Nautical Engagement Pictures

I recently saw this incredibly gorgeous and completely nautical engagement session over at grey likes weddings {right here } and just had to share. After all, the nautical-ness that you are about to see is what tying the knot is all about. Sailboats, a wooden dock, buoys, sailing rope and blue skies. You just cannot go wrong.
I am loving the use of oars! The middle shot is just adorable. The couple could display a few of these pictures at their reception and have guests sign an oar instead of the traditional guest book!
Usually it's the bride-to-be's shoes that are featured in the famed "shoe shot." However, these Sperry Top-Siders totally stole the show {and the shot}!
This straight up nautical session is courtesy of yuriy manchik, a Seattle-based photographer. The entire engagement session can be seen right here.
As much as I loved the nautical-ish engagement photos of ours seeing these makes me wish that we would have taken it one step further and gone all out with a full-blown nautical engagement session!p.s. A little shout-out to Summer of grey likes weddings. She always features the best weddings. Reading her blog is a little slice of sunshine everyday.

Engagement Pictures at the Speedway

Indianapolis is gearing up for the Indianapolis 500 and I couldn't resist sharing a couple pictures from this engagement session shot by Nicole Green at the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway!

All of these shots were taken on the historic bricks that are still exposed on the track. You all know that I love the "shoe shot" that also provides a close up of the bricks! Thanks so much, Nicole, for sharing these pictures!

Picture Perfect: Matt & Erica

I follow too many photographers blogs. Way too many. But it's all worth it when a couple that I know appears on one of those blogs. This time it was one of my sorority sisters, Erica, and her fiance, Matt. It took me all of two seconds to e-mail the ever fabulous photographer, megan w to see if I could share their pictures with all of you. You're in for a treat today.
Matt and Erica are "total foodies" as she puts it. They wanted some of their engagement photos in an Indianapolis restaurant with a unique, romantic and architectural feel.

Erica's black pumps and pencil skirt coordinated perfectly with Matt's professional suit and the attire was fitting for the restaurants' upscale cocktail hour. The pictures turned out just as Erica wanted them...a little sexy & sultry.

Matt & Erica also made a stop at Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians. Matt is an umpire in his spare time and Erica will often come to watch his games. The playful pictures from Victory field are some of Erica's favorites.

Matt and Erica took a bottle of wine to Memorial Park for a little picnic in the park. How cute is this, the blanket they sat on was made by Matt's grandma and the picnic basket was Erica's great grandmas.

This next photo is my favorite, hands down.

Erica and Matt are having their wedding and reception north of the city, so a couple of shots on the streets in downtown Indianapolis were a must. The Circle was the perfect location.

There were so many shots from their engagement session to choose from, it was hard to narrow it down. Matt and Erica also incorporated her favorite coffee shop, the Colts and the view of downtown from the suite where Matt works. They literally covered almost all of downtown in their engagement session!

You'll have to wait a little longer to see their wedding pictures. Matt & Erica are tying the knot on July 10th in Indianapolis. I'll be sure to post the pictures of the stunning bride & groom right here as soon as I get my little hands on them.

All pictures taken by megan w photography & used with expressed permission.

Throw Ring

Remember this engagement session that I was so enamoured with!?
Well, the photographer, kate headley, just posted a sneak peak of one of the details from their wedding. And it totally ties into their engagement session!
The couple's adorable dog was featured in their engagement photo {left}. An adorable cookie reflected the black lab with an orange throw ring {right}, paying homage to the couple's too-cute-for-words engagement pictures. Needless to say, I cannot wait for the rest of the wedding pictures!!!
photos by: kate headley

An Abandoned Greenhouse

I do believe that this engagement photo was taken inside an old abandoned greenhouse. Clearly, the results were phenomenal. Proof once again that one's idea of pretty scenery isn't necessarily pertinent to obtaining framaeble pictures. But, just in case you are more of a traditional engagement picture bride to be, here are a couple of other lovelies from their session.

pictures discovered on the brides cafe right here by What Shanni Saw.

Engagement Pictures: Carnival Fun

The days of summer are slowly slipping by. If your engagement session is coming up and the state fair or carnival is in town, grab your finance and your photographer and get to work capturing the last few rays of a beautiful summer evening.
I personally think it's a must to hop on the ferris wheel and the carousel. What's not to love about these pictures?!
When the sun sets, the vibrant colors of the sky combined with the glow from the booths are sure to make for some breathtaking pictures. previous posts on this topic: here
photos, from top to bottom: chenin boutwell, leo patrone via snippet & ink and millie holloman

Potential New Best Friends

I saw a little snippet of this engagement session of a super cute couple and I instantly wished they were our neighbors. I have a feeling that we could be the best of friends. You'll see why in a second. But let's just start with the fact that both her and I wore the same pop of coral/orange for our engagement photos.

Are you kidding me with this nauticalness {below}!? I am in love. In case you didn't know, Chris and have a love for all things nautical and incorporated it into our engagement pictures here. Do you see the best friend bond forming!?But this one?! This one did me in. Be still my heart. The puppy + the life vests = major preciousness.

You wouldn't want to take all your engagement pictures in the same place or with the same outfit now would you?! I like to call this one "City Chic."
If anyone knows where Chris and I can get neighbors like this, please let us know. We'll bring over the pitcher of margaritas.

sweet engagement photos by kate headley as found on ritzy bee.

Pretty Scenery?

If there is ever a reason to think that you must be surrounded by pretty scenery to obtain great engagement pictures, let this shoot prove you wrong.
From shrubbery to a parking lot, this couple posed in some nontraditional locations {isn't that what it's all about these days!?} which provided them with some lovely engagement pictures.

I've written about nontraditional locations before. This post was all about trusting your photographer when it comes to your engagement shoot locations. Newspaper stands, graffiti walls, fences and alleys are all fair game, remember?!

So, would you do it!? Are you bold enough to let your personalities, smiles and maybe a killer outfit command your photographs and let the scenery take a back seat?!

pictures by the talented sloan photographers

Props

I'm sure that by now you have all heard of the photographer Max Wagner. His work has been floating around the blog world for quite some time now and if you have a looksie, I think that you'll see why.
Max Wagner is "famous" for his use of pretty props in his engagement shoots. He has used everything from a balloon and a sucker to a hula hoop. My favorite is his latest from this engagement shoot. The loose bouquet adds instant romance to the shoot and the results are stunning. If you visit his blog, be prepared to stay a while.

Make It Yours

Just a little post to remind you that your engagement shoot should be a true reflection of the two of you. If you love the lake, like we do, then drag your photographer up there with you to snag some shots in a place that you love. If you met while attending the same college, then take a stroll back down memory lane. If your dogs mean the world to the two of you then bring them along for the shoot. Whatever you do, make it yours.I absolutely adore this casual and laid back feel of this photo. It just goes to show that you don't have to wear your little black dress to the shoot, especially if it isn't really "you." Let your engagement pictures reflect your true personalities and you'll be quite happy with the results.
photo by: jenna walker photography.com

Don't Judge

The pictures in this little post are to encourage you not to judge the locations that your photographer takes you for your engagement session. Just because they don't take you to the most beautiful mountain top or the most gorgeous lake, your pictures will still be beautiful {and unique}.
For example, when your photographer tells you to take a perch on the nearest newspaper stand or hang out in front of a blue graffitied wall...don't judge. The evidence of the fantastic-ness of such a setting is above and below.
A rusty fence with road signs, yes please! It end result will probably be one of your favorites.
And that old building, off an alley, with the paint chipping off of it....just do it. Hop into that doorway like you own it.

So, the take away from this post? Trust your photographer. Just go wherever they tell you to go. An old storefront, under a bridge, in a staircase...all are fair game and all result in beautiful pictures.

pictures via bobbi + mike except for the rusted fence picture which is by matthew morgan

Grassy

A sure fire way to make sure that you loooove at least one of your engagement pictures? Lay down together in the grass. Guaranteed framer.

The grassy shot can have so many different feels depending on the light in the photo, the expressions on the couple and the style of the photographer. For example, the picture above is bright, vibrant, and completely breathtaking, just like the photographer that took it.
The great thing about the grassy shot is that it looks good in color, black & white and with a vintage flair. Go ahead and try to tell me that if any one of these were your engagement picture that they wouldn't end up enlarged and in a frame. I don't believe you because they are just too good.

The take away from this post? The grassy shot always works. Try to prove me wrong.

b+w photo by bobbi + mike and vintage photo by oeil photography

Pseudo Forest

Spring is very much the time for engagement sessions and there have been some wonderful ones floating around the blogging world lately. I thought that I would devote {the rest of} this week on tying the knot to lovely little engagement sessions.

I can’t help but to start with this one, by Jennifer Skog. You all know how I feel about engagement and/or wedding pictures that take place in a field, right? Well this particular engagement shoot takes place in a field within a pseudo forest and it makes my heart pitter patter. Just have a looksie, you’ll see why.

Things I love about this engagement shoot: the lush green setting, the chic couple and the love that can be seen & felt through these pictures.

I am a firm believer in that the best photos are close ups. Exhibit A:
Please, friends, take note of the fact that the couple didn't get all "matchy-matchy" with their outfits. It's much more aesthetically pleasing if the outfits simply compliment one another and give off the same vibe {please don't wear your favorite little black dress and red heels while your fiance is sporting a ball cap, jeans with holes, flip flops and his favorite football jersey}.

Take away from this engagement photo session: don't be afraid to get close and snuggle. attempt to make your outfits coordinate and compliment. oh, and if you can find a lovely setting like this one to pose in, it will make your photos look 10 times "cooler", i promise.

Photos of this lovely engagement session can be found on the blog of Jennifer Skog.

Hold That Thought

I know I told you that I would be sharing some lovely engagement photos with you this week....but we'll have to hold that thought for a hot second. I'm out of town for two weeks in Omaha, Nebraska {any local readers out there?!} on work and the Marriott we're staying at offers NO internet. Nada. Seriously. Luckily for all of you {and for my own sanity}, there is a Paradise Bakery across the street with free wi-fi. Might as well make up a plaque with my name on it and stick it to the corner booth because I'll be shutting the place down every night.

So, my little bloggity blog friends, I will hopefully be back to regularly scheduled programming later tonight. I'll leave you with this bubblicious engagement photo.

via: simply bloom photography

Ladder

Next week I'll be sharing some of the prettiest little engagement photos {besides my own} that I've seen in a long time. Until then, here's a little something to hold you over.
I saw this picture not too long ago on the blog of boutwell studio. Not only are the rolling fields in the background beautiful, but I love the use of the ladder in the photo shoot!

Who would have thought that an item in one's garage could be the perfect prop for an engagement photo shoot?

photo by the lovely chenin boutwell