One of my favorite things about growing as an engagement photographer is that I find myself saying “I think this was my favorite session yet!!” after every single engagement session. Right when I met up with Veronika and Tom near the Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk, Veronika told me she was a little nervous for the session and that they might be a little awkward in front of the camera. Now I’m sure other engagement and wedding photographers can attest to this, but most times when people say this, it ends up being far from the truth!! All people need is a little bit of guidance in front of the camera (because it can definitely feel awkward or weird to be showing PDA for an hour and a half straight in front of a stranger you’ve never met)—but that’s where I come in!

Since I’ve started my career as a wedding and engagement photographer, I’ve learned SO much about how to make people feel comfortable in front of the camera, but one thing that has really changed the game for me is focusing on prompting vs. posing people; basically, instead of saying “stand like this” or “put your hands here and smile at the camera” I’ve learned to focus on saying things that will allow the couple to interact in their own special way. Things like “okay, now I’m going to play your first dance song and I want you to practice it!” or “hug each other like you’re not going to see each other for 6 month” or my personal favorite during this session: “You know that scene in The Notebook where Ryan Gosling lifts Rachel McAdams up and kisses her in the pouring rain?? I want you to recreate THAT!”

Prompts make engagement sessions so much more fun and they allow for the couple to be themselves—way more than a stand-next-to-each-other-and-smile-for-the-camera pose does. Veronika and Tom absolutely killed their session and all of the prompts, and the Chicago skyline in the background wasn’t looking too shabby either. I seriously think the soft pink sky and Lake Michigan knew we were coming and wanted to try to match Veronika and Tom’s outfits as we finished up at North Avenue Beach.

Scroll down to read the sweet review Veronika left on my Facebook page and to see her and Tom’s PERFECT reenactment of The Notebook scene 🙂

MARISSA IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. MY FIANCÉ AND I WERE SO NERVOUS TO DO OUR ENGAGEMENT SHOOT AND THE SECOND WE MET UP WITH MARISSA ALL OUR FEARS WENT AWAY. SHE IS PROFESSIONAL, YET FRIENDLY AND HAS SUCH A WARM PERSONALITY!! OUR PICTURES TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL AND WE RECEIVED OUR ENTIRE GALLERY IN LESS THAN A WEEK!! THIS GIRL POURS HER HEART INTO WHAT SHE DOES. I CAN NOT WAIT FOR OUR WEDDING DAY!