June 10, 2019 /

Finding Engagement Picture Locations

“We don’t know where to go to take pictures. Do you have any ideas?” Oh girl. Yes, yes, we do. 🙂 But first let’s talk for a minute about your plans for those pictures.

A vibrant picture of an engaged couple on-location for their engagement session at sunset in Kansas City.

What are you going to do with those beauties? You know, the pictures that you’re going to spend hours shopping for clothes for. That you’ll probably get your hair and make-up done for. That your boo will get his haircut for. What are you going to do with them?

We get it, this seems like a really frivolous question. “Put them on Facebook and Instagram, of course. Use 1 or 2 for Save the Dates, obviously.” But WHAT ELSE? Are you really going to put so much work into a photo session just to put them on social media where they’ll live for a few years and then you’ll never be able to find them again?

If that’s your goal, that’s cool. We’re not going to harass you. Some people only want engagement picture for social media. And in that case, it’s really easy to find a location for your pictures. Go someplace that’s really pretty and that matches your outfit.

BUT.

If you want something more from your engagement pictures, like to hang them on the walls in your home, or to make a guestbook for your wedding day, we suggest taking a few more steps to figuring out that location.

Because we get it. YOU WANT AMAZING PICTURES in an AMAZING PLACE that looks and feels like you. And honestly, that’s what every photographer wants to give their couples. Images that feel like them. (Okay, we can’t speak for every photographer, but at least that’s what we want to do).

The best way to start to narrow those locations down is to start at the end.

The final goal. If you want to hang engagement pictures in your rustic farmhouse living room, you’re not going to want to go to a super-modern location for your session. Or, if you live in a crazy-modern loft downtown, field pictures on the wall might not make the most sense. You see where we’re going here?

So. Take a few minutes and talk with your honey about what you want to do with those pictures. Then, take to Google, Pinterest and Instagram to find some ideas for great locations. BUT. (And this is a big BUT). Don’t go start looking for specific photo ideas to copy (hello copyright infringement). Use these tools to mood-board, as inspiration.

Oftentimes it’s easier to visually identify what you like and are drawn to than to verbally say it.

We suggest sitting down with your honey and picking some engagement photos that you like together. After 10 or so pins you’ll probably start to see a pattern develop.  And that pattern will lead you in the right direction. Once you see that pattern, head over to Google. Take what you’re seeing on Pinterest, and type it into Google. For instance, if you’re seeing a lot of classic architecture and city streets, type that into Google and add “engagement pictures” to the end of it. Most photographers actually keyword the photos on their website to describe what is in the image. This means that Google will be able to pull up those words in pictures for you.

YES!!

Poke around on Google a little bit, and see if the pictures have any meta-data or locations attached. Take that information and head to Instagram.

(Secretly, we LOVE Instagram scouting. It’s the best way to see exactly what’s going on at a location rightnow.)

Make a list of your favorite spots. Share this with your photographer. And feel free to share all of your inspiration with them. We love it when our clients do this. It not only gives us insight into what kinds of locations they’re drawn to, but it also gives us an idea of how much PDA they’re into, and if they like more candid or posed photos.

So, let’s recap, shall we?

  1. Start with your final goals.
  2. Create Pinterest Moodboards
  3. Head to Google for more inspiration
  4. Check out locations you find on Google on Instagram
  5. Share with your photographer.

Realistically, if you’re working with an awesome photographer, you’ll probably just be able to share your initial moodboard with them and let them do the rest of the location scouting (at least that’s what we do for our couples). BUT on the off chance that YOU have to come up with your locations, hopefully this will help.

In the meantime, here’s some inspiration for you from Samantha and Cody’s engagement session this spring. Enjoy, friends!

Samantha & Cody’s Engagement Session

A dramatic, black and white picture of an engaged couple standing at the bottom of a tree on location during their engagement session in Kansas City,
A black and white picture of an engaged couple sharing an intimate embrace during their engagement session in Kansas City.
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace and kiss underneath a row of columns during their engagement session in Kansas City.
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sitting on a stone wall playing with their puppy during their engagement session.
A candid picture of an engaged couple taken through a set of columns during their engagement session in Kansas City.
A candid picture of an engaged couple sharing a kiss and playing with their puppy during their Kansas City engagement session.
A candid picture of an engaged couple sharing a kiss and playing with their puppy during their Kansas City engagement session.
A candid picture of an engaged couple taken through a set of columns during their engagement session in Kansas City.
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace as they stand in front of sun setting during their engagement session on location at Liberty Memorial.
A colorful, candid picture of an engaged couple walking underneath a canopy of trees on-location during their engagement session at Liberty Memorial.
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace as they stand in front of sun setting during their engagement session on location at Liberty Memorial.
A colorful, candid picture of an engaged couple walking underneath a canopy of trees on-location during their engagement session at Liberty Memorial.
A black and white picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace as they stand in front of sun setting during their engagement session on location at Liberty Memorial.
A dramatic, black and white picture of an engaged couple standing at the bottom of a tree on location during their engagement session in Kansas City,
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace as they stand in front of sun setting during their engagement session on location at Liberty Memorial.
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace as they stand in front of sun setting during their engagement session on location at Liberty Memorial.
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace as they stand in front of sun setting during their engagement session on location at Liberty Memorial.
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace as they stand in front of sun setting during their engagement session on location at Liberty Memorial.
A colorful picture of an engaged couple sharing an embrace as they stand in front of sun setting during their engagement session on location at Liberty Memorial.

Kansas City Engagement Picture Locations | The Colonnade, Liberty Memorial

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