Engagement Sessions that Reflect your Relationship
Mario and Chase’s arcade engagement session was nothing short of magical. In our planning and discovery call together, the engaged couple proposed three locations to incorporate into their session - all of which meant something special to them throughout their relationship. In this same phone call, they’d asked for their photos to feel like film - vintage, grainy and nostalgic - to which I excitedly said, “1000% yes”. We even captured some photos on 35mm film!
We began their session at their home to grab a few photos with their cherished kitties - Dottie and Mochi. The kitties were surely camera shy, but not before we were able to snag one lovely picture with each family member present.
Next, we took a short drive over to Chase and Mario’s second special location - their wedding venue. Even though we were still experiencing Michigan’s cold winter season during their session, the grounds were absolutely beautiful with the grasses peppered in snow. The showstopper was definitely the large cobblestone house with stunning green shutters!
The final location Mario and Chase selected for their engagement photos was Pinball Pete’s, an arcade in downtown Ann Arbor and well-known icon of the city. This location is a long-time date night spot for the couple going back to nearly a decade ago. I was ecstatic to hear they wanted to reserve the arcade for their session. It is such a unique and colorful spot for a photoshoot, but especially engagement photos. It’s also in this location that the vintage, film-vibes really stand out and shine! To get this look, a star filter was used over my lens as well as flash.
The arcade became a backdrop for some of the most joyful and carefree moments I've ever captured. Watching the couple play space invaders and pinball, their laughter echoing through the arcade, everything just felt so natural and true. Choosing a location they had a personal connection to made for the most perfectly fun and laid back session.
Unfiltered Creativity
I couldn’t help but smile with excitement over the photos during the session and while editing afterwards. Unique sessions like theirs allow for creative ideas - like placing Chase’s engagement ring inside a quarter machine ball - to occur!
35mm Film at the Arcade
Mario and Chase chose to incorporate 35mm film into their session as well to perfectly meet the vintage vibe they were looking for.
There are so many reasons why you should plan an engagement session that rings true to you and your love. If you feel that your relationship would be best represented by incorporating your passions, having a themed shoot, or recreating your first date, then I say let’s start planning!
Have a conversation with your partner and discuss how you want your engagement photos to feel. Playful, joyous, intimate, vintage, emotive, adventurous? Consider the hobbies you two share together to see if you’d like to incorporate these hobbies into your photos. Do you like to admire art together? Plan your photos at an art museum! Do you love going out on the boat in the summer? Take a trip to the lake and have your photos taken on a boat! There are so many ways to incorporate bits of your history as a couple into photos. Plus, your photographer will be there every step of the way to help you plan the engagement photo session of dreams!
Mario and Chase's engagement session was not just a photoshoot, it was a journey into their world, a glimpse into their playful and loving relationship. Thank you Pinball Pete’s for having us and congratulations, my friends! Cheers to love, laughter, and a lifetime of adventures together.
Pres-er-va-tion-ist (noun)
A supporter or advocate of the preservation of something, especially of [history] and artifacts.
A photographer.
You.
