My Top Tips for a Meaningful Engagement Session

Plus an Engagement Session with their Dogs on the Beach in Newfoundland

a couple in hiking attire hold hands on a rocky coastline in Newfoundland with their dogs around them

These sweet folks wanted an engagement session that would capture what they love doing together: strapping on their hiking boots and exploring the coast of their chosen home in Bonavista, Newfoundland with their beloved dogs. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the next phase of the life you’re building together than to document what life feels like right now, so you will have those memories to look back on years down the road.

My top tips for a meaningful engagement session:

Take some time to consider what life feels like in this season for you. When you spend time together, what does it feel like? Is it cozy, playful, adventurous? Let that set the mood as you think about what you’d like to do for your engagement session or couple session, and you will have photos to look back on that document this season in a way that is true to you.

What are your favourite activities to do together? What’s your ideal weekend? Do you look forward to going for a hike, hanging out cozy at home, a little roadtrip, slow morning coffee on the porch, camping, checking out the thrift stores, jumping in a lake, brunch, paddleboarding, a walk through the neighbourhood, etc etc? Anything that makes you feel connected to each other and yourselves is a moment worth documenting.

Wear something that makes you feel like yourself! Although social media might try to convince us otherwise, you don’t need to buy a new outfit or stress over coordinating in order to document your life. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. You will feel your most comfortable and natural if you wear something you already know and love, so the best thing to wear for photos is something in your closet you already reach for often.

Not sure if an engagement session is for you? I definitely get that, but I’m a little biased, and here are some of the reasons I actually think they’re a great idea. Lots of couples have never gotten “professional” photos taken, and feel a bit nervous about this on their wedding day. I like having an engagement session as an opportunity to get to know each other, and let you get a feel for the experience ahead of time, to make sure your wedding day feels comfy and relaxed. It’s also special to have more flexibility to incorporate photos of you doing something you love together that you might not have time for on a wedding day!