoy being engaged, soak in the moment! All of those little details will fall into place just how they are meant to!

Let’s craft the engagement session of your dreams!

If you can’t tell by now, we LOVE engagement sessions! From the initial planning, all the way to seeing how you incorporate them in your wedding day, your engagement photos mean just as much to us as they do to you! That’s why we feel so strongly about sharing all the ways to make your engagement photos unique.

Looking for some down-to-Earth engagement photographers who will help you bring your vision to life?You’re in the right place! We’d love to get in touch with you and start planning! It’s gonna be EPIC! Inquire HERE!

Craving some more resources from the blog? We’ve got plenty of that for you! Check out our TOP TEN THINGS TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER BEFORE BOOKING! Come read about this AMAZING MEMORY MAP MINNEAPOLIS ENGAGEMENT SESSION!

As always, stay rad/stay beautiful! xoxo