University of Redlands Engagement Session

E & R knew right from the start where they wanted to take their engagement pictures because it’s the place they first met: The University of Redlands. Since I always encourage my couples to chose a location that has meaning for their story, I was really excited for this one. This session was my first visit to the campus and I was looking forward to incorporating the beautiful architecture into their engagement session. We timed the session around sunset so that we could capture that romantic golden glow in the air.

Our first stop for the session was the Administration Building. Before we even arrived, I knew that this iconic spot would make for some epic portaits. Since the sun was still pretty high up, and there were other photoshoots happening on the front steps, we decided to go around back.

E & R had a handful of inspiration images that they’d shared with me before their engagement session, and it was clear that they wanted a mix of romantic and timeless images, with a little bit of “wow” factor sprinkled in. With that in mind, I had them start with a very classic pose on the steps.

Afterward, I had them come up the stairs to create a dramatic wide image that showed off the back of the building.

While most of the images I take on engagement sessions are of the couple together, I love to change it up and do at least a couple of each individual.

As we headed toward our next location, I noticed how the light was filtering through the trees on this raised planter. Thankfully, E & R were up for a little adventure and were willing to climb into the planter for a few quick shots. Thanks for humoring me, guys!

Then we headed to the Quad area to make our way towards Memorial Chapel. I loved the way these palm trees lined the side walk, it’s very “SoCal” and I wanted to show off the scene a little, so I had them do a playful run along the path.

Before we left the chapel, I wanted to create something a little more dramatic that showed off the whole structure. A little pop of light behind the couple allowed me to darken the scene in camera and create a fun silhouette like shot.

Now that the sun was starting to set, the crowd of people taking pictures at the Admin building started to clear out. It was time for us to head back and create a few “epic” shots before finishing up. First, we took a few shots in the garden and I had to get a shot from the lawn.

Then, it was back up the steps of the Admin Building so we could create a super moody shot of the scene. Since I knew it was going to be a wide shot and they’d be small in the frame, I asked them to give me a power couple pose – they really did a great job pulling it off!

Right as we were about to wrap up, I was taking a few shots of the couple on the top step. My assistant (and wonderful husband, Collyn) had been behind them setting up lighting and pointed out that the view from behind the couple was an even more interesting shot! Thanks to his good eye, we were able to capture a super cute series of photos showing the chapel lit up in the distance. This is why I encourage both my clients and my team to share if they have an idea – they don’t always work out, but when they do, it really helps to add to the overall story in the gallery!

This session was a reminder that the best locations aren’t necessarily the most well-known ones — they’re the ones that mean something to the couple. If you’re ready to plan a session somewhere meaningful to you, let’s talk.