Are you dreaming of a destination engagement session for you and your future spouse? Engagement photo sessions should highlight who you are as a couple, and in my opinion, the best (and most fun) way to accomplish that is to travel to your favorite destination, or a destination you’ve always wanted to visit together! Planning a trip and an engagement session can be stressful, but I promise it will be absolutely worth it. To make things easier, here are 5 tips for planning a successful destination engagement photo session:

Make a weekend (or a week) out of it

Everyone needs a break from their busy lives, so use your engagement photo session as an opportunity to get away! Sit down with your partner and choose your favorite destination, or choose a place that you both have always wanted to visit. Plan excursions for the two of you to do together while you’re there. Make a reservation at a new restaurant, or just set aside time to explore together. Make the trip a celebration of your relationship. That way, when you look back at your engagement photos, you’ll associate them with the amazing trip you took together.

Connect with local hair and makeup artists

To make the experience as stress-free as possible, connect with local hair and makeup artists in advance. On the day of your photo shoot, you want to look and feel your best, and having appointments in advance will take the worry out of getting ready. Also, working with someone who is local to your destination would be beneficial because they’re familiar with the weather in the area, so they would know exactly what is necessary to make sure you’re happy with your look. 

Make it unique to you

Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to your engagement photo session. Most photographers will be happy to go along with whatever you choose to do. Have fun with it! Do something that is authentically you. You could rent a sailboat, ride bikes together, ride in a horse drawn carriage, or take photos in a classic car. Whatever you choose to do, just make sure it’s something that highlights who you are as a couple. Again, engagement sessions are all about you!

Plan your outfits in advance

The last thing you want while you’re packing for your destination engagement session is to realize you don’t LOVE your outfit choices. If you’re ordering something new specifically for your photo shoot, make sure you order it in advance so that you can return it if you aren’t happy with it. Give yourself plenty of time to shop around. You want to love the way you look AND feel in your outfits, so make sure they’re not only you, but comfortable as well. Also, be sure to pack both casual and formal outfits. Most couples are more comfortable in their casual wear, but still want to mark the occasion with a formal outfit.

Pack comfortable shoes 

This may seem like a small detail, but in my experience, there is nothing worse than having a client unhappy during their engagement photo session because of uncomfortable shoes! If you plan on wearing heels for your photos, be sure to pack a pair of flats or sandals in your bag. Walking from location to location in heels can be unnecessarily painful. High heels may look amazing in photos, but they’re not worth the blisters if you’re doing a lot of walking during your session.

No matter where you choose to go, or what you choose to do, just make sure your engagement photos highlight who you are as a couple. This is an exciting time in your life, and you deserve to celebrate! Want to chat more about planning a destination engagement photo session? Contact me and let’s talk it out! 

Want to see more tips & destination sessions? Check out these posts below!

Brett & Jen – Destination Couples Session at Disney Boardwalk Resort, Orlando FL

6 Virginia & Tennessee Wedding Venues We LOVE!