When Andrea and Dan first got in touch about their wedding, they shared how much they loved the mountains and had even considered getting married there. In the end, they chose a venue in Calgary but still hoped to bring a little of that mountain beauty into their engagement session.

We had a spectacular, tucked-away spot in mind—one we’ve been excited to use—but soon discovered the access road doesn’t open until late spring. Not one to give up easily, I pulled up Google Maps and started the search for an equally beautiful alternative.

As timing would have it, our family had a mid-winter getaway planned in the mountains, so Aiden and I took the chance to scout the location ahead of time in Kananaskis. It was a crisp -20°C when we visited—absolutely freezing, but the views made it totally worth it. By the time Andrea and Dan’s session came around, the temperature had climbed to +5°C… but this warm up also brought with it our classic chinook winds. At one point on the drive there, Aiden had the steering wheel turned 10 degrees to the left just to keep the car going straight—it was that windy! Still, I was hopeful things would calm down once we got off the highway and into the trees.

When Andrea, Dan, and Andrea’s son Samuel arrived, our blue skies and sun quickly vanished behind some fast-moving storm clouds. Although it wasn’t what we had pictured when we first arrived, the moody sky provided a gorgeous diffused light. The colours in their outfits and the winter landscape popped even more—allowing their genuine connection to each other to shine through.

3 Tips for a Fun Engagement Photo Session

1. Make it a date
   When planning engagement sessions we ask our bride and groom what they would normally do for a date. A great engagement session provides opportunity to document a couple’s genuine connection. These authentic moments become much easier to create when they are doing something fun together that does not feel out of the ordinary. Dan and Andrea describe themselves as outdoor lovers who are not outdoorsy. This easily accessible mountain location made this a solid choice for their session. They have been working on dancing for their reception so the boat dock next to the pond provided the perfect location to capture them practicing.
2. Wear comfortable clothes
   A great rule of thumb I learned from photographer Pye Jirsa is to pick what you would normally wear for a casual date night and take it up level it up one level. Steer clear of clothing that makes you physically uncomfortable or self-conscious. You might think you can fake it, but the distraction of your discomfort will likely come through in your photos. Dan and Andrea looked amazing in their cozy sweaters. They also had warm jackets and mitts on hand in our wagon to put on in between set ups so they did not get too cold.
3. Incorporate props that reflect your relationship
   Dan, Andrea and Samuel love to play board games together, so we found a picnic table, set up the games and snacks and captured them doing something they love. Andrea even brought some of their favourite Columbian foods as a nod to her homeland and culture.

We are excited to work with Andrea, Dan and Samuel on their soon-approaching wedding day. Thank you for choosing to work with Laura Perron Photography to create this special Rocky Mountain engagement session.

If you are interested in booking an engagement shoot with us, start the conversation with us today here.