Choosing the location for your engagement session should be a place that’s true to who you are as a couple.
The most meaningful engagement sessions happen somewhere that already holds a piece of your story. Maybe it’s the place where you had your first date. Maybe it’s your own neighborhood. The streets you walk on quiet Sunday mornings, the corner store where you grab late-night snacks, the home where you built a life together. Or maybe it’s the local park where you spent countless afternoons.
The right location should feel sentimental and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. It doesn’t have to be dramatic or far away. When you look back at your photos years from now, you won’t just see how you looked — you’ll remember how it felt to be there.
Think about places that carry memories:
Where did you meet?
Where did you say “I love you” for the first time?
Where do you feel most like yourselves?
Where do you enjoy spending time together?
There’s something special about choosing a place that’s already woven into your relationship. It adds depth to the images. The photos become more than portraits; they become part of your history.
At the same time, don’t ignore beauty. Notice the light. The way the sun falls in the late afternoon. The textures — brick walls, tall grass, city skylines, ocean cliffs. A location can be meaningful and visually striking. Often, the places you love naturally photograph beautifully because you already see them through a romantic lens.
If you’re stuck between a sentimental location and a stunning one, consider blending both. Start somewhere personal, then wander to a nearby spot with an open view or beautiful light. Your engagement session doesn’t have to stay in one place.
At the end of the day, your engagement location is more than a backdrop. It’s the setting of your story. Choose a place that reminds you of who you were, who you are, and who you’re becoming together.
See below to view Melissa and Ed’s Old Town Alexandria, Virginia Engagement Session. The charming town is local to the couple and it’s where they hold memories of date nights full of unforgettable memories.
The cobblestone streets set the tone, lined with charming townhomes and the little restaurants they’ve come to call “their spots.” Just a short walk away, the waterfront glows at sunset, casting everything in that soft, golden light that makes the whole town feel cinematic. And with fall in full swing, the trees were bursting with color — deep reds, burnt orange, and golden leaves framing every corner.
