Photographing Couples: A Series 

April 20, 2020 | category: PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

It’s important to get a sense of your couple before photographing them, just like they probably did tons of research when looking for you. Going into a shoot with a new couple, I feel most confident when I know a little about their love story. I’ve learned that it eases the nerves of first introductions and helps me connect with my couples right off the bat!

- After a couple books, send them a QUESTIONNAIRE for them to fill out and send back to you before the shoot. Ask questions like:

“When you look back on this season of your life, what do you want to remember most?” 
“How do you show your partner you love them?”
“What’s your favorite thing to do together?”

You can also ask them to consider what images from your portfolio stood out to them when looking for a photographer. This will tell you how they envision themselves in your work. For example, a lot of my couples have told me they were drawn to a specific session because it was playful and full of laughter - this tells me they’re probably a couple that loves to have fun together, goof around, and make each other laugh. At the shoot, I make sure to use playful prompts that will get them rolling around in the grass or playing tag on the beach - perfect for their gallery. Or a couple might say they’re drawn to the intimate and emotional images in my portfolio which tells me they might enjoy a cozy, fuzzy-socks-and-hot-chocolate type of home session. 

Their answers will tell you so much about their personalities, the relationship, their vibe. This becomes invaluable information as you’re planning for your shoot and on the day of, when capturing photographs that truly reflect who they are and how they love. 

tips and tricks for planning and shooting successful couple sessions
+ creating meaningful experiences for your couples along the way.

Part 1 // Before the Session

do your homework.

picking the perfect location.

Look to the answers in the questionnaire for ideas. If they love spending their Saturdays at the beach, suggest that sunset spot you’ve been dying to shoot - chances are they’ll love it! If they mention a favorite coffee shop, why not start the session there? Work with your couple to choose locations they can get psyched about - everyone gets nervous around a camera, so picking a place that your couple will feel comfortable in is super important! 

You can never be too thoughtful! You know what patterns and colors look best on camera, so send your couple a style guide to help them get past those initial what do I wear?? fears. Give them a run down of the session, send directions to the location, be a resource every step of the way. Do your best to make them feel cared for, and like you’ve got their back. You get out what you put in, and I’ve found the most rewarding part of this job has been the friendships I’ve made with the people I’ve photographed. Genuine attention to your couples will always reflect beautifully in your work and in your life. 

COMMUNICATION makes all the difference.

That just about sums it up — for now.  I'll be continuing this series for the next few months, so if you like what you read (I hope you did!) stay tuned for more on the fundamentals of photographing a couple's session & creating imagery that your clients will cherish. In the meantime, check out PART TWO or grab my freebie below - my 6 go-to prompts to use on your next engagement or couple's shoot!

xo anna elizabeth