Simple hand drawn illustration of stars and bows inked in delicate line art style.

Planning your engagement session should feel exciting — not stressful or overly planned. This is your time to just be together, have fun, and create photos that actually feel like you. Whether you’re planning an engagement session in Virginia, Washington, DC, or somewhere meaningful to your story, the goal is the same: to make it feel natural and true to you.


I always tell my couples: you don’t need to know how to pose or “perform” for the camera. I’ll guide you when you need it, but a lot of the magic comes from just being present with each other. My approach is rooted in connection and movement, so your photos feel effortless, a little cinematic, and like something you can actually look back on and feel. This guide is here to help you make decisions that feel right for you, so your session ends up feeling easy, personal, and honestly… really fun.

 

Ashley and Damon wanted their session to be outdoors — somewhere with greenery and a soft, romantic feel. Their vision leaned whimsical and slightly moody, which gave us so much to work with when choosing a location. By focusing on a setting that already felt like them, their photos naturally came to life. We decided to photograph their session at the Historic Polegreen Church Foundation in Mechanicsville, Virginia as Mechanicsville has significance to both Ashley and Damon.

 

Couple embracing outdoors on brick path with white window frames and tall trees in background at golden hour.
Couple dancing together in an outdoor garden pavilion surrounded by white window frames and autumn trees.
Two people holding hands together, one with nude manicured nails, wearing a dark top in a warm intimate setting.
A tattooed man spins a woman with long dark hair near large white-framed windows with trees in background.
Close-up of a couple holding hands, woman wearing a navy dress and ring with white manicured nails.
Close-up of a couple sharing an intimate moment, nearly kissing, with warm tones highlighting their smiling faces.
Romantic couple sharing an intimate moment, almost kissing outdoors near a greenhouse.
Tattooed couple sharing a tender kiss outdoors with white window frames and forest in background.
Romantic couple sharing a kiss outdoors near white window frames with lush green trees in the background.
Close-up of a couple holding hands, woman wearing a delicate engagement ring, with autumn trees in background.
Couple holding hands between white window frames in an outdoor park setting with autumn trees in background.
Black and white photo of couple embracing tenderly outdoors near decorative window frames.
Couple embracing outdoors near white window frames among autumn trees on a brick pathway.
Couple holding hands walking down a sunlit forest path, woman in gray dress and man in white shirt and jeans.
Couple walks hand in hand down a sunlit forest path, woman in blue dress and man in white shirt.
Couple holding hands walking down a sunlit forest path, woman in gray dress and man in white shirt and jeans.
Black and white photo of a couple walking hand in hand down a forest path surrounded by tall trees.
A lone figure walks through a moody, dark park with bare trees and lush green shrubs along a brick pathway.
Delicate pink flowers bloom on bare branches of a redbud tree against a dark, moody background.
Romantic couple gazing at each other outdoors near blooming cherry blossom tree in warm golden sunlight.
Shadows of a couple holding hands cast on a golden wall with rocks on the ground.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF AS YOU PLAN

 

 

If you’re not sure where to start, this is usually where everything begins. Instead of focusing on what your engagement session should look like, it helps to think about what actually feels natural to you.


Start with your relationship. What do you naturally enjoy doing together? Are you more drawn to something at home, or would you rather be out somewhere new? Do you want your session to feel relaxed and low-key, or a little more intentional? Even things like how comfortable you are with PDA can shape the overall feel more than you might expect.


When my couples book with me, I send over a questionnaire that walks through all of this. It starts with your story, then moves into your vision, location ideas, and the kind of atmosphere you’re drawn to. You don’t need to have everything figured out — it’s just there to help you think through what actually feels like you before we even start planning.

A couple shares an intimate moment outdoors, faces close together, surrounded by lush green trees in warm golden light.
Romantic couple sharing an intimate moment near a tree in a scenic outdoor park setting.
Couple holding hands and smiling near a tree in golden hour sunlight outdoors.
A smiling couple embraces near a tree in golden sunlight, the woman wearing a gray dress with a tattoo visible on her arm.
Romantic black and white close-up of couple almost kissing with foreheads touching.
Couple sharing an intimate forehead-to-forehead moment outdoors under a blue sky.
Couple dancing playfully in a sunlit autumn field surrounded by bare trees.
Couple running barefoot through golden field toward autumn trees at sunset.
Couple embracing in a golden sunlit field surrounded by bare autumn trees.
Barefoot couple running hand-in-hand across a sunlit meadow with fall trees.
A couple shares a tender embrace in an open field surrounded by trees during golden hour, the woman in a flowing gray dress.
Couple holding hands while walking across a golden field at sunset.
Romantic couple embracing and laughing together in a sunny outdoor field.
Couple sharing a romantic kiss outdoors in a sunny green field.
Smiling man and woman sharing a joyful moment together in a grassy field.
Couple sharing a romantic kiss outdoors in a sunny open field.
Black and white photo of a couple sharing a tender kiss outdoors.
Joyful couple playfully embracing and laughing together in a sunny green field.

WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR?

 

 

Outfits are usually the part people overthink the most, but it really doesn’t need to be complicated. The goal isn’t to look like someone else — it’s to feel like the best version of yourselves.


I always recommend starting with pieces you already feel good in and building from there. Neutrals, soft tones, and textures tend to photograph really well, and they keep the focus on you rather than the outfit. You don’t need to match perfectly — in fact, it’s better if you don’t. Think of your outfits as complementing each other instead.


Movement is also something to keep in mind. Dresses that flow, layers, or anything that adds a little bit of motion can make your photos feel more natural and effortless. And most importantly, if you’re uncomfortable in what you’re wearing, it will show — so always choose something that feels like you.


I also love it when my clients message me asking for opinions on outfits when we're in the planning stages! It feels like we're besties hehe.

A couple shares a tender moment in a sunlit park, the woman gently touching the man's face.
A couple relaxes on a blanket in a sunny park, woman lying in man's lap, both smiling and sharing a joyful moment.
Romantic couple embracing in a golden sunset field, sharing a tender moment outdoors.
A couple shares an intimate moment outdoors, man gently holding womans face as they lean in close together.
A couple shares a tender romantic moment outdoors at golden hour, man leaning down to kiss woman lying on grass.
A couple shares a tender moment at golden hour in a park, with the man leaning down to kiss the woman sitting on the grass.
Couple lying on a blanket in sunlit grass, sharing an intimate moment face to face outdoors.
A couple shares an intimate moment touching foreheads in a golden field at sunset, the woman in a blue dress embraced tenderly.
A man in a white shirt kisses a woman's hand outdoors at golden hour near a wooden fence.
Couple holding hands intimately at golden hour near a wooden fence in a rural setting.
Close-up black and white photo of a hand with a bow ring resting on a mans chest with a bird tattoo.
Couple sharing a tender kiss outdoors at golden hour, man with bird neck tattoo embracing woman.

HOW CAN WE ENHANCE OUR SESSION?

 

 

If you’re looking for ways to make your engagement session feel a little more personal, adding in a simple activity or small details can go a long way. It’s not about doing something over the top, it’s just about creating moments that feel natural to you.


This could look like grabbing coffee together, walking through a place you love, playing music, or even doing something meaningful to your story. You can also bring along small items like a bouquet, a blanket, or something you’d naturally have with you. These kinds of details help create movement and interaction, which makes everything feel more relaxed and less posed.


The goal is never to force a concept, it’s just to give your session a little more depth and make it feel like a reflection of your everyday connection.

 

Ashley and Damon incorporated a romantic picnic into their session, which ended up adding so much to the overall feel. It gave them something to interact with and made everything feel less like a photoshoot and more like they were just on a date together.


They were able to sit, move around, laugh, and settle into the moment naturally, which made their photos feel really relaxed and genuine. It’s such a simple addition, but it completely shifted the energy of their session in the best way.

 

Black and white photo of champagne flutes and grapes on a tray during a romantic picnic.
Couple enjoying a romantic outdoor picnic, toasting wine glasses on a blanket in a scenic park setting.
Couple enjoying a romantic outdoor picnic on a blanket, toasting with drinks in a park surrounded by trees.
Couple enjoying a romantic outdoor picnic on a blanket, sharing wine and snacks in a sunny park setting.
Woman in navy dress holding champagne flute at outdoor picnic, featuring floral arm tattoo and diamond engagement ring.
Couple enjoying a romantic outdoor picnic on a blanket with wine and food in a sunlit forest clearing.
Close-up of couple clinking champagne glasses outdoors, woman wearing an engagement ring, celebrating together.
Couple enjoying a romantic outdoor picnic, toasting with wine glasses on a blanket in a sunny park.
Couple enjoying a romantic outdoor picnic on a blanket, sharing wine and laughter in a sunny park setting.
Happy couple sitting on a picnic blanket in a park, sharing a joyful moment at golden hour.
Couple sharing a tender moment on a blanket in the grass during a sunny outdoor picnic.
Romantic black and white photo of a couple lying together on a blanket outdoors, gazing at each other.
Romantic couple lying together on a blanket outdoors, smiling and enjoying a peaceful moment.
Black and white romantic photo of couple lying on grass facing each other in an intimate moment.

WHAT IF WE FEEL AWKWARD IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA?

 

 

This is probably the number one thing I hear and don't worry, it’s completely normal! Most couples don’t show up to their engagement session knowing exactly what to do, and you’re not expected to! Almost ALL of my couples have never been in front of the camera!


You don’t need to know how to pose or act a certain way. I’ll guide you when you need it, but a lot of what I do is focused on giving you space to just be together. I’ll prompt you with simple things, get you moving, and help you settle into the moment so it doesn’t feel stiff or forced. Think of it more as directing. Here are some examples of prompts I would give you.


  • "Whisper one thing you love about the other person"
  • "Trust fall forward - have your arms all the way out like you’re going in for a hug and then fall forward with your arms wrapped around your neck"
  • "Try and kiss her as much as you can but you try and dodge them"
  • "Kiss her hand and then go in for a real kiss"


All of my prompts are up for interpretation - there is no wrong way of doing it! After a few minutes, it usually just starts to click. You stop thinking about the camera, you relax into each other, and that’s when the photos start to feel really natural. That’s always the goal — not perfection, just something that feels real and true to you.

 

 

 

 

At the start of their session, Ashley and Damon were a little unsure of what to do — which is completely normal. But once they started moving, interacting, and just focusing on each other, everything shifted.

 

 

 

 

A couple shares a tender romantic moment at golden hour, with the woman tilting her head back and smiling beneath a tree.
Couple sharing a romantic kiss at golden hour in a park with trees and fence in background.
Black and white photo of a couple embracing outdoors, man kissing woman's cheek as she laughs joyfully.
Black and white photo of a couple sharing a joyful embrace, woman smiling warmly as man hugs her closely.
Couple laughing and embracing at golden hour in a park, man with tattoos hugging woman in blue dress.
Couple sharing a tender moment embracing near large windows with golden hour light at an outdoor venue.
Close-up of a couple holding hands, woman wearing an engagement ring, dressed in cream and navy blue outfits.
Couple bending down together in a sunlit green field with a large pine tree at golden hour.
Black and white photo of a romantic couple standing close together near elegant white French doors outdoors.
Couple holding a Polaroid photo together outdoors, woman wearing an engagement ring at golden hour.
Romantic couple embracing at sunset outdoors, man kissing woman's cheek as she smiles joyfully.
Romantic couple reflected in a vintage gold hand mirror resting on a rustic wooden fence at dusk.
Bare trees silhouetted against a twilight blue sky with a glowing half moon visible above the branches.
Black and white romantic photo of a couple almost kissing, woman gently holding mans face with engagement ring visible.
A couple embraces outdoors at dusk with a full moon visible in the clear blue sky above the trees.

FINAL THOUGHTS

 

 

 

 

Your engagement session doesn’t need to feel like something you have to perform for — it’s really just about spending time together and letting your connection lead the way! The more you lean into what feels natural for you as a couple, the more your photos will reflect that in the best way. Whether you already have a clear vision or you’re still figuring it out, the planning process is meant to support you, not overwhelm you. This is your chance to slow down, have fun, and create something that feels true to this season of your life together.

 

 

LET'S PLAN YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION

 

 

 

 

If you’re planning your engagement session and want guidance along the way, I’d love to help you bring it to life. From location ideas to helping you feel comfortable in front of the camera, I’m here to make the process feel easy and natural from start to finish.


You can reach out through my contact form — I can’t wait to hear what you’re dreaming of 🤍

 

 

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