03/09/2026
Engagement sessions are often framed as a date that the photographer is just tagging along on, and as cute as that sentiment is, it’s not really what’s happening...
I used to say this, I used to think this way, but inherently, when a camera is present, and the whole point of why you are there with your subjects is to photograph them, there can be a dissonance between authenticity and performance.
Now, I’ve reframed (photography pun) how I approach and coach my clients through an engagement session.
We are going to design a session that captures the romantic feeling of being on a date by creating a narrative to guide us.
Using our favorite movies, songs, books, various inspirations, etc. we’ll build a simple little narrative story to follow for the session.
I personally love using romance movies as a visual guide in posing and prompting. Because when is real life do you push your partner up against a fence, lean into them, and give them a kiss? But damn does it make for a good photo ❤️