"I'm Just a Girl, Standing in Front of a Camera, Asking It to Love Her" — A Guide On Retro Engagement Shoots

If you’re planning your engagement photos and thinking, “okay but what do we actually do?” — you’re in exactly the right place.

Here’s the truth: your engagement session doesn’t need to be overly posed, perfectly polished, or feel like a performance. It should capture how you feel on your very best day. You’re a little dressed up, a little playful, maybe a little nostalgic. And if you really want to make it memorable? Start with a vibe.

Choose a Theme (Trust Me on This)

No, I don’t mean in a, “we need a strict concept and mood board” kind of way. More like a feeling. 

For this session, we leaned fully into a 90’s retro, cozy, music-filled vibe, and everything flowed seamlessly from there. I’m talkin’ a pastel record player spinning away, headphones shared between the couple, dancing around a vintage living room covered in disco balls. 

It’s simple. It’s intentional. And it gives you something to do, which makes everything feel more natural on camera. 

Find a Space That Already Has Personality 

One of the biggest reasons this shoot worked so well? The location was doing a lot of the heavy lifting for us (love you Wish Well ❤️‍🔥). 

When you’re planning a themed engagement session, choosing the right space can completely transform the final gallery. A venue with strong natural light, interesting textures, cozy corners, and/or built-in decor instantly makes everything feel more immersive and intentional. 

For this shoot, Wish Well already had so much personality baked in. I’m talking vintage details, splashes of color, space to move around freely, the works. We didn’t have to force the vibe because it was already there.

And honestly? Having a more private setting makes a huge difference, especially if you’re nervous in front of the camera (although you shouldn't be — hello, gorgeous). You’re able to settle in, play music, dance around a little (or a lot), and actually enjoy yourselves without feeling like strangers are watching you from across the park.

Sometimes the location becomes part of the story just as much as the couple does. 

Make It Feel Like a Memory, Not a Photoshoot 

The best engagement photos don’t feel like, “stand here, look there, SMILE.” 

When done right (which I’m really good at, by the way), they capture quiet moments on the couch, laughing at something dumb that just happened (my favorite moments), that split second before a kiss. Swoon.

In this shoot, nothing felt rushed or overly directed. It was more like hanging out — just two people sitting on the floor, leaning into each other, getting a little lost in the music. It was pure bliss. 

Outfits That Feel Like You 

Let’s talk outfits — because yes, they matter, but not in the way you might think. This shoot worked so well because the outfits felt comfortable, coordinated without matching, and slightly styled but in a real way. 

Denim, soft textures, a flowy top, a button down with subtle details — that’s it. Nothing overly complicated. The goal should never be to look like someone you’re not. Aim to look intentionally like yourself. 

Props That Pop

Props can either feel forced, or they can completely transform a session. The key? Make them meaningful and interactive. 

For this shoot, everything had a purpose. The record player gave us movement and sound. The headphones created intimacy (I mean, what’s more bonding than a shared playlist?). The vinyls added color and personality. The space itself felt lived-in and cozy. 

Nothing was just sitting there looking pretty…well, except the couple, of course. 

We made sure that every piece invited interaction. 

Don’t Be Afraid of a Little Nostalgia 

There’s something about a retro-inspired session that hits differently. The colors. The textures. The slight imperfections of it all. 

There’s a warmth and a familiarity that reminds you of something you’ve seen before but can’t quite place. That’s what makes it feel timeless. 

This shoot captured that energy — soft light coming through the windows, disco balls catching reflections, quiet corners that felt like they held stories. 

It didn’t feel trendy. It felt like a memory you could step into. 

Let Go of “Here’s What You Should Do…”

Let’s make one thing crystal clear — you do not have to stand perfectly posed the whole time, look at the camera in every shot, or act like a magazine cover couple. 

Sit on the floor. Laugh mid-sentence. Be a little awkward at first (or the whole time, no judgement here). 

At the end of the day, this isn’t about creating the “perfect” engagement gallery. It’s about documenting a season of your life — the in-between before everything changes. The way you exist together when no one’s watching. The little moments you don’t think twice about now, but will mean everything later. 

Like the Last Scene of a 90s Rom-Com

You know that moment at the end of a 90s movie? The music’s playing. Everything feels a little softer. A little warmer. Nothing big is happening, but somehow it feels like everything is.

That’s the energy this kind of session holds.

Soft lighting, sharing headphones, laughing halfway through a song you both forgot you loved — it’s not staged, it’s just happening. And that’s what makes it stick. Nothing is perfectly posed or overly thought out. It simply feels like you two, exactly as you are, in a moment you’ll want to come back to. And would you want it any other way? As if! 

Reach out today, and we’ll start building something that feels like you from the very first idea.