Nicole's and Patrick's engagement photos are all about relaxed and tender moments
If we've ever met for a wedding photography consultation I run the risk of sounding like a broken record, but doing engagement photos is critical to the success of your wedding pictures — even more so if you're hesitant to be the focus of attention. Great couples' photos are all about being unafraid to be yourselves in front of the camera and engagement photos provide an easy trial run for taking center stage on your wedding day.
To bolster comfort I tend to recommend couples choose a place or places that are special to them, so they feel more at home. As an added benefit, the photos then provide an even more accurate portrait of the two of them during this special time. Nicole and Patrick enjoy the Minneapolis craft beer culture and music scene, so Indeed Brewing Company and First Avenue served as fitting backdrops to their engagement photo session. The couple have frequented both locations for years.
Nicole and Patrick were hoping for a dreamlike snowfall for their engagement photos session, but Mother Nature had other plans in mind. This winter in Minnesota has been especially rough for outdoor activity. What little snowfall we have received here has been followed by bitter cold temperatures transforming any powdery flakes immediately to ice.
The couple could have easily opted for a warmer day, but they put on brave faces and moved forward with their engagement photos as scheduled. As a photographer, this means letting the couples' emotions shine through is what really makes or breaks the images, because there's nothing beautiful happening in the environment during a dry Minnesota February day. Fortunately, I think the three of us made a great team, trusting each other from the beginning, which allowed their love for one another to be the focus of the compositions.
For the second portion of Nicole's and Patrick's engagement photo session we moved to First Avenue, a cornerstone of the Minneapolis music scene for more than 40 years. The two have been to many shows together there, and for me the choice was personally fulfilling since I have such a strong connection to the venue during my teen years.
To cut down on the clutter you'd expect from standing outside the club before a show, we opted for an early morning visit and I still found myself needing to time my photos just right to avoid too many people or distractions in the background. In the end, I was so proud of the photos because they were strong without needing to be rigidly posed. And the couple agreed.
From the bride-to-be: "Pat and I were initially hesitant about having engagement photos taken, having more experience with funny selfies versus true quality photos of us together. Dan made us feel really comfortable with the process and suggested locations that really resonated with us such as the First Ave. concert venue. The photos came out great and were really what we were looking for —something different from the typical ‘posed’ engagement photos and something more unique to us. We're excited for the wedding photos!"
And I'm excited to capture even more great moments like these on your wedding day. Congratulations, Nicole and Patrick!
