Romantic engagement photo ideas.

Learn tips for capturing visually stunning engagement photos, plus engagement photoshoot ideas to inspire your next session.

As a photographer, engagement photoshoots are a perfect opportunity to get to know your couples and help them get comfortable behind the lens ahead of their wedding day.

Couples use engagement photos for many purposes, such as save-the-date cards, wedding websites, and newspaper or social media announcements. Keep this in mind as you communicate with your couple before the shoot. It will help you plan, and may also suggest some additional photoshoot ideas.

Have your couple choose meaningful locations.

You’ll want to shoot in a location that is not only beautiful but is meaningful to your couple. This will help them feel more natural as you’re taking their photos. Consider their favorite coffee shop, a park they enjoy, or the place they first met.

Tell a story with the scene.

In addition to telling the story of the couple, see if you can tell a story with the scene.

For example, if your outdoorsy couple wants their engagement pictures taken in the mountains, try to include as much scenery as possible to create a dramatic shot. Or if a couple lives in the city, try to capture the twinkling lights and magnitude of the cityscape.

To nail these kinds of shots, make sure you’re familiar with focal lengths, especially for wide angles.

Capture the details.

Don’t be afraid to cut angles to get more interesting shots, too. Take unique close-ups, such as the rings or the couple holding hands, a shared tattoo or funky glasses — any detail that speaks uniquely to them.

One final tip: keep examples of your favorite shots stored in your phone. You can refer to these visuals if the couple is having difficulty understanding your proposed shot, or if you simply need a little inspiration in the moment.

Create visually stunning engagement photos.

With a photo editing program, you can get the perfect shot again and again by applying customizable presets to your engagement photo sessions.

Learn more about what you can do with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom today.