Most Engagement Photoshoot Pictures Are Uninspiring

Because Most Pictures Lack Creative Couple Poses and Outfits with Fun Theme Ideas

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Most engagement pictures I see out there are bland. And no, I'm not talking about the technical quality of the pictures, far from it. I’m referring more to the aesthetics and the creativity behind them, or lack thereof. Because most engagement pictures on the internet are void of any personality and look exactly the same as the ones posted yesterday. You know what I'm talking about. If you don't, look up engagement photo ideas, and you'll see it: couples dressed in their Sundays best taking pictures at the beach or on a mountaintop, often in six-inch stilettos.

For cereal!? You’re gonna tell me that’s how you and everyone else you know dresses for the beach or on their hike in Griffith Park? Or worse! Seeing the guy in a t-shirt next to the lovely one in a beautiful formal gown.

And you’d think that in a city made up of creatives like Los Angeles and our modern social media obsession, you'd expect to see engagement photos with distinct concepts, ideas, and themes. But no, we keep seeing the same generic, basic engagement photos over and over again. Which I don’t understand because photographers often include engagement sessions in their pricing packages or throw them in as leverage to book them. So, you'd think couples would take advantage of this practically free session to showcase their personality, interests, and hobbies. But sadly, that is not the case.

Which again, makes no sense because many of us hate dressing up or simply don't do it every day. So why show the world someone who isn't you? Isn't that what the wedding is for—the one day you wake up early to actually put in the effort to look your best? So why waste this opportunity to show who you really are? After all, you will have an entire day to wear your Sundays best on your wedding day.

And look! If you wear stilettos to the beach or on your daily hikes, get it mama! You do you! You like it I love it. Don’t listen to this drunk lunatic.

What to Wear and How to Pose for Couples Pictures: Fun Ideas for Engagement Photoshoots

Should you decide on an engagement photoshoot, be it because you paid extra for it or it was included in your wedding photography package, remember that the engagement session should be about showcasing your personalities. Most photographers don’t rush through this session so make a day out of it. You’re paying top dollar for these photos so you might as well make the most of it and not settle with posed photos in formal wear that will no doubt drown on the Instagram algorithm along with everyone else’s posed engagement photos.

Showcase what you love to do by incorporating personal props, plan on doing something for the session. Like hitting up a taco truck, lurking around the OC Fair, setting up a tent in the mountains, swimming at a river in vintage swimwear, playing out your favorite movie scene with costumes, etc. There are a gazillion things you can do for your engagement session beyond what you see on Instagram and Pinterest.

Most importantly, your wardrobe should complement your environment and make sense for the location. Wear something you would naturally wear in that space.

Bonnie and Clyde, Zombie Engagement Photos and The Twilight Zone

Look inward and you'd be surprised how easy it is to come up with a creative concept because we're all unique in our own quirky little way. Take my clients for example from the photos throughout this post. We have Twilight Zone fans, zombie enthusiasts, Bonnie and Clyde admirers, while others own a little ranch and brought their horse Tequila along for their photos, which then got picked up by The White Wren. Just please, don’t follow today’s trend because your photos will age once next season’s trend rolls around. And let’s stop with the impractical concept of wearing heels or a suit at the beach or in the middle of a desert or forest.

Unique, Meaningful Engagement Photos and Why They Matter

Sadly, many couples take generic engagement photos simply because it's what everyone does. And it shouldn't be this way. Engagement photos should be about creating meaningful photographs that show who you are in that moment in your lives together.

And correct me if I’m wrong, but it's been a while since I’ve seen a unique engagement session go viral. Back in 2011, an engagement session called "Zombie Attack" went viral among the photography community, and in 2013, another couple did the same, but they added a comic strip to theirs. And since, I haven’t seen anything as unique or even go anywhere near as viral after Instagram took over blogs.

And look! I'm not saying you should do something different with your engagement pictures for the sake of going viral.

What I’m saying is that unless you regularly book a photographer for family or newborn photos, your wedding might be the first and last time you pay someone to take professional pictures of you. So do not waste the opportunity to showcase your personality by wearing formal attire that you’ve worn or will wear to someone else’s wedding.