Congrats, you’re engaged! If you aren’t sure if you want an engagement photoshoot because they seem “overly staged”, you’re not alone! According to research, about 40% of engaged couples in the US skip this session, and many do so for this reason!

Tip: You’re in charge, and your engagement photoshoot doesn’t have to feel staged or fake! In fact, this is your opportunity to express who you are as individuals and as a couple, or even document an important moment in your relationship that you want to remember forever!

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Unique Engagement Photoshoot Ideas: Document an Experience

Your Engagement Session’s the perfect time to capture an important memory in your relationship. Ask yourselves “what big moments, or every-day moments, do we want to remember in 10 years?” You’ll likely come up with ideas to incorporate into your engagement photoshoot!

Here are a few memories that my couples documented in their engagement sessions, plus a few bonus ideas too!

1. Re-visit your first date or proposal spot

Joanna & Sean had their first date at Brio Italian Grille, and wanted to document where it all started! When the couple called ahead to make sure the restaurant was ok with us holding their engagement photoshoot there, the manager generously offered to let us in an hour before opening! We had the restaurant all to ourselves, which created a really great experience for the couple.

2. Hang out in a favorite neighborhood

Will & Rachael spend a lot of time relaxing together in Phoenixville, PA where they’ve lived for years. They love the town’s unique shops, restaurants and bars, so it made perfect sense to take a walking tour of their favorite neighborhood to document their days spent wondering through downtown as a couple.

Ruishu & Chris love celebrating their Asian heritage and enjoy spending time in Philadelphia’s eclectic Chinatown, so for their engagement photoshoot we took a tour of their favorite streets & landmarks.

3. Get ice cream on the boardwalk

Veronica & Jeremy love going to the beach together & hanging out with their friends. So when they said they wanted to go to the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk and share a cone from their favorite ice cream stand, I was all in!

Other unique engagement photoshoot ideas to document a memory or experience…

4. Visit the carnival or a fair

5. Go grocery shopping (cause you do it together every week)

6. Visit your favorite coffeeshop, restaurant or bar

Unique Engagement Photoshoot Ideas: Embrace a Hobby

Many of my couples share interests and hobbies with each other, and the list of unique engagement photoshoot ideas is endless when you consider incorporating those interests into your session! To continue our list, check out these ways that my couples have expressed who they are through their sessions.

7. Cook together at home

Each year around the holidays, Eileen & Kevin have a tradition of making pierogies for their family. So they invited me to their home for their engagement photoshoot to document this amazing tradition.

8. Book lovers? Visit a book store or library!

Emma & Jon drove all the way from Pittsburg to have their engagement session at Baldwin’s Book Barn in West Chester PA, a beautiful used book store housed in an historic barn! This space is so unique, and one of my other couples introduced it to me several years ago (Anne & Kevin, who are also book lovers!).

9. Play a board game (or video game)

Maryn & Dave are huge board game nerds (just like Jeff and I am!) and had their first date at a board game cafe in Philly called Thirsty Dice (which unfortunately is now closed). The cafe was so accommodating when the couple called ahead to get permission to have their engagement photoshoot there, and the other customers were super welcoming and kept congratulating the couple!

If playing the latest video game on your console is more your style, we can do that instead! I’m totally down.

10. Go for a hike (and don’t forget your furry friend!)

Corey & Dave love to hike around Washington Lake Park on the weekends, and wanted to memorialize those relaxing weekends in their engagement photoshoot. Engagement sessions at favorite hiking spots are also a great opportunity to bring your dog along!

Here are a few other unique engagement photoshoot ideas to document a hobby or interest…

11. Play a sport that you enjoy together (tennis, cycling, rock climbing…)

12. Take a creative class (painting, pottery…)

13. Go sledding

Unique Engagement Photoshoot Ideas: Create a Vibe

If you’re a creative, adventurous couple and want an out-of-the-box experience celebrating something unique about you as a couple, these ideas are for you! The sky’s truly the limit on the type of experience you can create – so go for it!

Wrapping up this list, here are a few unique vibes my couples have created for their engagement photoshoots.

14. Embrace your love of everything Western!

When it came time to plan Michelle & Mike’s engagement session, Michelle shared that she loved everything Western! She decided to rent Mt. Pleasant Farms in Columbus NJ for their engagement session (horses, cows & goats included), purchased coordinating cowboy boots for her & Mike, and created a whole mood!

15. Celebrate a Night on The Town

If you love the city at night, why not get dressed up like Jeanette & Nick did and head in at dusk, to capture the sparkling glow of the city lights as your backdrop! Jeanette & Nick love Philly and wanted to incorporate it in their session, but you could do this in any city.

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If you’re looking for unique engagement photoshoot ideas, or this helped spark a unique idea for you and now you need someone to make those dreams a reality, Reach out – let’s chat!

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Gen Palmer is a South Jersey wedding photographer who documents authentic photography for real couples. Gen documents weddings and unique engagement photoshoots around South New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Gen loves working with couples who cherish relationships over things, and who value printed photographs to display and enjoy their memories every day. Sound like you? Reach out about your wedding!