Couples Portraits: Your Love, Beautifully Captured
This is your time to slow down and soak in the moment. Couples portraits give you a chance to reconnect, laugh, breathe, and enjoy each other before the day sweeps you away. I’m there to guide you, support you, and capture the real connection between you.
How do you want your portraits to feel?
Your couples portraits are one of the few moments in the day where you get to slow down, breathe, and just be together. During this time, I’ll guide you with simple prompts and natural movement so the photos feel genuine - not stiff or overly posed. You can expect a mix of candid moments, soft direction, and space for the two of you to connect.
Before the wedding, think about the energy you want these photos to have. Do you imagine something romantic and intimate? Playful and fun? Bold and energetic? During our timeline meeting, we’ll chat through the vibe you’re drawn to and how we can bring that feeling to life in your portraits!
Here are some common aesthetics couples love:
- Romantic & soft
- Fun & playful
- Editorial & modern
- Energetic & candid
- Whimsical & dreamy
- Classic & timeless
Find inspiration on Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok or even my website and create boards for your groom portraits. We can design a mood board for your day.
What are the 5 most important photographs you want during your couples session?
Your couples session should reflect the moments that matter most to you. Sharing a few inspiration photos ahead of time helps me understand the style, emotions, and locations you’re drawn to so we can plan directly. Sometimes this even sparks new ideas - like trying a different backdrop, adding movement, or bringing along a fun prop to personalize your portraits.
Think about the five images you absolutely want captured, and we’ll make sure they’re built into your timeline!
Locations in mind....
I’d love to hear which spots at your venue you’re most excited about. Knowing the locations you love helps me plan ahead and map out poses, lighting, and timing so we can make the most of each area. During our timeline meeting, we’ll chat through your ideas and blend them with mine - whether you prefer specific locations or want to give me full creative freedom.
Here are some popular spots couples often choose:
- Gardens
- Benches
- Old structures or architectural details
- Couches or lounge areas
- Ponds or rivers
- Trees, greenery, or wooded paths
If you already have a few favorites in mind, feel free to share them so I can start planning ideas!
Candids usually start as posed....
Almost every couple tells me they want candid, natural couples photos - the kind you see on Pinterest. I love creating that look, and the funny thing is that most of those “candid” photos actually start with a simple pose. Once you’re in position, movement and genuine reactions naturally turn it into something real and unposed.
During our timeline meeting, we’ll look at a few inspiration photos and talk about how to guide those poses into authentic, candid moments that feel like you.
Tips to help your posed moments turn into candid ones:
- Keep talking to each other - share a memory or whisper something sweet.
- Add movement: walking, swaying, spinning, or pulling each other in.
- Focus on each other instead of the camera.
- Let natural reactions happen - laugh, smile, breathe, relax.
- Stay close and keep touching: hands, arms, waist, shoulders.
- Don’t rush; let moments linger.
- Be yourselves - your connection is what makes the photo feel real.
Beautiful Lighting
Lighting plays a huge role in how your photos look and feel. Soft, flattering light can elevate your portraits, while harsh midday sun can be more challenging. If we’re shooting during a brighter part of the day, we’ll look for shade, architectural cover, or even indoor spots that give us beautiful, even light. During our timeline call, we’ll talk through a few location options so I can plan poses and angles that work best for the light we’ll have.
Best times of day for outdoor photos:
- Sunrise
- Early morning (soft, cool light)
- Late afternoon
- Golden hour (the hour before sunset)
- Blue hour (right after sunset)
If your timeline doesn’t line up perfectly with these times, don’t worry - we’ll still create gorgeous images by choosing the right locations and light.
Do you want to add props??
Props can bring so much personality and playfulness into your couples session. They give you something to interact with, help you relax, and add a unique touch to your photos. If you’re thinking about bringing any props, let me know ahead of time so I can plan locations and poses that work well with them.
Here are some fun ideas:
- Champagne pour or tower (or soda alternatives like Coca‑Cola for non‑drinkers)
- White paper umbrellas
- Vintage couch or lounge chair
- Vintage car
- Flowers or loose petals
- Sparklers (venue permitting)
- Polaroid or film cameras
- Hats - cowboy, wide‑brim, or something personal
- Books, love letters, or meaningful keepsakes
- Extra flower petals to throw
- Cozy blankets for wrapping up together
If you already have a vision or a few props in mind, feel free to share them so we can make the most of them during your session.
Other Photo Opportunity Times
We don't have to do couples photos only once during the day, we can do it at different parts of the day. If you're doing a first look then we can do some before ceremony or during dancing we can sneak off and do a few at the bar etc. Below are a list of some additional times of day I've seen couples take photos
- Before the wedding day starts in the hotel room
- After first look
- Right before the ceremony
- Right after the ceremony
- Sunset
- Room Reveal (Reception all set up)
- Bar photos
- Changing into the second dress
- Hotel after the wedding
Let's create couples portraits that feel soft, meaningful, fun, and full of heart! I’d love to help you plan the perfect moment for them.
