10 Ideas for Your Dream Engagement Session

Real. Genuine. Emotional. Celebratory. These are the sky high expectations for your EV Photography engagement session images. Unfortunately, too many of us have had that friend unhappy with their engagement photos. You look at the image and can tell that the couple wasn’t comfortable with their photographer, their outfit, or the session in its entirety. But nothing could be further from the vision of what your engagement session could be! Think about it like this, being engaged is the prelude to the love story that will be your marriage. Your engagement session images should be full of life and love and make you wish you could time travel to the big day! Your engagement session should help tell the love story that you have been creating with your partner. Below are ten unique ideas to help you do just that.

Let your story shine in your city – Harper & Aaron at Lake Michigan lakefront

Chicago has been an integral part of Harper and Aaron’s love story and we love how they didn’t force themselves to choose between the amazing Chicago architecture and scenic lakefront. They chose classic black and white ensembles that complemented the blue water and cityscape around them. The classic cut of Aaron’s suit echoes the sharp lines of the Chicago architecture and Harper’s breezy white dress is reminiscent of Chicago’s unrelenting wind and crashing waves.

Highlight a shared hobby – Courtney & Cam at Oz Park

Game, set, match! Courtney and Cam chose the tennis courts at Oz Park as a second location for their engagement session. Both Courtney and Cam know their way around a tennis court so the camera lens melted into the background as they moved around the court with familiarity and playfulness. Choosing to highlight a shared hobby with their engagement session allowed Courtney and Cam to move, laugh, and flirt like they might on any given day. Their retro chic vision was further elevated by capturing many of the photos on film.

Sit down at a favorite restaurant – Elyce & Sam at Parson’s

Parson’s Chicken & Fish is a legendary Chicago restaurant, and a favorite date spot for Elyce and Sam. They had their second date there and chose Parson’s Logan Square location to celebrate their engagement session. Elyce and Sam’s session came to life as they enjoyed the familiar casual and retro vibes of one of their favorite date destinations.

Go for a ride – Mallory & Johnny at Chicago River

Every couple wants their engagement session to be unique and we love the idea of utilizing a vehicle, boat, or bicycle to help achieve that. Johnny and Mallory chose to rent one of the iconic, Chicago, electric boats for their engagement session. Not only did the retro boat add visual interest and compliment their outfits, it enabled them to move along the river and capture stunning Chicago backgrounds in every frame without disrupting their chemistry in front of the camera.

Get intentional about architecture – Mack & Lainie at Chicago Cultural Center

How do you highlight Chicago architecture in your engagement session photos without freezing outside in Chicago winter? Bring the engagement session indoors! Mack and Lainie chose to celebrate their engagement session at the Chicago Cultural Center amongst the architecturally rich windows, walls, staircases, and doors. Intentionally shooting several shots in front of the windows allowed the session to utilize natural light and still highlight iconic Chicago architecture in the background.

Dance down a staircase – Veronika & George at Art Institute of Chicago

Many couples state that they feel uncomfortable in front of the camera – and we understand! One way to help an engagement session feel light and fun is to capitalize on the in-between moments. Veronika and George were already comfortable in front of the camera, but we love how the use of a staircase allowed them to act normal and get stunning images. As Veronika and George walked down the staircase enjoying each other’s company, the camera kept snapping. The final images look effortless as their natural chemistry is on full display amongst a flood of natural light and a gorgeous winding staircase.

Get dressed up, then dive in – Natalie & John at North Avenue Pier

Have a unique, even crazy engagement session idea? Count us in! Natalie and John kicked off their engagement session inside the iconic Chicago Athletic Association hotel and game room and then dared us to brave the lakefront with our cameras. Natalie and John danced down North Avenue Pier and then jumped into Lake Michigan. The photos ooze fun, energy, and excitement – all things that make us think of Natalie and John and their highly anticipated wedding day!

Incorporate the elements – Mary Ellen & Lou at Lurie Garden

There is not a season of the year during which the diverse plant life (or snow!) does not dramatically contrast with the Chicago skyline at Lurie Garden. Want to add more layers of interest to your photos? Add more elements – earth, air, fire, water. Chicago’s typical winds provide plenty of natural movement in photos. The garden itself highlights the earth element. Mary Ellen and Lou decided to time their engagement session with golden hour which added a fiery energy to the photos as the sun peeks out between the buildings of the Chicago skyline. The couple chose to cap their session with a few photos at the North Avenue lakefront and in doing so gave each of the four elements a subtle, timeless place in their session.

Get dressed up and walk around downtown – Elizabeth & Tyler at the Wrigley Building and Chicago Riverfront

Elizabeth and Tyler chose to don coordinated formal wear and pop a bottle of champagne on the Chicago riverwalk. The engagement session took place during golden hour and the images really do seem to have a sparkle as the light played off of the water’s surface and off of the building windows.

Throw it back a decade (or few) – Carla & Tommy at Salvage One

Your session date may be scheduled for 2025 and beyond, but your venue doesn’t have to look the part. Carla and Tommy have a love for all things vintage, eclectic, and memorable and chose an engagement session venue to help celebrate that. Salvage One is known for its vintage furniture and unique art pieces, and its exposed brick, large windows, and wooden floors are timeless. Carla and Tommy’s eclectic aesthetic is reflected in their ensembles and amongst a background of gorgeous stained glass windows, disco balls and chandeliers, and vintage music speakers and billiards tables.