As a wedding photographer I know just how special and important an engagement session is for my couples. Of course your wedding is the big day that gets all of the attention, but that doesn’t diminish just how magical of a time in your lives your engagement is! It’s a unique point in your relationship that deserves to be documented so that you can look back on it and reminisce on all the moments and feelings you had leading up to your wedding day. With how special this time is, it only makes sense then that couples are looking to elevate their engagement photos, which is why today we’re going to look at 10 of my favorite activity ideas to bring your engagement session to the next level!

10 Activity Ideas for Your Engagement Photos

1. Head to Your Favorite Bar or Brewery

First on our list is heading into your favorite bar or brewery for a drink with your partner! If you’re nervous about having your photos taken, this can be a great way to start your session as a way to loosen up in front of the camera. It can also work great as a final stop of your session as it gives you the perfect ending note to celebrate your engagement! My couple Brooke + Michael included this idea for their engagement photos and it was SO much fun. If you do plan on including this as part of your engagement session I do recommend reaching out to the bar or brewery beforehand to make sure they’re ok with us taking photos there.

2. Show Off Your Home

In-home engagement photos are some of my favorites and one of the most personal ideas on this list. Just how this is a unique point in your relationship together, your home is also likely in a similarly unique stage as well. Maybe you just finished some renovations that you want to document, or maybe you just recently moved in together! No matter what it is, documenting your love in the space you call home together is a great way to add some personal flair to your engagement photos.

3. Include Your Pet

If you’ve got a little pup, cat, or other fur baby that you want to feature in your engagement session I am a HUGE fan of it. Your pets are such an important part of your little fam, so the idea of including them into your engagement photos makes total sense. As an example my couple Jenna + Ryan had their little frenchie with them for their engagement session and I LOVE how the photos came out! When including your pet into your session I recommend having a friend tag along to take care of the pet when they’re not in the photos. That way you can focus on the session without having to worry about your fur baby!

4. Have a Picnic in the Park

A fun, easy, and scenic idea to elevate your engagement photos is to have a picnic in your favorite park! Pack along some drinks, your favorite snacks, and bring out your favorite cozy blanket to hang out on. This is such a fun, and lighthearted way to start or end an engagement session, and having the setting of a beautiful park to use is just an added bonus!

5. Head to Your Favorite Coffee Shop

For those looking to have an early morning session, a break from the cold of a fall or winter session, or just coffee lovers in general, make a stop at your favorite coffee spot for your session! Similarly to heading to a bar or brewery, this is a great way to add in some personal flair to your engagement session, while also getting yourselves some kind of treat. Just as with bars and breweries I also recommend reaching out to the coffee shop prior to our session to ensure that they’re fine with photos being taken in their space.

6. Shop Around Your Favorite Small Business

This is such a fun idea to insert more of your personalities into your engagement photos! Head to your favorite record store for a new vinyl or two to listen to later. Head to that thrift shop that you two frequent every other week that seems to always have the best stuff. Check out that bookstore where you could spend days looking through all the books they have to offer. Small businesses have so much charm and character to them, and can add an incredible amount of personality to your photos if the two of you frequent the business or take part in that activity regularly!

7. Check Out an Arboretum or Conservatory

I looove a good session at an arboretum or conservatory! They’re some of the most beautiful and scenic spaces to take your engagement photos, which is why they’re easily a favorite idea of mine that I suggest to my couples. It’s also just a ton of fun to walk around in awe as you experience this beautifully curated and cared for setting. Keep in mind that some conservatories and arboretums may require a photography permit or the purchase of tickets in order to have your photos done there. I’ll always help my couples with this kind of research though to keep things as simple as stress free for you as possible!

8. ICE CREAM

There’s nothing like a sweet treat for your engagement session, especially on a hot summer's day! I’m a sucker for ice cream, as I’m sure 90% of the population is, so if you’re looking to grab a scoop for your session I am SO down. Outside of the obvious benefit of getting to have some ice cream, this idea also gives us a lot to work with for your engagement photos. We can take photos in the ice cream shop itself, take the cones on the go and snag some photos of you two walking down the sidewalk together, you can taste each other's ice cream (if you’re willing to share!) There's so much fun to be had with just a little bit of ice cream!

9. Head to the Museum

For their engagement photos Luma + Ramsey had the idea to have the start of their session in the Chicago Field Museum, which was such a blast! If you’re history buffs, or just love to check out the exhibits and architecture of a museum, this is a great option to include into your engagement session. The various exhibits offer a ton of variety to work with for your photos, and the grounds outside of most museums are usually beautiful and well kept as well, meaning you should be able to snag some outdoor photos for your album!

10. Something Simple You Do Together

It’s often life's simple moments that can be overlooked as great ideas for your engagement photos! Whether it’s going on a bike ride together, making a pizza from scratch, having smores in your backyard, listening to records together, playing board games after dinner, you name it. These little moments are actually a huge part in what makes your relationship special to you, and that’s what an engagement session is all about at the end of the day. A celebration of you, your love, and the life you have together at this exact moment!

And there we have it, 10 activity ideas to take your engagement photos to the next level! There are of course practically endless activities you could choose from to include in your engagement session. The important thing then is to choose one that resonates with you, whether it’s something you both already love to do together, or something you’ve been wanting to do for what seems like forever! For more wedding and engagement tips check out my blog, and if you’re ready to book me as your photographer be sure to send me an inquiry through my contact page!

10 Ideas for Activities to Elevate Your Engagement Photos