Favorite (Non-Cheesy) Simple Props for an Engagement Session

One of the most common questions I get when it comes to engagement photos is: “should we bring any props?”

Props can be a great way to add personality to your engagement session and make your photos your own! Many of my couples, when thinking about props, voice that they’re afraid their engagement photos will appear “cheesy.”

Truth be told – some props can be a little cheesy, but fear not! Within the world of cheesy props, there are some props that never seem to go out of style – regardless of what is currently trending!

Today, I’d love to share a few of my favorite simple, non-cheesy (at least to me!) props.

Champagne & Flutes

Ever shaken a bottle of champagne and let the cork fly?! If not… you’re missing out! Champagne is a fun and fitting prop that is perfect for couples who want to keep it classy… but fun! And as a perk, if you’re nervous about having your photos taken, you can have a bit of liquid courage!

Confetti or Petals

Engagements mean celebration, which means it’s time to cue the confetti! Being engaged is something to be excited about, and personally, when I think of excitement, I think of confetti! There are some great biodegradable options for confetti out there to choose from. If you’d like to go a little more natural with your celebratory toss – consider flower petals instead!

Your Engagement Ring (duh!)

Possibly the most obvious (and best!) prop of all is your new bling  - your ring! Don’t forget to take your ring to be cleaned (or clean it yourself!) before your engagement photos. I love snapping a few quick “macro” (or super close up!) shots, and my camera always picks up on dust or hairs that is caught in the prongs!

Floral Bouquet

You don’t have to limit your bouquet carrying to just the wedding day! A bouquet of flowers can be a fun way to add a pop of color to your engagement portraits, and to make them slightly more upscale! And if you have a favorite flower, or a type of flower that your S.O. often gets for you, it could be the perfect personal touch to add in!

Blanket

There’s something about a blanket that makes things extra cozy and close! A blanket is an easy prop to bring that will 1) keep you warmer if you’re having your photos taken during a colder season, and 2) can add a pop of color or a neutral compliment to your outfits!

Something that Represents Your Relationship, Specifically

Was your first date at an ice cream shop? Ice cream and photos totally mix! Do you love going on picnics together in the summer? Pack a cute little picnic basket for your engagement photos! Love to fish together? Grab your fishing poles and bring ‘em along! Sometimes props like this can be cheesy, but if you have a prop you would love to bring that you feel could be cheesy, just communicate that fear to your photographer! I love when people bring props that I’ve seen in “cheesy” engagement photos and let me create something that’s not cheesy with them – just something that’s personal and representative of who they are!

And there you have it! Six prop ideas for non-cheesy engagement photos. But if you decide to bring a pizza as a prop… beware. Your photos will definitely be cheesy.

Happy prop planning!

Sarah & Derek: Winter Wonderland Mellon Park Engagement Photos

Ohhhhh snow. As Pittsburghers, we have a love-hate relationship with it (and that spectrum of love/hate varies widely from person to person!), but this year, I (personally) found myself missing the snow for the first year in a while! Usually, by the time mid-February rolls around, I’m more than ready for it to be over - but, before Sarah and Derek’s shoot, I had only had one snowy session this year and was craving more!

Ironically enough, what initially kept Sarah, Derek and I from our first planned meeting was a crazy snow and ice storm a few months back - the roads were so bad that one of the roads I live on completely shut down, and it took me 2 hours to move 1.5 miles! Thankfully, these two were so gracious, and we planned to meet a few weeks later (fortunately, there was no snow this time around 😉)

For their engagement session, though, we were hoping and praying for some beautiful snow! Oddly enough, we didn’t see much snow in the month leading up to their session, and I was a little concerned that we weren’t going to have any snow to work with come February. All we had really been getting was LOTS of precipitation that was just warm enough to not be snow - ick!

But then, we had the most beautiful snow storm the day before their session - just in the nick of time! And then - on top of that - when we showed up the day of their session, it was lightly snowing. And it lightly snowed for almost their ENTIRE 90 minute engagement session! I’m not sure we could have planned it any better if we had tried - but it all ended up working out exactly how we had hoped!!!

But, enough about the weather - what you really need to know after reading this blog post is how absolutely INCREDIBLE these two are! So here’s a little more about them: Sarah and Derek met on Twitter and connected over a mutual love for math. At the time, Sarah was considering going for her PhD in mathematical studies, and Derek was(is) working towards his! He offered to give her an insight into the process, and, well - now they’re engaged to be married! They have a puppy named Louisa, share a mutual love for Qdoba (over Chipotle and Moe’s!), and - maybe one of my favorite fun facts - their wedding date was chosen specifically for its mathematical reference to the Fibonacci Sequence! I mean, come on - aren’t these two just the cutest?!

Their engagement session was nothing short of easy, breezy, and way too much fun! I could photograph these two every weekend, and I’m already counting down the months until I get to photograph them again! Congratulations, Sarah and Derek - you two are just such a blessing to work with! I am so thankful for you!!! 💛

Allison & Anthony: McConnell's Mill Engagement Photos

Allison and Anthony are two of the kindest souls who are getting married next year!! 🎉 They met at work, their first date included dinner and fishing (bringing their fishing poles as a nod to that - love! 🎣), and they got engaged in Gettsyburg!

Allison & Anthony, I couldn't be more excited to photograph your beautiful wedding day! Thank you so much for the huge honor!!! 💛

Mary Beth & Patrick: Oakland Engagement Photos

What an absolute joy it was to spend an afternoon with these two exploring Oakland! We had the most beautiful and uncharacteristically sunny (and somewhat warm!) Pittsburgh day for Mary Beth and Patrick’s engagement session!

Their first official date was in February of 2018, when they met to eat dinner and watch the Pens game together at restaurant in Sewickley. They ended up spending seven hours sitting at their table, just talking. I think that’s when you know you have something special! 💛

Fast forward to this past November - Patrick asked Mary Beth to marry him at one of their favorite restaurants in a private room that he had decorated with flowers and pictures of them throughout their time together! And of course, Mary Beth said yes!!

Also, fun fact: Mary Beth and I went to the same high school. She was just a year (or maybe two?!) younger than me, so it was a lot of fun to reconnect!

Mary Beth and Patrick, a HUGE congratulations to you two on your engagement. I am so honored to have been the one to take these photos for you and wish you two nothing but the best on your wedding day and in your marriage!

JHP Engagement Photo Highlights 2019

Engagement sessions are one of my favorite types of sessions EVER! It is so much fun to have people in love in front of my camera, and this year, there were some seriously amazing ones! 💛

To all of the couples who trusted me with their engagement photos: You are the BEST! I am so thankful to be the one you’ve trusted with these precious memories!

If you’re looking for more information about engagement portraits or would like to schedule a session, visit my pricing page here, and my contact page here!

This was my first time photographing a couple at Fellows Riverside Gardens and I totally fell in LOVE! Props to my couple for introducing me to this epic location!

Brielle and Stephen came dressed to kill! An engagement session is always a good time to kick up the style a notch!

Photographing my cousin and his fiance was definitely one of the biggest highlights of all of my engagement sessions this year! And getting to take photos in the sunflower fields at Soergel’s was just icing on the cake!

I mean, have you ever seen flower bushes so beautiful?!

I was wondering why all of the sunflowers were facing in one direction, and learned that they grow facing towards the rising sun. Fun fact!

Winter engagement sessions are always, ALWAYS my favorite. 💕 Specifically when there’s snow!

Technically this was an anniversary session, but we adore these two so I had to include them!

Ed and Meghan incorporated a car that’s been in Ed’s family for quite a few generations. It was so much fun!

This was one of my favorite locations of the entire year! Everything just came together seamlessly - the sky, the light, the couple.

Kele + Max: Highland Park Engagement Photos

Kele and Max met at Penn State in 2010, which their first official date happening on Valentine’s Day of 2013. After six years of dating, Max proposed epically at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France!

These two have such an ease about them. They’re easy together, easy to get along with, and just so easy to photograph! For their engagement session, we started off at their home (which used to be Kele’s mom’s home!), then headed over to the nearby Highland Park, where we found some gorgeous architecture and beautiful yellow leaves (yay for finding the last remnants of fall! 🍁)

Kele and Max, I couldn’t be more excited to document your wedding day! 💛 Congratulations on your engagement!!!

Maria & Andrew: Westminster College Engagement Photos

I love EVERYTHING about this engagement session. First, the incredible couple themselves, Maria and Andrew, who were an absolute dream to work with (and sooo natural in front of the camera)! And second: this incredible location - Westminster College! I’ve had the privilege of photographing one engagement session and one wedding day here before, so it was so much fun to be back on such a beautiful campus!

Maria and Andrew are the type of couple who are SO incredibly easy to get along with - and the type that you can tell are truly meant to be together! They compliment each other so well, and already make such an incredible team.

Now, for a little bit of background history: these two met back in 2012 through the tennis team they both played on in high school! Their first date was at Dairy Queen in 2014, and Andrew popped the question in Aruba just this past summer! These two are patient, kind-hearted, selfless - and so many other things that I admire!

Maria and Andrew, I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate you two on your wedding day! 💛 Congratulations again on your engagement!!

Colleen + Brett: Riverfront Pittsburgh Engagement Photos

Oh my, this was a fun one for so many reasons! I had the pleasure of photographing Colleen and Brett’s engagement photos at two amazing locations (one of which was new to me!): Aspinwall Riverfront Park, and the North Shore!

Colleen and Brett are a laid back couple who were so much fun to photograph! Their whole session felt like we were old friends just hanging out, which made my job so easy!

We started out their session at Aspinwall Riverfront Park in their work outfits. Brett works in law enforcement, Colleen works in the medical field, and they’re both so passionate about what they do for a living! We incorporated Brett’s dog into a few photos, then headed down to the North Shore for some gorgeous golden light and epic bridge photos!

Colleen and Brett - you two are so much fun, and I can’t wait to celebrate you two on your wedding day!! ☺️ Congratulations again on your engagement!

Lauren & Michael: Downtown Pittsburgh Engagement Photos

The CRAZIEST thing happened at the beginning of October (I promise, it relates to Lauren & Michael!). I was photographing a wedding at Shady Elms Farm, and showed up early to get a few things set up. While I was carrying my gear into the barn, I noticed a couple walking around, checking out the space! I distinctly remember thinking “I wonder if they have a photographer for their wedding?!” Shady Elms Farm is one of my all-time favorite locations for photographing weddings, and I’m always trying to find ways to shoot there more!

While I was organizing my camera bag, I heard the voice of the venue owner say “do you two have a photographer yet?” To which the bride replied “we do!” To which the coordinator (ever so kindly!) replied: “I was going to recommend this one to you!” (Motioning to me). To which the bride said “I think she’s actually our photographer!”

I stood up, whirled around, and found myself standing in front of two vaguely familiar faces, whose names I recognized immediately. It just so happened that this couple (who currently lives in North Dakota and who I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting in person yet!) was one of my couples whose wedding I am photographing next year! And they were in town for their engagement session, which I was photographing that very week!

I mean, seriously?! How much do all of the stars need to align in order for something like that to happen?!? I really think that everything is meant to happen for a reason, and the fact that we all happened to be in the same place at the same time was just too crazy!

But anyways - on to more about this amazing pair! Lauren and Michael are two of the kindest human beings on the planet! They are the type of people who you instantly feel comfortable around, and, though you might’ve just met, feel as though you’ve known them for years!

They met at Penn State at a fraternity tailgate before a home football game - and the rest, as they say, is history! They totally hit it off. And Lauren even skipped an anatomy class to get ready for the date! A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! Michael later planned a sneaky/surprise proposal at Phipp’s Conservatory in a private room. Talk about perfection!!!

It’s so easy to tell how much these two love each other, and what a truly amazing pair they make together! Lauren and Michael, I could not be more excited to photograph your wedding day next year and to celebrate your love! Congratulations again on your engagement!!! 💛

Melissa & Matt: Fall Engagement Photos in Western Pennsylvania

I have been looking forward to Matt and Melissa’s session for months, and I am so excited to share my favorite photos from their session on the blog today!

This session in particular was extra special, because Matt is my cousin and Melissa is my soon-to-be… cousin-in-law? I don’t know if that’s a real thing, but we’ll just pretend like it is for now! 😉 These two traveled four hours in to have their photos taken, so of course, we had to hit all of the good spots - including two of my favorites, Historic Harmony and Soergel’s Orchard!* Soergel’s was a last minute add-on, and it was SO worth it!! Afterwards, we stopped at Arsenal Cider House and had some great family time around the bonfire. It’s always such a treat to spend time with family who live further away! 💛

Melissa and Matt met through the Penn State CrossFit club, and started dating in the spring of 2017. They love going to wineries and breweries, so Matt proposed at the end of 2018 in a wine cellar, followed by a five course meal! They are getting married next year, and we are so excited to get to celebrate them and their love! Congratulations, Matt and Melissa! We love you guys!

*Note that Soergel’s requires pre-planning and permission for photo sessions that take place on their property! A huge thanks to everyone at Soergel’s for letting us stop by!