Sometimes, a basic field just won’t do.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good field session. But sometimes you need a little more variety, a few unexpected stops, and a couple who is perfectly happy to go along with whatever ideas come to mind.

Enter Alexis and Connor.

From the very beginning, this session felt less like work and more like hanging out with old friends. We clicked so naturally, and before I knew it, we were laughing, exploring, trying different things, and running very over our scheduled time.

And honestly? I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun during an engagement session.

We started out in a beautiful open field, but we weren’t stopping there. Between the willow tree by the lake, the fishing dock, and staying out long enough to catch that dreamy blue-hour light, we ended up with so much variety in their gallery. Every spot brought something different, and that’s exactly what I love about sessions like this.

One of my favorite things about planning engagement photos in Chattanooga is that you don’t have to stick to one look or one type of location.

For Alexis and Connor, we got a little bit of everything.

The open field gave us that classic, romantic Tennessee scenery, with rolling hills in the distance and soft evening light. It’s the kind of backdrop that never really needs much added to it. Just two people together, a little room to move around, and the landscape doing its thing.

Then we made our way over to a willow tree by the lake.

There’s something about a willow tree that makes me want to photograph it from approximately every possible angle. The sweeping branches add so much movement and texture, and they create a setting that feels a little more tucked away from the rest of the world.

And then there was the fishing dock.

I love when an engagement session has a few different settings because it gives couples something more than a gallery of photos that all look the same. We can keep things romantic, switch things up, and make the session feel like its own little adventure instead of simply moving from one pose to the next.

That’s always the goal for me. I want your photos to be beautiful, of course, but I also want the experience of taking them to be something you genuinely enjoy.

Okay, I have to talk about the light for a minute.

Golden hour is beautiful. I will never argue with that. But blue hour? I will absolutely argue that it’s better than golden hour sometimes.

There’s something about that time just after the sun begins to disappear that makes everything feel different. The light gets softer, the atmosphere feels a little moodier, and the whole scene takes on a dreamy, almost cinematic quality.

For engagement photography, I love having the opportunity to work with more than one kind of light. Golden hour gives us those warm, glowy images, while blue hour brings a completely different feeling to the gallery.

And if you ask me, having both is a pretty great combination.

It’s also one of the reasons I don’t mind letting a session run a little longer when we’re having a good time and the light is giving us something worth staying for. Sometimes the images you end up loving most are the ones you didn’t originally plan for.

When Your Engagement Session Feels Like Hanging Out With Friends

I know being in front of a camera can feel intimidating, especially if you and your partner aren’t used to having your photos taken.

You might be wondering what to do with your hands, whether you’ll look awkward, or how on earth you’re supposed to act natural when someone is pointing a camera at you.

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to show up knowing how to pose.

I’ll help with the direction when you need it, but I also want you to have room to be yourselves. Laugh at each other. Talk about whatever comes to mind. Enjoy the fact that you’re engaged and get to spend an evening together doing something a little different.

That’s what made Alexis and Connor’s session so much fun. We weren’t watching the clock every five minutes or trying to force every moment into a perfectly planned shot. We were just enjoying the evening, finding new ways to use the locations, and seeing where things took us.

Did we go over time? Absolutely.

Would I do it all over again? Without a second thought.

Sessions like this remind me that engagement photography is about so much more than the final images. It’s about creating an experience where you feel comfortable enough to be yourselves, because those are the moments I want you to remember when you look back at your photos years from now.

Looking for a Chattanooga Engagement Photographer?

If you’re recently engaged and starting to think about your engagement photos, let this be your reminder that you don’t have to settle for a session that feels like everyone else’s.

Love the idea of a field with mountain views? Let’s do it. Want to find a willow tree, explore somewhere unexpected, or spend the evening by the water? I’m here for it. Want to incorporate both golden hour and blue hour into your gallery? Even better.

As a Chattanooga engagement photographer, I love helping couples put together sessions that feel personal to them. We can talk through location ideas, consider the time of year and lighting, and figure out what kind of setting fits the two of you best.

Whether you’re planning engagement photos in Chattanooga or looking for a unique location elsewhere in Tennessee, my goal is to make the experience feel less like a photoshoot and more like time spent together.

You don’t have to have every detail figured out before reaching out. Sometimes all you need is an idea, a little trust, and a willingness to try something different.

And if we end up running a little over because we’re having too much fun? Well, I won’t complain.

Alexis & Connor, Thank You for Such a Fun Evening

Alexis and Connor, I genuinely had the best time with you two. Thank you for being so easy to connect with, for trusting me throughout the evening, and for making the entire session feel so effortless.

From the field to the willow tree to the fishing dock, I loved getting to explore different settings with you and create something that felt like you.

I’m so glad we didn’t call it a night too early, because I loved what we were able to create as the light changed. And more than anything, I’m thankful for the laughter, the conversations, and the chance to spend an evening with two people who made my job feel a whole lot less like work.

If your engagement session is any indication of what’s to come, I already know your wedding day is going to be so much fun.

I can’t wait for what’s ahead for you both!

Planning your own engagement session? I’d love to help you dream up something a little different. Reach out to Kirsten Phillips Photography to start planning your Chattanooga engagement photos.