Engagement Photo Ideas

Posted on 09 September 2019

One of the most jaw dropping moments of your life has just occurred. Your significant other has proposed, and you said yes! It's time to tell your friends and family about this momentous occasion. Of course, you'll call your parents and your best friends right away, but once its time to tell the rest of the world (or rather, your friends on social media and such), you'll want to do it with a bang! You've seen engagement photos before, but now its your turn, and you want to do something spectacular! And you'll want to have the perfect photos to use for your wedding welcome sign or your own personalized canvas later down the line. This is your time to get creative! To give you and your bride or groom to be some inspiration, we've listed some of the most popular engagement photo ideas, styles, poses and so on down below!

Be sure to check out our Wedding Photo Ideas too!

 

Engagement Photo Ideas

 

The Traditional

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The classic, "look how blissfully in love we are," look. The two of you are the only people in the entire world and nothing and no one can tear you apart. The perfect engagement photo for that old school romance. The two of you are something out of a fairy tale. Everything is heavily romanticized, from the way the two of you are dressed (in outfits purchased just for this occasion), to the forest, or field of flowers behind you, the airbrushed filter over your faces, and the way the edged of the photo are darkened to make the two of you the center focus. Pose with longing looks and warm embraces and you have yourself traditional engagement photos!

 

 The Ring Flash

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This pose can be done a variety of ways, but its always a sweet and subtle style that separates these photos from couple photos you've taken before. For this to be considered a ring flash photo, the engagement ring has to be front and center of the photo so that it may be the first thing anyone notices about the picture. Whatever is happening in the background is usually blurred and the hand of the person wearing the engagement ring is hyper focused, or at least close enough in the photo that its easy to see. Everyone wants to see the ring, so no matter what other poses you choose, you've got to have at least one ring shot!

 

The Hidden Kiss

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A very innocent, chaste, and classic pose to announce your upcoming nuptials. We're not sure exactly where this fad originated from, maybe as an old fashioned stage kiss technique, or a way to make a kiss between characters in animated movies more kid friendly. Regardless, its a cute way to display affection on camera, particularly if you and your partner aren't comfortable with posting photos of the two of your kissing for your Grandma or your Pastor to see. Even if public displays of affection aren't a problem, this is still a cute pose to add to your repertoire and can easily be achieved with almost any prop: a balloon (personalized?), a sign, a hat, a bouquet of flowers, maybe even your dog, its up to you!

 

Props and Costumes

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For those who want to get a little more theatrical and eccentric with their engagement photos, props are the perfect way to add a little flair! Think outside the box for this one! Use anything from sparklers, to balloons, confetti, a cute sign, silly photo props like fake mustaches, glasses, or an over sized engagement ring etc... If the two of you have a shared hobby like cosplaying and want to incorporate your love of Steampunk or Dungeons and Dragons, or maybe you're both really into country music and want to rock some cowboy hats and boots. Whatever you decide to do, make it uniquely you!

 

The Selfie

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For some couples, a photo shoot with props, a paid photographer, new threads and a theme to consider just isn't their style. Sometimes, just taking a photo after the big moment can be just enough to say what needs to be said. This can actually be much more authentic if the selfie is taken shortly after the big YES. Genuine smiles, pink cheeks, maybe even some misty eyes...all these can make a simple selfie (maybe throw in a ring flash) be super meaningful and romantic!

 

Black and White

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Nothing beats classic black and white photography. Take any candid moment and make it into a work of art! With black and white engagement photos you don't really need to think about things like themes and colors so much. Just pick the right setting and let the lighting and your love do all the rest! Candid photos look the great in black and white. Just try to make each other laugh and you've got a winner! Black and white photos are super romantic and make great wall decor for your home. This style is great for anyone that wants sweet and simple engagement photos. 

 

The Backwards Embrace

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The "glomp", the backwards hug, the standing cuddle...whatever you want to call it, this pose speaks volumes. It says, this is my person, this is the one I choose. Look at how great they are! This pose is awesome because it can be very romantic and sexy or it can be sweet or silly! Its a very versatile pose that you can do a lot with. Paired with good natural lighting and a nice backdrop, you can go glam or keep things candid and natural! The choice is yours!

 

The Casual Stroll

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Ahh, just a casual walk down lovers lane, super candid, totally not re-shot over and over again... Yes, believe it or not, you may have to pose a little to achieve what appears to be a super romantic and candid shot of you and your partner just walking down the street. Seems simple enough, but this kind of photo is a great opportunity to show off that outfit you picked out just for the occasion, take in the natural lighting and maybe even goof off a bit. It doesn't have to feel so forced if you don't let it be. Just take your lover's hand and walk off into the sunset together...even if it means doing it a few times.

 

The Vogue Cover

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For those of you big imaginations and even bigger budgets, you might consider pulling off an engagement photo likened to that of a magazine cover. A closed set, high fashion clothes, professional makeup, and maybe an eccentric prop or two to really tie it together. The goal here is to make the engagement photo as anti-traditional as possible. The couple looks wistfully off into the distance rather than dotingly into each others eyes. No candid laughter here, just intense gazes and model-esque poses. This isn't to say that the couple in question aren't crazy in love, they just appreciate a great photo and want to make a work of art out of their coupling rather than pose with some silly photo props. 

 

The Lift Off

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A pretty common pose, but it hasn't lost its sweet touch nonetheless. Partner A runs and jumps into Partner B's arms, Partner B catches Partner A. They embrace with a hug, usually followed by a kiss. Partner B swings Partner A around in the air a little, then another kiss. It's a very tender moment. I think this pose has been performed literally every finale of the Bachelor where someone got engaged. They may as well call this the token engagement pose, its not a bad one. It just goes to show that in a moment of heart felt elation the only thing the newly engaged couple wants to do is deeply embrace and hold each other tight knowing that this is their forever, and that's a really nice thought. 

 

The Blanket Wrap

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Not sure exactly whose idea it was to become a blanket burrito with your fiance and call it an engagement photo, but its definitely a thing, and it's become one of the more popular engagement poses as of recently. It's an excuse to get close and cozy with your forever love, and if you live somewhere cold, here's more reason to bundle up! The blanket pose can be done in a winter wonderland setting with a thick wool blanket surrounding you and your partner, or in the springtime with a thinner blanket surrounded by flowers. These photos are used pretty frequently for save the date invitations, just something to consider when deciding what photo to send out to your loved ones!

 

The Nap

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What would make that blanket poses even better would be laying in the grass at the same time while you look lovingly into the eyes of your partner as the photographer snaps away. This pose makes for a romantic, more intimate feeling. It shows how comfortable our couple is with each other, and further illustrates that feeling that they're the only two people in the entire world and nothing can come between them. This is commonly done from an aerial view or potentially at an angle with the eyes closed or open and soft smiles from either partner. These photos never need be striking. Just some soft lighting can make all the difference. Add in a ring flash or perhaps some flowers and make this your wedding welcome sign!

 

The Dip

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Your engagement photo shoot needs just a dash of spice, yes we all know you're in love but lets show off a little sensual chemistry! Nothing too over the top, just a fun little spark to add some oomf to your photos. Might we suggest the dip and kiss as seen above. Twirl your partner around, dip them over and give 'em a spicy smooch to seal the deal. These are YOUR engagement photos! Show off your passion for your partner and add a little fire to your photos!

 

The Twirl

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Speaking of the dip, don't forget the twirl! What could be more romantic than a dance with your fiance? Put some music on the background, slow dance while looking into each others eyes and then give it a whirl! Wear something airy so that the fabric flies out like flower petals as you dance. Just try not to twirl too much! You don't want to get ill while you're taking your engagement photos!

 

The Solar Flare

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Whoa, who turned up the sun? Lighting is everything they say, and it really can make all the difference when it comes to a good photo. A gorgeous sunrise or romantic sunset can both literally and figuratively illuminate your engagement photos. Take your photos at the beach at sunrise when no ones around to get the perfect shot. This may be a time constraint, but getting up early enough to snag the perfect photos without joggers or little kids running around in the background will be worth it. Plus, with the sun up now, you can continue to take photos together and then head home for a well deserved nap!

 

The Wide-shot

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For a more cinematic and scenic take on the engagement photo, get some wide shots of the scenery around you. This is particularly great if you are taking your photos on a wide location (ex: the beach, a mountain, a field). You can pose romantically and show off the fact that your background isn't all faked and as natural as your love is! This might take a bit of work and a couple tries, but the photo will be a great addition to your engagement photos and to your photographers portfolio!

 

The Kiss

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You can't do an engagement photo shoot without a tender kiss shot. Whether it be a sweet kiss on the cheek, a romantic embrace on the lips, or a chaste kiss on the forehead, it's all part of the experience. The way the couple kisses on camera can either mean they're shy with public displays of affection, or have absolutely no issue with displaying their love to the public eye no matter who sees it (Grandma included). On camera kisses should feel natural and not forced if its going to be an effective shoot. No one wants to see a staged kiss that doesn't seem genuine. Get comfortable with your photographer or even try to pretend their not there to try to get the most authentic kiss shots. In the end, its what you two are most comfortable with displaying, and that's all that matters. 

 

Candid Shots

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Sometimes those unplanned, not posed for, caught-while-the-camera-was-clicking-away-photos can say more than any heavily posed for picture. Maybe they aren't always the most flattering and not what you had in mind, but they say a lot about the two of you, your personalities, how you make each other laugh, how you play and goof around when you're trying to be serious. Your whole collection of engagement photos doesn't have to be this, but sometimes its fun to get a couple spur of the moment shots in there to show that your love is genuine.

 

The Care Stare

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The eternal loving embrace... or as I like to call it, The Mind Reader... This is an oldie but a goodie. Who doesn't want to tenderly hold their lover in their arms for a long period of time with your foreheads pressed against one another? This can be soft and sweet or intense and passionate, whatever feels natural to the two of you. It's terribly romantic, and we can totally see this photo being the one you get canvas printed with your vows on it...just saying...

 

The Moment Of

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If you can get a photographer to go stealth mode on your proposal, then you're accomplishing a very challenging feat and should tip them extra. Getting actual legitimate photos of the proposal before and after is a great way to show your loved ones the actual moment you became engaged! If you can't do this, or you simply just want less candid shots, try recreating the proposal in either a romantic or silly way. Nothing will top the actual moment, but at least your photos will look great!

 

engagement photo ideas

However you decide to announce your engagement is up to the two of you, and no matter what route you take with your photos, they're going to look amazing and be something you can look back on for years to come.

See you at the wedding

❤️

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