The Three 'Types' of Engagement Shoot:
What Will Yours Be?

Image by Andara Media 

CLASSIC

We define a ‘classic’ engagement photo as pretty much anything that captures the combination of a couple’s natural and beautiful moments together, with a classic looking background such as a garden, park, or sunset at the beach. This is a great look to go for, especially for ‘save the date’ invitations. It’s also an excellent way to get inspiration for wedding photos, and to practice getting comfortable in front of the camera before the big day.

A classic theme doesn’t have to be boring though! When you can combine both a gorgeous background with a timeless ‘moment’ between a couple, the end result can be sensational! We think it comes down to considering a couple of things…

Firstly, a classic moment is more easily captured when the couple are relaxed, comfortable and enjoying themselves in front of the camera. When the shoot is flowing, and everyone is having fun, it’s much more likely that a beautiful moment will surface, ready for your photographer to capture it!

Secondly, choosing a great location. Photographers often have fantastic ideas about where to hold shoots around Auckland, but it’s just as important that the couple get involved in the selection. Places that hold special meaning, or spark memories (such as an engagement spot or a first kiss?) can have so much more impact than a random place that the couple has no connection with.

Combining these two elements should help create really lovely classic engagement photos for the couple, family and friends to enjoy and treasure.

Image By Struve Photography

CREATIVE

Capturing a creative photo really requires a couple and their photographer to think outside the square. What makes the couple unique and stand out from the crowd? Could you incorporate any props that hold special meaning…that would make the shoot really different? Could you relive a moment that is significant to the couple? Start thinking along these lines, and you’re bound to come up with something a bit more creative and unique!

An urban architectural environment might be a great place to start when thinking about doing something a bit different. These spots often have curves and lines and different materials to draw from that you often don’t get from classic ‘landscape-y’ spaces. Also, anything that looks a little bit ‘adventurous’ is a really cool way to go to get something creative…like mountainous terrain or outdoors with dim lighting.

A creative photo really all comes down to incorporating a beautiful moment between a couple with something a little bit different that really captures the couple's uniqueness and represents what makes them tick.

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Images by Meagan Suzuki

QUIRKY

You know you’re looking at a really good quirky engagement photo when you feel like you’re stepping into a couple’s personal lives for a little bit and sharing a bit of their joy. They’re the kind of photos that are just that little bit different, that little bit sweeter, and just too darn cute for words!

We think that the key to getting these kinds of shots really comes down to the individuals in the photo, and the photographer grabbing the cute moments that they share. Capturing those moments is so much more important than getting distracted with props or a backdrop. It could be as simple as shared laughter, pulling faces, or any number of unique little quirks the individuals have. In these shots, it’s really important that the couple just be themselves and are relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera. And that they are having fun! The camera sees what’s real and what’s not…so don’t try and put something on that isn’t there already!

To get any kind of engagement shot we think it’s mostly important to have fun and capture the couple just being themselves! Don’t be afraid to try something a bit different, and both the couple and photographer should draw inspiration from each other to organise a really great shoot.

Image by Andara Media