Outdoor couples photos are so much fun to take, especially as spring and summer start to arrive and the weather starts to warm up a bit. The natural light and ever changing backgrounds of the outdoors creates the perfect backdrop for any occasion.
As a couples photographer in the Chicago suburbs, I’ve taken photos in all different types of environments. There is always something amazing about being outdoors and just wandering until we stumble upon something magical during the session.
So, if you are thinking about having outdoor couples photos taken, check out this Downtown Glen Ellyn and Lilacia Park session with Alex and DaUhn and some tips to capture the perfect outdoor photos.
Alex and DaUhn’s Downtown Glen Ellyn Couples Photos
Alex and DaUhn are the perfect example proving that you don’t have to have some special occasion to have couples photos taken. We often associate these photos with engagements or big events, but sometimes couples photos can just be taken because you want to.
I wanted to give Alex and DaUhn a late wedding present (Alex is actually a very close friend and we were so excited to welcome DaUhn into the group) and this turned out to be the perfect gift!
We decided to go to Downtown Glen Ellyn and Lilacia Park. Lilacia Park is actually where Alex proposed so it was even more special to come back here a few years later and capture them as they are now.
The two met and dated long distance all through Covid (Alex in Chicago and DaUhn in Seoul) and finally tied the knot in 2022 when DaUhn moved to Chicago. While it has been a few years since they got married, we still wanted to do something special and do a couples session to celebrate where it all began and where they have made it to today.
It was honestly such a fun and relaxed session and it was so great to give these two amazing people memories that they can hold onto forever.
Tips for Outdoor Couples Photos
So, if you are thinking this is exactly what you want, let’s take a look at some tips for outdoor couples photos to get you ready for your session!
Pick a location that is meaningful to you
First and foremost, you want to pick a location that is meaningful to you. This is always going to make the photos feel more special and memorable for you and it may make the session even more fun since you’ll get to reminisce about your memories there as well.
When you are thinking about locations, you can do something like Alex did and pick the location where you proposed. You can also think about things that you and your partner love to do.
For example, do you go on a picnic every week or do you love hiking on the weekends? Maybe you do your session in your favorite park or do an adventure session out on the trails.
Or, maybe you have a go-to spot for dates and you always go to the same cafe and sit out on the patio and sip coffees together. Your meaningful place could even be your own backyard.
What this location actually looks like is going to be different for every couple so really just take time to think about the places that are meaningful to you and go from there!
Always wear something you are comfortable in
Now, I know that clothes are always a big question when it comes to any photoshoot. What do I wear? What should I stay away from? Should I have one outfit or two? How do I make myself the most comfortable?
When it comes to your outfits, you always want to make sure that you feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing. You want to be able to look in the mirror and know that you look amazing. This could be something really simple or something that you’ve always wanted to wear.
Alex and DaUhn are a great example of keeping it simple. For half of their session, they opted for a really clean outfit of jeans and tan sweaters. The neutral colors worked well with both the couple and the beautiful garden backdrop.
There wasn’t anything distracting in their photos. The background with all of the bright colors and the blue sky were able to pop while still highlighting the two of them. They also had another outfit that was a bit more formal for a bit of variety when we moved to Downtown Glen Ellyn.
At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember is that you want to wear things that you are actually comfortable in (you feel confident wearing them, you can move around in them, etc). A few other things to keep in mind:
- Make sure you are wearing the right footwear. If you are going to be walking around a lot, be sure you have comfortable shoes (even if you swap them out when you get to the location).
- Avoid things like small, intricate patterns and thin stripes. These get distorted in the camera and this is one of my only real “rules” for things to avoid.
Bring anything that is important to you or your relationship to the session
You also want to remember that these sessions are meant to capture you and your partner as you are right now in your life. This means that if there is anything special or significant to you right now, you can absolutely incorporate those into your photos.
This could be something like your favorite hobbies to do together, your favorite snack to share, or your favorite go to drink. Anything that is special and significant to you can be added into your photos.
DaUhn, for example, loves to read (she even has a bookstagram) so she brought along a few of her favorite books and we were able to capture some photos with her in her element. It doesn’t have to be over the top or extravagant, just something small that can remind you of the things you loved at this time in your life!
Find other nearby areas to explore
You can also take some time to see if there are any other areas around your location that you can also go to during your session. With outdoor sessions, you are normally in places that are a bit more walkable or around downtown areas.
For example, Lilacia Park is pretty close to Downtown Glen Ellyn so we were able to go to both places very easily during their session. This gave us the chance to have more variety in the photos and capture some really amazing nature leaning photos along with more classic downtown ones.
This is something you can talk to your photographer about too. They may know some cool places to take photos around where you are going or some hidden gems that you can add to your session to make it really special.
Ideally, you want to find places that are around 10 or 15 minutes apart (depending on how long your session is). From Lilacia Park to Downtown Glen Ellyn, for example, was around 10 minutes so it was really simple and easy to get to and we didn’t waste too much session time driving from one place to the other! Switching locations is also a great time to do an outfit change.
Remember to just have fun with it
Finally, remember to just have fun with it. These photos are an opportunity to capture you and your relationship at this moment in time! If you are really silly and laid back in real life, let that show in your photos.
You don’t have to feel like you need to get really serious and dramatic portraits if that’s not what you want. Instead, focus on the things that you love doing and the things that feel natural and comfortable for you and your partner.
This is a time to laugh, have fun, and enjoy quality time together. Relaxing into the session will definitely help you capture more authentic moments and give you photos that truly represent what you and your partner’s relationship looks like!
Final Thoughts on Couples Outdoor Photos
Whether you are planning a Downtown Glen Ellyn photoshoot, something in Lilacia Park, or are just looking for some tips for your perfect outdoor couples photos, hopefully these tips and ideas spark some inspiration for you and your partner.
Doing couples photos is so much fun and gives you and your partner amazing memories to look back on for years to come. If you are ready to have just that, I would love to chat. You can click here to learn more about my couple photography services or you can head over here to get in touch and start planning your own amazing couples photoshoot!
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