Engagement Story YOUR WAY!

By Larissa Issler on Feb 17, 2009 | In What we're sayin', Win it! | 12 feedbacks »

So as you know we love to encourage couples to get creative when it comes to Engagement Stories... we aim to capture your personalities in a location that is both meaningful and unique.

OK- so here's the deal:

We're looking for the most outrageous, creative, dynamic and exciting ideas for engagement shoots you've got: tell us your idea and let us bring it to light! If it's meaningful to you and your fiance in some way, be sure to tell us- or if you just think it's a wicked photo idea that'll work too!

Post your BEST engagement story idea- now we're not talking gardens and greenhouses here (not that there's anything wrong with that) but rather creative locations or activities that you think would take your engagement session to the next level.

Your funky, creative submissions will be accepted until March 16th at which point we'll open them up for voting and YOU will choose which shoot you'd like to see come alive!

The winner will receive a FREE engagement story session including: an archival, high resolution DVD of all colour corrected images, a password protected, online viewing gallery, and your choice of a framed 11x17 print or a Fine Art Guest Book.

Already booked with us? No problem! Shoot us your creative ideas anyways and you could still win a shoot- post wedding, casual portraits, trash the dress- it's your choice.

Inspiration...Jenn & Chester love to explore small towns together on weekends- their shoot at St.Jacob's Market was full of personality and stunning scenery:

The fine print:
* While we'd love to travel to Paris to shoot you and your fiance at the Eiffel Tower, a travel fee would apply... pretty much anywhere within a 1 hour radius of Toronto will be included in the prize.
* Prize must be claimed and shot before the end of 2009- which gives you lots of time!
* The winners shoot will be showcased on the blog!
* No purchase necessary.

12 comments

Comment from: Larissa Issler [Member] · http://ambientstudios.ca

Ok...I'll get us started!

What about a trip to the Zoo in the spring, or outdoor Ice Skating as a couple during the winter?

Come on all you funky couples- lets hear what you've got!

02/17/09 @ 12:43

Comment from: MD [Visitor] · http://www.avenue-photo.com

Wineries in NOTL, in the spring, summer or fall...the architecture is amazing, the land and backdrops are beautiful, and you can have a glass of wine to make the day even more enjoyable.

02/18/09 @ 07:02

Comment from: Naynay [Visitor]

Ski/snowboarding at Blue Mountain, and hanging out around Blue Mountain Village. Fun, cozy and cute!

02/18/09 @ 12:23

Comment from: Liz [Visitor] · http://elizabethandjane.ca

Thomas, my boyfriend, and I met while studying at York University. We both were in the same program for four years but didn't meet until our 4th and final year. The campus is where it all began and my idea would be to have the shoot all around York, in the places that meant something to us - the computer lab (we took Interactive Multimedia), The residence that Thomas lived in, lecture halls, the parking lot where we had our first kiss (I realize that is super cheesy but what can I say?), Vari Hall (the main atrium area) etc. York has some fantastic architecture that would look amazing in photos.

We would also frequent East Side Marios during our time at York, so shooting in the restaurant would be awesome as well.

ps. I went to high school with Jenn and she and Chester are good friends of ours. We'll see you at the wedding this summer!

02/25/09 @ 06:30

Comment from: Jen Tiffin [Visitor] · http://www.jennifertiffin.com

I've always wanted to do a really fun, quirky fashion photo shoot with lots of vivid colours featuring Gavin and I all dolled up in our best 50's or early 60s outfits. We've been obsessed with watching Mad Men lately and I know he would LOVE a Don Draper look. I would of course wear a cocktail dress and some killer heels. ;) It couldn't be entirely classic because I'd have tattoos and piercings in full view, but we could play that up in a cheeky contemporary housewife way. I've also thought of doing some "what the hell have we gotten ourselves into?" kinda shots with horrified/stunned looks on our faces. There's not much that we can't laugh at, including our wedding so there's no limits in what we can have fun with. The shots could be done indoors in a domestic setting or perhaps outside in a beautiful, flowering garden.

I have a friend who is a hair stylist & make up artist who does a killer 50s look. I think it'd be easy to commission her to help out. :)

Just some thoughts.

02/26/09 @ 12:06

Comment from: Kristina [Visitor]

What about a carnival. Taking pictures of the couple on different rides and playing the carnival games. Pictures eating ice cream or cotton candy!! Tons of ideas there!

02/26/09 @ 16:26

Comment from: Claire D [Visitor]

My boyfriend and I love jumping on his motorcycle and going on long rides together. A photo shoot with us and his motorbike a.k.a. "the other girlfriend" would be great.

Though I never condone riding without a helmet, I'd love an action shot of us whizzing by, hair blowing (camera panning so the background is blurred and we're in focus). Or shots of us in the warm light of a summer sunset on a long country road with her parked in the background and us in the foreground.

02/27/09 @ 12:24

Comment from: Cassandra W [Visitor]

My fiancee and I had our first apartment together in Toronto by the waterfront. We loved going for romantic evening walks, biking, and jogging along the Toronto Harbourfront down to the Exhibition. We loved the scenery of the old Canada Malting Company Silos, the old ships and sailboats, lighthouse, the old steam engine, the streetcars, and just seeing what was going on in the summer like concerts, baseball games, and fireworks. It would be really meaningful to do an engagement shoot here where we have so many good memories.

03/01/09 @ 07:55

Comment from: Ana G [Visitor]

so..I have one for you....I always wanted pictures taken where we met and fell in love..at 17 and 19 years old..our part-time job...at the supermarket. I was a cashier and he was a grocery clerk! I would love to take pics in the produce dept or hanging out in the aisles...or outside beside all the buggy's!

03/02/09 @ 11:36

Comment from: Julie T [Visitor]

Great contest idea...

My fiancee and I are high school sweethearts, having met 20 years ago in grade 9. We'd love to go back to our high school and do a shoot in our old stomping grounds. We were both very involved in athletics back then so as an added twist, we'd like to do the shoot wearing a couple of the school team uniforms - him football and me basketball. He's active there as a volunteer coach, so it would be simple enough for us to have access...

03/14/09 @ 17:24

Comment from: Shaun C [Visitor]

My fiance and I have been on a whirlwind with planning our wedding. As it's a gay wedding, we figured it would be a great time to break out of the traditional wedding mould and incorporate some unique ideas while infusing both of our cultural backgrounds (Chinese and Jewish).

Our wedding is themed in a 1930's Art Deco style. We're doing our best to stay true to that style, and I think it would be absolutely amazing to have a 1930's-style editorial photoshoot at our venue, Palais Royale.

Our idea is to tie the beauty and sophistication of a classic era to the marriage of a loving and unconventional modern couple.

The photos can be made to look antiquated, which would provide some realism and drama. The goal would be to enlarge some of the photos and hang them around our venue on our wedding day. This would allow our guests to be drawn into the venue's history while we all celebrate our future together.

03/14/09 @ 20:02

Comment from: Larissa Issler [Member] · http://ambientstudios.ca

Alright everyone- the contest closes tonight at 11:55pm, so if you're thinking about entering, you'd better do it soon! :)
Thanks to those above who have already submitted their ideas- the list is looking great so far! I'm looking forward to seeing who will be crowned the winner!

Don't forget to stop by the poll on the blog and VOTE for your choice! The top 5 ideas have been chosen and now we need your help selecting a winner!