What a sweet and romantic Wilmington engagement session Aubrey and Noah had on the beach! The weather was lovely and they got to splash around in the waves at the sunset! They were such a great couple to work with and I know their wedding will be beautiful!
Aubrey and Noah are both social studies teachers and met at the school where they both work. They have been teaching at the same school for 4 years. Noah and Aubrey enjoy fishing together and trying out new restaurants.
Their engagement photshoot started on Summer Rest Road. The area has a large live oak tree and is the perfect location at the start of golden hour. This is one of my favorite spots to start engagement portraits before the beach because the lighting is perfect and creates a natural transition to the beach. The couple that owns the house we pose in front of are very nice and always wave each time I bring a new couple for engagement pictures.
We started towards Wrightsville Beach near the Oceanic Pier for the second half of their session. We even got some portraits with the lifeguard stand in the background. This was such a fun element to add to engagement beach pictures! We couldn’t complete their session without pictures among the dunes and the pier.
I had the best time with this couple, and I can’t wait for their wedding at The Upchurch in Cary, NC this September!
Preparing For Your Beach Engagement Session
Timing is everything when it comes to a beach engagement session! You can only shoot on the beach an hour before sunset for the best lighting, which is known as golden hour. It’s called golden hour for a reason: if the sun is too high, it reflects on the sand and makes you squint. I start shooting at the dunes first and then I head towards the water when the sun has just about fully set. This is the type of glowly light that engagement photographers are excited about!
Helpful Tips on What to Wear
I recommend to all of my couples that they wear one casual outfit and one dressy outfit. If they are unsure about what to wear, I encourage them to bring different pieces and I can help them make a decision.
Women should always choose flowly fabrics such as dresses or skirts. Fabrics such as cotton, linen or similar light clothing that move with the breeze look gorgeous on camera.
Because the beach produces light colors from the sky and the sand, it’s best to wear neutral or pastel tones. These colors match the natural setting of the ocean and keep the focus on you and your partner. With that being said, make sure you avoid stripes, logos, or heavy prints as they can be distracting.
Your outfit colors should be complementary rather than identical. An example of this would be the girl wearing a light pink dress and her partner wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a blue button down shirt. You could also choose to wear a light green dress while your partner wears a white button down or short sleeve shirt with a pair of jeans.
Finally, you’re at the beach! Kick off those shoes and go barefoot if it feels right for you! Some prefer to keep their shoes on during the entire session and that is completely fine! Just make sure to wear a pair of shoes or sandals that can handle the loose sand and the water.
This engagement session is about celebrating your love, so don’t worry about being perfect. Just be yourselves! Laugh, cuddle, or dance in the waves if you want to! The best photos often come from the in-between moments and this is what I aim to achieve every time I work with my couples.
Your portraits should feel like a fun date with your favorite person, with a camera tagging along. If you have questions about locations, outfits, or want to brainstorm something unique for your session, I’m just an email away! Let’s make some magic at the beach!
