Beach Photoshoot Ideas for Couples Sessions

6 BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEAS

One of the top requested locations for couples and engagement sessions is the beach. Michigan is home to the freshest coastlines! But after doing so many photoshoots in the same spots, I needed to shake things up a bit. So I put together a bunch of beach photoshoot ideas to increase the variety of images in my engagement and couple sessions. I hope these inspire you to approach beach locations just a little differently. 

BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEA #1: WORK THE DUNES

I know that most people think about the beach as the place where the sand meets water, but Lake Michigan is home to quite a few sand dunes. These mountains of sand give me all sorts of photo ideas! Couples can run down them while the photographer captures genuine smiles and lots of candid movement. They can be used in a wide shot to isolate the couple’s silhouettes in negative space. AND you’ll get a whole set of images from your beach photoshoot that don’t have water in them! If your aim is variety, this is a great idea to mix things up and get creative.

BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEA #2: TURN AROUND

Another way to get variety in your beach photoshoot is totally counterintuitive. Turn around! With the couple facing the water and all of the light bouncing off of it towards them, you’ll get great color on the sand and tall grasses. Due to water-table rising, flooding, and erosion, the beaches of Lake Michigan have shrunk significantly. But we can make the most of it! The steep angle and exposed rocks make for the perfect place for a couple to share a romantic moment looking out over the water. 

BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEA #3: WALK THE BEACH

Okay, okay. Now that I’ve given you two beach photoshoot ideas that don’t involve actually seeing the water, here’s an easy go-to that always turns out amazing. Just walk the waterline! You can get incredible background views with a wide-lens while catching super sweet moments. Sometimes, I’ll have the couple skip rocks to catch some candids. These lean more traditional, but honestly, if a couple wants the Lake Michigan beach, I feel like this is what they are imagining.

Beach photoshoot idea #4: Stay for Sunset

Lake Michigan in particular has stunning sunsets because it’s on the west side of the state. The sun goes down right over the water and I’m obsessed with the incredible tones we can capture in pictures with the amber, orange, and pink sky against the purple, blue, and turquoise water.

Beach photoshoot idea #5: Lay down

Towards the end of the photoshoot, I always ask the couple if they are comfortable lying down. Sometimes, they are partially in the water, and other times we play with driftwood for some visual texture and depth. I love this idea for creating intimate moments.

BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEA #6: PLAY IN THE WATER

I saved this for last because it’s always the last thing I have couples do at their beach photoshoot. If you’re feeling adventurous, get IN the water! Obviously, save this until the end so that your couple’s clothes aren’t wet for the rest of the photoshoot. But these pictures are so fun! When I think about couples looking back at their engagement pictures (or whatever the photoshoot is for) fifty years later, I firmly believe that it’s the silly moments that will make them smile the biggest. So yeah. Even if you feel ridiculous, just take the leap! Honestly, it’s my favorite of all the beach photoshoot ideas.

I hope you have some fresh beach photoshoot ideas!

Lincoln Park Engagement Photos

LINCOLN PARK ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

After talking to Julia and Jake about their Chicago wedding, I just knew that we had to do Lincoln Park engagement photos. I live for variety, and there is a ton of variety in photography locations within walking distance. I’ll break down exactly where we headed below.

ALFRED CALDWELL LILLY POOL

One of the most under-appreciated photography locations in all of Chicago. If you’re looking for green space that feels removed from the towering buildings of downtown without having to drive out of the city, this secluded ode to Prairie School Architecture in the middle of Lincoln Park is a must. When you enter the Lincoln Park Zoo parking lot, it is just to your right. Don’t drive far or you’ll miss it!

BRIDGE OVER SOUTH POND

Lincoln Park has multiple ponds, and the bridge over the South Pond offers a clear view of the Chicago skyline. While often crowded, it is not usually difficult to find a place for photos considering how long it is. I’ve never been to this part of the park in the fall, and the color of the trees took my breath away.

NATURE BOARDWALK

Stopping on our way to the Nature Boardwalk to take pictures in front of the ivy climbing some of the Lincoln Park Zoo storage buildings (no shame in my engagement photo game), we made our way to The Honeycomb- an iconic sculpture that is always crawling with tourists and photographers. Everyone was incredibly kind and willing to take turns on this day, and I was ecstatic to snag some pictures of Julia and Jake under the wild arch.

GRANT MEMORIAL

Our last stop before leaving the park was the Grant Memorial. By this point, we were VERY cold. Fall was giving way to winter and the wind was relentless. I tucked the couple into the tunnel out of the wind for a couple more dramatic images and then used the steps to shield them afterwards.

PHOTOGRAPHY POINT

Last but not least, it wouldn’t be an epic Chicago engagement session without some photos from the lake overlooking the skyline. Crossing the footbridge over North Lakeshore Drive we ended the engagement session at the North Beach Photography Point.

It may have been a LOT of walking, but I’d say 10/10 for Lincoln Park Engagement Photos.

Palm Springs Engagement Photos

After catching C0VID while photographing a wedding this winter, I decided that since my family survived our worst nightmare, we would take advantage of our fleeting immunity and travel (safely) while we could. I’m not happy that we had to experience the virus, but taking Angela and Nathan’s palm springs engagement photos was a beaming silver lining.

We started the session at the Andreas Trail in Indian Canyon. The couple left their home before dawn and drove 2 hours to meet me. Angela hiked most of the trail in heels, and neither of them batted an eye when I asked them to climb boulders. The desert oasis is stunning, and the trail leads to an overlook with views of the mountains surrounding Palm Springs.

After freshening up at my Mid-Century Airbnb and taking a few pictures around the yard, we headed to the Palm Springs Visitors Center for some more architectural images. Angela and Nathan are architectural engineers and I wanted to incorporate their passion into some creative photos.

We ended the engagement session in downtown Palm Springs and found some street art to add variety to the photo gallery.

It’s been a while since I’ve been so inspired by a location. But even the magical colors and light couldn’t compare to the magic between Nathan and Angela.