FINDING THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
By Philadelphia Wedding and Engagement Photographer, Ashley Griffin Photography
It’s Tuesday so that means it’s time for some helpful tips and tricks from your favorite Philadelphia Wedding and engagement photographer!
We all want photos that turn out like our Pinterest boards and I’m here to tell you that it’s 100% possible, there’s just a few things you need to think about in order to do so. With that said, let’s get into it!
FIND YOUR VIBE think of this as your mood board (bonus points if you create one!) Use this to plan what you want your photos to look like and to narrow down the different types of locations. If you like Urban/High Fashion, choose a downtown area or busy neighborhood with lots of buildings, metal accents, reflective windows. More into a Homey look? No problem! It can be your actual home or another place where you feel at home. It may be a warm location like a field or coffee shop you frequently visit. How about a Nature/Ethereal vibe? Parks with lots of trees, flowers, green grass, and even a pond. Another option is an open field with little to no distractions in the background. You can never go wrong with Vintage. Think old architectural buildings like heritage houses, historical landmarks, or museums. Structures with big arches, massive columns, or wooden doors that give off a vintage vibe. And of course, the Beach: This is ideal for those of you who love to bask under the sun and relax while looking out at the blue water.
FIND DEPTH choose a location that has depth - think mountains in the background, a skyline of trees behind you, or a body of water in the background. Having a location that offers depth also allows for it to be photographed from a variety of different angles.
THINK OF THE SEASONS this seems simple, but other than just being too hot or cold, the season can have a huge impact on how your photos turn out. Different seasons change the landscape, the lighting, what you wear and how you feel.
DOES IT FIT YOUR NEEDS does this location give off the vibe you want? Does this location represent you as a couple? Do you feel comfortable here? These are three of the most important questions to ask yourself once you think you have found your location! If it’s an area with heavy foot traffic, say a public park, and you aren’t comfortable having your photos taken with other people around, that is something to think about!
DRIVE AROUND everything looks different in person and during the off seasons. Just like you would at your wedding venue, take a trip to the spot you are considering for your photos and see how it looks during a time you’d like your photos to be done there. A lot of locations I use for photos I found just walking around. The photos in this post were actually just on the side of the road in Delco and you would never know!
PRIORITIZE LIGHTING as a natural light photographer, this is one of my biggest points to talk about. If you like that golden/warmer feel, let’s shoot for sunrise or sunset. If you like dark and moody, blue hour or a cloudy day is perfect. Crisp bright images, you can achieve during the day. There’s so many options and it all just depends on how you want your photos to turn out.
These are just some of my favorite pieces of advice I offer when working with clients to choose the perfect spot for their engagement photos. If you’re on the fence or stuck trying to figure out where to go, just ask me, I have lots of options!
Photographer: Ashley Griffin Photography