How to Make Your Engagement Session Feel Like a Movie

Planning your engagement session and dreaming of photos that feel like they’re straight out of a movie? With a little creativity and the right approach, you can make your engagement session truly cinematic. Here’s how to turn your love story into a visual masterpiece that will have you reliving the magic every time you look at your photos.

Choose the Perfect Location

Location is everything when it comes to creating a cinematic feel. Think about places that have special meaning to you as a couple or locations that offer stunning backdrops. Whether it’s a picturesque beach, a charming historic town, or a golden mountain at sunset, the right setting can add depth and beauty to your photos. While looking for locations with natural light, interesting textures and plenty of space to move around is definitely important. It’s just as important to consider your session as a date night. Consider coming up with an activity that you would naturally do together already, like ride bikes to the park and share a picnic with a beer. 

Plan Your Outfits with Care

Your outfits play a crucial role in setting the tone for your engagement session. Choose clothing that complements the setting and each other, and that reflects your personal style. For a cinematic look, opt for classic, timeless pieces or outfits that evoke a particular era or mood. Together, we can create a moodboard for your day that will tie the whole session together! 

Embrace Natural Light

Natural light is your best friend when it comes to creating a cinematic feel. The soft, golden light during “golden hour” (just after sunrise or before sunset) adds a dreamy, ethereal quality to your photos.

Incorporate Movement and Emotion

Cinematic photos often capture movement and genuine emotion. Instead of static poses, we’ll think about actions and interactions. Whether you’re walking hand-in-hand or sharing a spontaneous kiss, it’s important to let loose and laugh, whisper secrets, or just enjoy each other with a loving glance. I’ll use prompts to get you moving, and these candid moments will bring your photos to life, creating a dynamic and emotional narrative that feels like a scene from your favorite romantic film.

Use Props and Elements of Storytelling

Props can add a storytelling element to your engagement session, making it feel more cinematic. Think about incorporating items that are meaningful to your relationship. It could be a vintage car, a picnic setup, or even your furry friend. These props add depth and context, making your photos more personalized and evocative. They help tell the story of your love in a visually engaging way.

Consider Adding On 35 mm Film

Incorporating film photography into your engagement session can add a timeless, nostalgic quality to your photos. Film has a unique way of capturing light and color, giving your images a soft, organic feel. The grain and texture of film can make your photos look like they belong in a classic romantic movie. If you’d like to add on a roll of film to your session, let me know!

Plan for a Storyline

Think about your engagement session as a mini movie with a beginning, middle, and end. I like to ask each couple, if you two are the main characters in a movie, what’s your meet cute? If you randomly met and instantly connected and spent the day together, what would you do? Having a storyline that feels real creates a cohesive narrative, making your photos feel like a cinematic journey.

There are so many positives to having an engagement session. For one it allows us to get to know each other better and it’s great practice for the  wedding day. But more importantly,  it’s an opportunity for the love you share to be captured in a way that feels not only cinematic, but authentic to you.

35 mm Film Shots