It’s one of the hardest decisions you have to make when you book a portrait session. You’ve chosen your photographer, you’ve chosen the date, and now it’s all down to one final, photo-altering decision: where should you do your portrait session?

This decision is absolutely my favorite part of the process of booking your engagement or graduation shoot. Your choice can go from making your photos look good to making them mean so much more. If you’re overwhelmed by all the possibilities for where you could go, I’m here to help! By the end of this, you’ll either have somewhere specific in mind or you’ll have such a solid idea of what you want that it will take no time to find that special place. If you’ve already decided on a location, ask yourself if it aligns with these topics, then talk it over with your partner, parents, or photographer to see if it’s the best match for you!

Tip #1: Pick somewhere with personal meaning

My number one tip for making photos mean so much more to you is to pick somewhere that has personal significance. If this is an engagement shoot, pick where you two met, where you had your first date, where you spend most of your time, where your favorite memory together is, where the proposal happened, or where your wedding will be. If you’re a senior, pick somewhere that has a lot of memories or choose your school grounds. When you can connect your pictures to the location, you can associate it with the memories you have there, and it will make your emotions so much stronger when you see your photos.

Tip #2: Pick somewhere that reflects your personality

If you don’t have somewhere specific in mind, think about the things you love. Think about what you love to do on the weekends! Love hiking? Go to one of your favorite trails or somewhere new. Love going to the beach? Pick a nice sandy spot. Love your dogs? Find an open field where you can interact together. Find somewhere that will bring our your personality and allow you to be the most comfortable and happy you can be.

Tip #3: Pick somewhere you’ve always wanted to go

Have you always wanted to go to a national park, but never found the right time? Or have you passed by an overlook on your drive every day but have never stopped? Or have you been liking photos of a beautiful vineyard for months but have never driven out that way? Now’s your change to go to that location you’ve been dreaming about, and you’ll have no more excuses. Pick somewhere you think looks awesome or would give you an amazing experience, and let’s do it!!

Tip #4: Think about the seasons

If you absolutely love summer like I do, pick somewhere that highlights the beautiful greens I try to surround myself with. Go to a forest or lake and take in that warm weather. If you find yourself dreaming of the colors of autumn, find a park with trees that showcase the wonders of the season. Love winter? Find somewhere that is easily accessible and open so you can be safe and get all the fun of snow. If you want flowers upon flowers in your images, find a garden or field of wildflowers in spring. One location can hold four different feelings in a year, so think about which one most reflects you!

Tip #5: Pick somewhere with variety

You’ve thought it over, and you’re both a nature person AND a city person. That’s okay! Pick somewhere that offers the variety you need, such as a cute little downtown, a city park, or a neighborhood. Get the best of every world all in one location!

Tip #6: Ask for help

This is what I’m here for! My job is to give you the best photos you can get, and part of that process is helping you decide on the location that most fits you. I’m an expert on picking locations based on the information you give me. For each session, I will deliver a list of locations for you to choose from that fit exactly your needs, and you can decide from them or take it further and find one for yourself based on my suggestions!

If at the end of the day you really can’t decide between an mountain hike and a downtown area for your portrait session, you can always add a second location to your package and we can do BOTH! Your package will always be tailored to your needs, and I will be here to help you get there.

I hope this blog post helped you find your dream location for your portrait session and make it become a reality. If you want to see some of my favorite locations, check out my blog to see past sessions! Some personal favorite locations are Skyline Drive (I know all the best hikes and overlooks!), the George Washington National Forest (so many great places to go), and the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum here in Harrisonburg (to see a session there, check out this engagement session)

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