Let’s Brainstorm Ideas
My wish for you and your babe is to think of this shoot as a time to be intentional with each other and to be fully present in the moment.
Before we even begin looking at locations, figuring out what to wear, and going over the checklists, I want to bring up a few pointers to keep in mind as you’re planning and thinking of ideas for your shoot. Our shoot doesn’t have to be stiff and uptight, we can make it super fun and chill like you’re going on a date!
You, exactly the way you are
I love that shit. But seriously, I love when couples stay true to who they are and allow real, authentic moments to happen. I want you to remember the emotion you felt being wrapped into each others arms and feeling that love you feel for each other now. Every couple is unique and has a different story to tell. I want to encourage you to think about what you both truly love to do!
You can find inspiration anywhere
To help yourself plan, get inspired, and excited about new ideas for your session with you and your babe to check out: Dirty Boots and Messy Hair, Photobug Community, Adventurous Love Stories, Adventurous Story Tellers, and The Fragility Lesson.You can find inspiration anywhere
Your photo shoot doesn’t have to be complicated. Buy a large pepperoni pizza, drink beers, and let’s hang out on the beach with your toes in the sand - it’s all you could possibly need.
Try to keep an open mind
Keep your ideas vague and have fun imagining all the possibilities! Brainstorming isn’t about getting bogged down in details, what’s possible or not, or what’s realistic and what isn't. Let you mind wander together!
As you’re brainstorming, ask yourself these questions!
1. How do you want to spend your time together?
2. What’s a location or activity that’s meaningful to you both?
3. What do you want to remember about your relationship and story down the road?
The most meaningful photo shoots are ones with an intentional location
So before you even think about your neighborhood park for your photos, think about what you really love as a couple and what place reflects that. Pinky promise you’ll both have a better experience if you’re both equally excited about the location and the activities you'll do together!
To help you find the perfect place, here are a few common factors I think about as I help couples choose photo shoot locations:
Privacy
The best locations offer privacy and seclusion. If you want to explore a public place, like a National Park or beach, I always recommend choosing a weekday. You’ll find fewer crowds and you’re less likely to have a group of strangers passing by – which might distract you from being fully present and able to connect.
Scenery
Your location should reflect your personalities. Do you two love adventuring to epic waterfalls, or camping in the desert? When you think about your ideal date are you two out on a beach, near a mountain, or in a forest? Narrowing down a type of scenery will help you find a location that feels unique to your relationship.
Meaning
I encourage couples to think about locations that have sentimental value. Think of the anniversaries, dates, firsts, and moments of growth you’ve shared: where did those moments happen? Somewhere that holds emotional significance, it makes your moment even more intentional and incredible.
Accessibility
Accessibility is another important factor when it comes to choosing your location. If you've dreamed of hiking but not experienced, I’ll help you look for flat, relatively easy trails. You want to be able to enjoy your moment, and whether you’re looking for a backpacking experience or a short walk to an incredible view, think about the activity and accessibility concerns.
Familiarity
If you know what type of scenery you want for your shoot, but you’re not sure where to go from there, I’m more than happy to help you choose a location from a list of epic places that I’ve already scouted. I have a list of locations that I’ve researched think would be ideal for a photo shoot, and if you want to choose one of these spots you can rest easy knowing I’ve already thought through the details (less-traveled spot, good light at the right time of day, necessary permits, accessibility, etc.)
