Some couples arrive at their engagement session feeling a little nervous about being photographed. That is completely normal—and part of my job is helping those nerves disappear.
But this couple arrived at their Melbourne Beach engagement session with so much energy and an immediate willingness to play. They were ready to laugh, move, get sandy, and simply enjoy being together. I knew right away that we were going to have a fantastic evening.
This session wasn’t only fun. It was also completely worth the wait.
The Storm That Chased Us Off the Beach
This was actually our second attempt at making the session happen.
The first time we met at the beach, a huge Florida storm rolled in and quite literally chased us away. Beach weather can change incredibly quickly, and sometimes rescheduling is the only safe and sensible choice.
Of course, postponing a session is disappointing—especially after everyone has chosen outfits, gotten ready, and traveled to the location. But I will always prioritize safety, and I knew we would have another opportunity to create something wonderful.
When our rescheduled evening finally arrived, we were rewarded with soft skies, beautiful ocean tones, and plenty of room to play. Looking back at these photographs, I can confidently say it was worth the wait.
An Engagement Session Filled With Energy
We started with some relaxed walking photographs along the shoreline. I gave them a little direction, but their natural connection did most of the work. They laughed, danced, splashed through the shallow water, and never seemed worried about looking perfect.
That is exactly the kind of energy I love during an engagement session.
You do not need to know how to pose or practice anything before meeting me. I will help with gentle direction and make sure you always know what to do. From there, I want you to concentrate on each other and let the genuine moments happen.
This couple made that part incredibly easy.
“We Want to Get in the Water”
Before the session, they told me they wanted to get into the ocean.
I may have jumped for joy.
I always warn couples that getting near the water means they may get wet—possibly completely soaked. There is a big difference between delicately standing at the edge of the surf and fully committing to an ocean engagement session!
They were ready to commit.
After beginning the session in light, romantic outfits, they changed into swimwear and headed straight into the Atlantic. There was champagne, running through the waves, huge splashes, and so much laughter.
They didn’t worry about their hair staying perfect or whether another wave was coming. They simply played together—and those are the moments that made these photographs feel so alive.
The Photographs Behind the Fun
Capturing these images may have required me to get into the water too and I was not complaining! I followed them along the shoreline, photographed through the crashing waves, and kept shooting while the ocean moved around all three of us.
At one point, they were lying together at the water’s edge while the waves washed over them. I was standing nearby with my cameras, laughing right along with them and trying to capture every expression before the next wave arrived.
Those behind-the-scenes photographs make me smile because they show what these sessions are really like. The finished photographs may look romantic and effortless, but there is often a lot of movement, encouragement, laughter, and occasionally a soaking-wet photographer happening just outside the frame.
Engagement Photographs That Feel Like You
Not every couple will want to end their engagement session sitting in the Atlantic—and that is perfectly fine.
Your session should reflect the two of you. That could mean walking through a garden, exploring a favorite neighborhood, sharing drinks at a meaningful location, or running fully clothed into the ocean.
There is no single correct way to have an engagement session.
My goal is to create an experience where you feel comfortable enough to be yourselves. I will provide guidance when you need it, step back when a real moment is unfolding, and encourage you to have fun together.
Whether your personalities are quiet and romantic or playful and adventurous, your photographs should feel like your relationship—not someone else’s idea of what engagement pictures are supposed to look like.
Planning a Melbourne Beach Engagement Session?
Melbourne Beach offers beautiful scenery for engagement photographs, from soft skies and open stretches of sand to the wonderfully unpredictable Atlantic Ocean. Every session looks a little different depending on the weather, the water, the light, and—most importantly—the couple.
If you are planning an engagement session in Melbourne Beach, Melbourne, Vero Beach, Orlando, or elsewhere in Florida, I would love to hear what feels most like the two of you.
Come ready to laugh, move, and enjoy each other. And if you want to get into the water, just know that I will probably be right there cheering—and getting soaked along with you.
Want to learn more about planning your engagement session?
