Engagement Photo Tips at Crabtree Falls and Roan Mountain

Are you wondering how you can personalize your engagement photos to make them feel like they are unique to you and your partner and like an authentic representation of your relationship? You want engagement photos done but you don’t want stiff or super traditional photos that look like everyone else’s. Read more to find out how to make your photos stand out and reflect you and your partner perfectly! 

I’ve been photographing engagement sessions for over ten years now, and I can say that no two engagement sessions are the same. That’s because I always push for couples to make their photos as personal to them as possible. 

 I love it when couples include aspects of themselves as a couple in their session—this makes your engagement photos way more personal and unique to you. It also helps you be way more comfortable in front of the camera. 

So, let’s dive into my top engagement photo tips on how you can personalize and have the best time during your session. Plus, I’ve included a behind-the-lens look at an engagement session that included a waterfall and mountaintop in North Carolina and Roan Mountain, Tennessee, to spark ideas and inspiration for your own engagement session. 

Engagement Photo Tips for a Personalized Session

Pick a special location 

Start by picking a special location that you and your partner visit often or love. This could look like your favorite bar, brewery, coffee shop, park, or hiking trail. You could even go back to the place where you both had your first date too, or where your partner proposed! 

Choose a location that holds meaning to you and your partner and that has been a part of your relationship. This is going to make the photos more personalized to you, you will be a bit more comfortable in familiar surroundings, and it will create a new, fun memory for you both. 

Choose your outfits 

Outfits and colors can be unique or have a special meaning to you and your partner. You can both wear the colors that you love or if there’s a color that holds significance for you and your relationship, you can also coordinate your outfits around that specific color. 

When choosing your outfits, it’s also good to think about the mood/background/vibe of the location that you have chosen. This is key for a few reasons: 

1. You want to make sure you aren’t blending in or clashing too much with your surroundings
2. You want to make sure you and your partner are on the same level. This means one of you shouldn’t be in a very formal outfit while the other is in a really casual one. But avoid being too matchy-matchy when it comes to coordinating your outfits, such as white shirts and jeans. 

The most important thing when it comes to deciding what you both want to wear is that you both feel comfortable and confident in your outfits. 

Do an Activity Together

Consider including an activity that you and your partner both enjoy in your session, such as cooking, playing a board game, or even playing a sport together like disc golf. Or if there’s a weekly activity you do together such as a pottery or art class you could even have your engagement session at the location where you go together weekly. This is where the really fun, cute candid photos come into play! 

Have an At-Home Session 

Nothing gets more personal than doing your session in the comfort of your own home being all cute and cuddly together. Plus, this is a significant place in your relationship and odds are you don’t have many photos to remember it by. 

Not only will you be able to look back at the photos years from now and think about how young you were or how much fun that time was, but you’ll also be able to see the place where you started your new life together. 

Include Your Furry Friends 

Have your dog or pet included in your photos – after all, they are a beloved family member! Remember, there are some restrictions on where animals can go, but you can almost always find the perfect pet-friendly location for your session so they can be included. 

If you want to learn more about how to prep for your engagement session and discover fun engagement photo locations around Asheville, I’ve got you covered. Go here to learn more! 

Chrissy and Mark’s Engagement Session with a Waterfall and Mountaintop in North Carolina and Roan Mountain in Tennessee 

Chrissy and Mark both share a love for hiking, the Blue Ridge Parkway, waterfalls, and spending time in nature. Thankfully, they are both located in Asheville, North Carolina so we had an abundance of beautiful locations to choose from for their engagement session. 

The hardest part was picking out the perfect locations that felt the most like “them.” We ended up taking their photos at Crabtree Falls and Roan Mountain, and I don’t think we could’ve chosen two more perfect locations for Chrissy and Mark. 

Crabtree Falls 

Crabtree Falls is about 45 miles north of Asheville, and there are two ways to get to the waterfall where Chrissy and Mark took their photos. One option is an easier 3-mile hike, all on the same trail, or a more strenuous 3-to 5-mile loop trail that climbs above the falls. 

No matter which trail you choose, both are absolutely beautiful hikes. There are plenty of wildflowers in the early summer, and the 70-ft. waterfall is definitely worth the trek for your photos! You can learn more about Crabtree Falls here. 

What to Expect When Having Your Photos Taken at a Waterfall 

Waterfalls are a great backdrop for engagement photos. They add a sense of magic and beauty to your photos, unlike any other! There are over 300 waterfalls in western North Carolina, and Crabtree Falls definitely ranks in my top five waterfalls to photograph. 

First things first, going to a waterfall might get you wet (but that’s the fun part, right?). Make sure you don’t wear all white for your session, and you should also wear something you’re comfortable hiking in and jumping on and over rocks.

Most waterfalls include a moderate hike to get to and Crabtree Falls is no exception. Make sure you wear shoes you can hike in and shoes you can change into for photos, or you can go barefoot! 

Roan Mountain 

Roan Mountain is a little over an hour away from Asheville, and it’s situated in the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains. There are several different trail options here with various hiking levels, and all have exceptional views of the mountains, making a beautiful backdrop for your photos. 

Going from waterfall to mountains for your engagement photos is like getting the best of both worlds! 

Hiking and Getting Engagement Photos Done 

I know what you’re thinking – “I’ve been hiking before, I get all sweaty and gross, why would I want to have my photos taken after hiking?” I’m happy to tell you that it can be done! Where there’s a will, there’s a way! 

I’m not an avid hiker, so I don’t want to go on a three-mile hike up a mountain for photos, either. After years of getting more familiar with the hiking trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway and western North Carolina, I have found several hikes that aren’t too strenuous or long – perfect for a photo session. 

I like trails that have a small hike with a big payoff, which means a gorgeous mountain backdrop that looks like we hiked for hours to get to!

Thankfully, the hike we took for Chrissy and Mark’s engagement session at Roan Mountain had beautiful spots for photos the whole way, and the hike wasn’t too steep and well maintained. It was my first time at Roan Mountain, and I loved it so much! 

Ready to take your engagement photos? 

Personalizing your engagement photos is so important because these images should genuinely feel like you and your partner and your love story – after all, you’re celebrating such an important and significant milestone in your relationship, and you deserve beautiful photos to reflect this moment. 

Hopefully, these engagement photo tips can help you create just that and not only get amazing photos of you and your partner but also create memories that will last a lifetime. 

And, if are still looking for the perfect photographer to capture your engagement session here in Asheville, North Carolina, you can click here to learn more about my services, or you can head over here to get in touch, and we can start planning your engagement session!