When you have a couple as soft and sweet as Michelle and Michael, you need a Queen West engagement shoot to match.
We are super excited to be able to welcome Michelle and Michael into our Mango Studios family! Their gentle and endearing spirits match perfectly and made it so easy to capture the essence of their relationship. Their personalities aren’t where the similarities end with these two; they both also love to paint! When we found this out, we knew that it would just have to be a part of their Queen West engagement session. These two are such special humans, and we really wanted to showcase that in their final engagement gallery.
There’s no right or wrong way to capture a couple’s love in celebration of their engagement. BUT, there are definitely some tried and true tips and tricks to make your engagement session one that will stand out and stand the test of time. What’s better than a timeless engagement shoot? I’m sure if my parents read this list 30 years ago, they’d re-think the perms and wood-panelled basement they had in theirs.
Here at Mango Studios, we make sure that all engagement shoots are as unique and fun as the couple that stars in them. To make sure these vibes are apparent both in front of and behind the camera, we like to keep these loose “rules” in mind when shooting:
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (sessions)
1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
This golden rule doesn’t only apply to house hunting. Location is always super important when shooting engagement pictures! You have to think in advance: these pictures will be ALL over social media, in picture frames for years to come, and even on Save The Date cards!
You can’t make the mistake of choosing a location just because it’s a pretty or popular backdrop. Landscapes and trendy spots will miss the mark if they don’t mean anything to your couple. Always converse with your couple thoroughly beforehand (a Mango MUST), and figure out a place that both looks amazing, but also has a deeper meaning to the couple.
In this instance, we knew that Michelle and Michael have impeccable style. They ooze urban cool, and we felt cooler just by hanging out with them. When we discovered together that they were interested in a Queen West engagement session, we immediately knew that Queen and Ossington was the spot for them. Not too trendy or empty, this sweet little part of town is like an exact embodiment of Michelle and Michael’s personalities.
When it came to the painting part of the shoot, we went with lots of contrast. The white, industrial walls of the loft made the perfect backdrop for these two and their painting, without distracting or taking any attention away from their artistic and romantic sparks! We’re obsessed with the end product!
2. DRESS TO IMPRESS
Michelle and Michael are all about casual cool – and we didn’t want to take that away from them! Whoever said jeans weren’t appropriate for an engagement shoot was SO wrong. I’m sure they would change their mind after seeing Michell and Michael’s Queen West engagement session. Having a few outfit options is a great way to compliment your different locations within a shoot, and helps to break up the photos. You don’t want anything to become too redundant in your final gallery.
Couples and photographers should always be conscious of the colours and patterns within a shoot. These elements of the outfits worn during the session should be complementary, not only to each other but to your locations as well!
I love how Michael’s bold jacket stands out against the soft, organic nature of Queen West, and Michelle’s long trench coat adds simple, elegant lines to compliment everything within the frame.
3. AUTHENTICITY IS YOUR SECRET WEAPON
Bad news guys… looks like our parents were actually right! Being yourself is the best you you can be! And the same goes when you’re in front of a camera.
As Mango photographers, we always strive to capture authentic moments and give you photos that are an accurate representation of your bond. We love showcasing every relationship in all its beauty, messiness and honesty. Because that’s what makes a relationship, well, a relationship!
If you’re not being authentic to yourself and your partner, you’ll definitely be able to tell on camera. This is why we chose to have Michelle and Michael paint together for half of their engagement session. They were able to really open up in front of the camera while doing an activity they’re very comfortable with. And it added so much personality and personalization to their shoot. This is 100% the way to get the best engagement photos possible.
Thank you so much to Michelle and Michael for letting us shoot your Queen West engagement session. And another thank you for being the perfect masterclass for making an engagement shoot as beautiful and easy-breezy as possible. Can’t wait to see how you use your effortlessly cool personalities and style at your wedding. See you there!