Couples Photo Session Ideas: How to Make Your Session Fun, Natural & Personal
Scheduled your couples session and wondering how to make it feel more fun, natural, and personal?
Once you've booked your couples session, you might start wondering, “Okay... what are we actually going to do the entire time?” 😂
Don't worry, you don't need to know how to pose or come up with a bunch of ideas. That's my job! But bringing along something you genuinely enjoy doing together can make your session even more personal and give you something fun to interact with.
Whether we're hanging out on the coast, exploring the woods, having a picnic, or incorporating one of your favorite hobbies, there are so many ways to make your couples photos feel more personal!
I've put together some of my favorite couples photo session ideas, props, activities, and little details to help you get inspired before your session.
And remember, you definitely don't need to bring anything at all! Some of my favorite photos are simply couples walking, laughing, cuddling, exploring, and just enjoying being together. Think of these ideas as inspiration rather than a checklist.
Having a Beach Couples Session?
The Monterey Peninsula is full of beautiful beaches, and coastal sessions give us so many fun ways to incorporate little details and activities into your photos.
Champagne + Glasses
Bring a bottle of champagne and some glasses for a little celebration by the water! You can toast, pour each other a glass, or simply relax and enjoy it together while I photograph the candid moments. Or bonus: You can do a celebratory champagne spray!
This is especially fun for engagements, anniversaries, or really any excuse to celebrate. You don't need a special occasion!
[Shop my favorite champagne glasses] [Add a fun label to your champagne!]
A Cozy Blanket
A cozy blanket is one of those things that's both practical and cute. We can use it for a little beach picnic, cozy sitting photos, or even some laying-down shots.
And the best part? You get to take it home and use it again for your next date night!
A Kite
If we're expecting some wind, bring a kite! Fly a kite and have some fun together. It can create some really playful and candid photos!
A Cute Cooler
A cooler can turn your session into a little beach date. Fill it with your favorite drinks, snacks, or even a few beers and hang out together between photos.
Plus, a cute cooler can double as part of the setup for your picnic.
[See one of my favorite coolers, or if you want a really durable option to keep for your next camping trip.. pick this one!]
Sunglasses
Simple, but fun! Sunglasses can add a casual, laid-back feel to your beach photos and are especially useful if we're photographing during a bright part of the day.
[Getting married soon? Add some fun with these glasses!]
A Lace Umbrella or Parasol
Want to add a little vintage, romantic feel to your beach session? A lace umbrella or parasol can be such a pretty addition, especially along the Monterey coast. We can use it while walking along the beach, have you two share it together, or incorporate it into some playful candid moments.
Exploring a Wooded or Mountain Location?
If we're heading somewhere surrounded by trees, trails, or mountains, lean into the adventure!
Picnic Basket + Blanket
Pack a little picnic and let's find somewhere nice for you guys to sit and hang out together. Bring your favorite snacks, drinks, and maybe even a blanket to make it feel like an actual date.
[Shop my favorite picnic basket here, or if you want one with added accessories then go with this one!]
Coffee + Your Favorite Mugs
Are you the couple who starts every morning with coffee together? Bring it!
Personalized mugs can be especially cute, but they don't have to be fancy. Your actual favorite coffee mugs can make the photos feel even more like you.
[See some cute personalized mugs, there are so many different options to choose from!]
A Journal or Book
If you love journaling, writing, reading, or spending slow mornings together, bring your journal along! This can be a sweet way to incorporate something you genuinely enjoy into your session. Write each other a letter to read during your session, or simply bring your favorite books to incorporate into a few shots! You can also get a custom made engagement newspaper if you're celebrating your engagement!
[This is my favorite journal for anniversary memories! Or if you enjoy birding, bring this bird watching journal!]
Your Favorite Card Game
Bring a deck of cards or your favorite two-person game and we can find a pretty spot to sit down and play together.
It doesn't have to be something fancy. In fact, I love when couples bring something they actually play at home like Uno, Jenga, or a conversation card game like We're Not Really Strangers!
A Guitar or Other Instrument
If music is part of your relationship, bring it! Whether one of you plays guitar, you both love music, or you simply have an instrument that's meaningful to you, incorporating it into your session can create some really personal photos. You can plan to bring your guitar, a ukulele, some wired headphones to share, or a radio to incorporate into a few photos!
Want to Incorporate Your Car, Truck, Van or Camper?
DO IT!
If your car, truck, van, camper, or motorcycle is a part of your adventures together, there's no reason it can't be part of your couples photos too!
Maybe you love road trips, camping, off-roading, surfing, or exploring new places together. We can photograph you hanging out around your vehicle, sitting in the back of a truck bed, or simply making it part of the adventure.
Your photos don't have to look like everyone else's. If something is part of your life together, then I want to know about it!!
And if you don't have a vehicle of your own but love the idea, you could even consider renting something fun like a vintage car from Monterey Touring Vehicles for the session.
Love the Outdoors & Adventure?
Bring the things you actually use!
Dirt Bikes
If going out on your dirt bikes is a normal weekend for you, let's incorporate them into your session! You can ride together, hang out with your bikes, or simply use them as part of the setting.
Bicycles or E-Bikes
We can photograph you riding together, stopping along the way, or exploring a trail. Rent one at Adventures by the Sea in Monterey and don't forget to stop at the wharf!
Surfboards
If surfing is part of your life together, bring the boards! Or you can rent a paddle board at Lover's Point in Pacific Grove here!
Hiking or Camping Gear
Your favorite hiking backpack, camping gear, lanterns, or other outdoor essentials can all help tell the story of what you actually enjoy doing together.
Your couples session doesn't have to be a traditional “photoshoot.” If your idea of a perfect date is getting dirty on a dirt bike, riding your bikes down a trail, grabbing your surfboards, or heading out on an adventure, let's build your session around that!
Want to Do Something Instead of Just Pose?
One of my favorite ways to make a couples session feel natural is to actually do something together. Your session doesn't have to be just standing around and looking at the camera. We can go for a hike, grab coffee, play a game, or incorporate one of your favorite hobbies into your session!
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Grab Coffee at a Local Coffee Shop
Pick up coffee from a local coffee shop like Captain + Stoker and start your session with a casual coffee date.
Go for a Bike Ride
Bring your bicycles or e-bikes and make part of the session an actual adventure.
Make or Enjoy Something Sweet
Bake cookies or another favorite treat at home and bring it along to enjoy during your session. Celebrating an anniversary? Pick up your favorite dessert from a local bakery like Layer's and turn it into part of your date.
Want even more ideas? Check out my guide to activities to incorporate into your couples session on the Monterey Peninsula.
Bring Something Meaningful
Not everything you bring to your session needs to be something you bought specifically for photos! Sometimes the most meaningful things are already sitting around your house!
Think about bringing:
Letters you've written to each other (You could even write each other a letter before your session and exchange them while we're together!)
A photo album you've taken throughout your relationship
A souvenir
Something from your first date
A book you both love
An item connected to a shared hobby
It doesn't have to be Pinterest perfect. In fact, I usually prefer when it isn't. The little things that actually mean something to you will always make your photos feel much more personal.
And Don't Forget Your Fur Babies!
Not technically a prop... but they're absolutely invited when the location allows!! If your dog is part of your everyday life and your adventures together, bring them along! You can also get them cute accessories like a bandana if this is an engagement session! We can get some photos of you together and also give them some time to run around and be themselves too. Who doesn't love a few photos with their furry best friend?!
A Few Things I Always Recommend Bringing
While the fun stuff is optional, there are a few practical things I recommend keeping with you (or in your car!) during your couples session.
Water
Especially if we're hiking or exploring somewhere in Big Sur or along the coast.
Hair Clips
Monterey can be windy! A couple of hair clips or a hair tie can be a lifesaver if your hair starts blowing everywhere.
Sturdy Shoes or Boots
If we're exploring trails, rocks, sand, or uneven terrain, bring shoes you can comfortably walk in. You can always change into something else for photos once we get to our spot. Here's a link to my absolute favorite hiking boots that are comfortable, sturdy, and photograph nicely!
Layers
Coastal weather can change quickly, especially around Monterey and Big Sur. Bringing a jacket or extra layer is always a good idea.
Sunscreen
Even when it's cloudy or foggy, don't forget to apply sunscreen before our time together!
Tecnu
If we're hiking or exploring areas where poison oak may be present, I always recommend having Technu with you just in case. This Tecnu Kit is the BEST to have at home in case you've come in contact with it.
You definitely don't need to show up with a giant bag of stuff. Bring whatever you'll actually need to stay comfortable and enjoy your session!
Few Self Care Items I Love Before a Session
These aren't necessary either, but if you want to feel a little extra put together before your couples photos, here are a few things I love!
Press On Nails
Don't want to get a professional manicure? Here's a quick and easy way to freshen up your nails before your session, especially if we're planning on photographing your rings or hands!
[Shop my favorite press on nails]
Lip Balm and Gloss
Perfect for keeping your lips moisturized, especially if we're spending time outside.
Hair Products
A little hairspray, texture spray, or whatever you normally use to keep your hair feeling good can be helpful on windy coastal days.
Remember: You Don't Need Props to Have an Amazing Session
At the end of the day, you don't need to show up with a suitcase full of props!! Some of my favorite images are simply the two of you walking, laughing, cuddling, exploring, or enjoying something together. The best “props” are often the things that already mean something to you or give you something fun to do together.
Whether we're exploring the coast, wandering through Big Sur, having a picnic on the beach, or spending time somewhere that feels like you, my goal as your couples photographer is to create photos that feel like an experience you actually enjoyed - not a bunch of poses you had to get through.
So think about what you two genuinely love doing together, bring a little piece of that into your session, and most importantly... let's have some fun with it!!
Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of my links, at no additional cost to you. I only share products that I think could be fun or useful for couples sessions! If you'd rather shop in person, some of my favorite budget options are HomeGoods, Target, and TJ Maxx! Sometimes you can even find good props at local thrift stores, if you're lucky!
