Most people don't love being in front of a camera, and that's fine. Morgan and Davis didn't need to. When they came to me for their engagement session in the Wasatch Mountains here in Utah, the goal was simple: skip the stiff poses and let the two of them just be together. As a Salt Lake City engagement photographer with a candid, documentary approach, that's my favorite way to work.
Their Story
I met Morgan and Davis as a couple through friends. They were hilarious and kind and had this easiness between them that was intoxicating to be around. When they asked me to take their engagement photos, there was ZERO QUESTION.
Why the mountains?
The couple got engaged at Crested Butte the previous summer, and they were getting married there too later that fall. So, of course, we had to run around the aspen groves here in Salt Lake underneath golden light.
Letting the Moments Happen
During the session, the doggos were being silly, and we cracked open some Coors Banquets. Hence some of the photos of Morgan dropping it back ;)
I gave light direction, like where to walk and when to pause, and then stepped back. The best engagement photos usually come from the in-between moments, not the posed ones.
What to Wear
Morgan and Davis wore clothes that weren’t too stiff and were breezy for a September evening. We hiked down into the meadow with a cooler full of beer and with their two doggos in tow. They had been to this meadow many times before, and had picnic there in the past. We wanted it to be reminiscent of their time together. We kept their wardrobes simple, breathable, and soft in texture.
Planning your own session? Solid colors, comfortable layers, and outfits that feel like you will photograph better than anything trendy or overly coordinated.
Why Do an Engagement Session?
An engagement session gets you comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding, gives you photos for save-the-dates and your wedding website, and lets you and your photographer get to know each other. By the wedding day, you'll feel like you're working with a friend.
Planning Your Engagement Session in Salt Lake City?
I'm Ashley, a Salt Lake City wedding and engagement photographer specializing in candid, documentary-style photography across Utah. If you've recently gotten engaged and want photos that feel like you, I'd love to hear your story.
