Fun Engagement Photo Shoot Ideas

Springtime is the season of love, which explains why there seems to be plenty of engagements and weddings happening around this time of year. If you’re one of the lucky couples who are planning to tie the knot in the next year or so, then you’ve likely got an engagement photo shoot to plan. It’s the best way to capture your relationship leading up to your wedding, as well as a lasting image of your love.

So how can you make your engagement pictures your own?

History of engagement photos

Engagement photos started out as portraits that newly engaged couples sent to newspapers to announce their upcoming marriage. This practice gained popularity in the early 1900s, but has since developed into a more elaborate and well-thought out concept involving multiple poses and outfits, beautiful locations, and grand gestures of love.

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the modern-day engagement photo shoot became a norm, but it’s safe to assume that the idea really took off when social media became mainstream. Seeing someone else’s gorgeous engagement pictures just makes you want to have a fun engagement photo shoot of your own!

Ideas for personalizing your own engagement shoot

One of the great things about arranging your own engagement photo shoot is that it can be as elaborate or as relaxed as you’d like (assuming your photographer is up for the challenge!). See some fun engagement photo shoot ideas below.

Some more relaxed, traditional engagement photo shoot ideas

If you’re not terribly comfortable in front of the camera, it’s probably best to go down a more traditional route. This way, you’re not forcing yourself into poses that feel unnatural, and you stand a better chance of getting the shots that you love.

One of the best ways to personalize traditional engagement shoot ideas is to choose your location carefully. Think of a place that’s important to you and your fiancé: where you met; where you had your first date; where you got engaged; where you most enjoy hanging out. Being in a place that actually means something to you will instantly make your photos look better, feel more authentic, and be more memorable.

Another fun engagement photo shoot idea is to have your photographer take photos of you and your fiancé doing something you both love. For example, if you have a shared hobby like hiking, bowling, or cooking, you can plan part of your photo shoot around the activity. This is ideal for those who like to shy away from the camera as it lets you focus on the activity, rather than the photographer.

Above all, choose your hair, makeup, and outfits carefully. You’re going to be looking at these pictures for years to come, and the last thing you want is to wish that you’d worn something different! Avoid trendy styles and stick to classic looks that will look elegant 50 years from now.

While we’re on the topic of style: You and your fiancé certainly don’t need to match, but you do want to ensure that your outfits don’t clash! If you’re going more formal, your fiancé should too; the same goes for a more casual look.

Step out of your comfort zone with these adventurous engagement photo shoot ideas

If you’re feeling creative, brainstorm with your photographer to come up with some more adventurous and fun engagement photo shoot ideas.

This could range from choosing a unique concept, like exploring on a trail on horseback, to something a bit more extreme, like getting photographed while rock climbing.

One fun idea is to take a narrative approach using props and different locations to tell a story—your story.

But of course, anything goes, especially if your photographer is handy with Photoshop.

Another option is to choose a theme, like a fun, snowy photo shoot with reindeer in Finland, a romantic Parisian engagement photo session in front of the Eiffel Tower, or a whimsical portrait at Disneyland.

Once you’ve perfected your ideas, you need to decide where you’ll display the photos you’ll take. Many couples print them on Save the Date mailers or on the wedding invitation, and most people also post them online as public announcements to family and friends. Looking for something a little more personal? You can integrate the photos into your home decor, either as a famiyl gallery photo wall or as a mantlepiece display.

Whatever you decide to do with your photos, don’t forget to share them with friends and family! If you’re using the Nixplay app, you can upload your engagement photos right away and send them straight to your Nixplay digital photo frame or to your other family members’ digital photo frames. It’s the most easy, beautiful way to share the love and romance.

For more photography tips, read our post “Expert Tips for Photographing Your Next Outdoor Adventure.”

Beatrice Bisais

Bea is Nixplay’s Social Media Manager. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading about wars, and writing stories. Send her a message at beatrice.bisais@nixplay.com.