Love at Home: Indoor Engagement Photos with Breakfast and Pottery
Tate and Cameron's heartwarming engagement session captures their Sunday morning tradition of breakfast in bed with their dog, followed by a cozy pottery wheel session on a rainy day directly in their own home.
Picture this: a cozy Sunday morning, sunlight streaming through the curtains, the soft purring of a cat named Tuna and the excited barks of a dog named Ducky, and two people totally in love cuddled up in bed. This is the scene I had the privilege of capturing during a recent photo session with Tate and Cameron who (spoiler alert… this was less an engagement session and more of a post wedding session) eloped just a few days prior.
Tate and Cameron’s love story is as unique as they are - they met on a date full of Thai food and pinball, and have spent the last couple years building a life together in Seattle. As they lounged in bed, sipping coffee and reminiscing about their wedding vows and excitedly sharing of their upcoming move to an entirely new state where Cameron was to start his next journey in life as an air traffic controller… I couldn’t help but be struck by the connection between them.
The location: choosing a in home session versus a studio
When I first met with Tate and Cameron, we debated whether to rent a studio for their engagement session. Featuring a pottery-making segment, a studio initially seemed like the perfect fit. However, their home, where they had spent the last few years building countless memories, offered a deeply personal backdrop that a studio simply couldn't match. With their move-out date less than a month away, capturing these intimate moments in their beloved space became even more meaningful. Photographing in a couple's home not only adds a layer of authenticity but also preserves the unique essence of their shared life, making the session truly one-of-a-kind.
On the other hand, studios can be incredibly beneficial for engagement sessions. I’m not talking about stuffy JC Penny like studios either… studios can be really interesting fun spaces. They provide a controlled environment with optimal lighting and unique settings, which can be especially useful for capturing high-quality images without the unpredictability of weather or other external factors. Studios also offer a professional setting that can accommodate creative setups and props, making them an excellent choice for couples looking for a polished and diverse portfolio of engagement photos.
My personal favorite places to find studios:
What to wear for indoor engagement photos
Choosing outfits for an indoor engagement session in your home can really elevate the look and feel of your photos. When planning Tate and Cameron's session, we wanted their outfits to complement the colors and decor of their home. To achieve this, Tate sent me pictures of the rooms we’d be photographing in, and I used Canva to color sample the existing hues. This helped us determine which colors would harmonize best with their surroundings.
In addition to color coordination, it's important to choose outfits that match the activities you’ll be doing. For this session, we picked cozy, comfortable clothes for their lounging-in-bed shots, making sure they felt relaxed and natural. For the pottery-making segment, they wore casual, easy-to-clean outfits that they didn’t mind getting a bit messy. It’s so important that your outfits not only make sense with whatever you’ll be doing within your session but also that they are something that you would normally wear and feel confident in. By aligning your wardrobe with both your home’s decor and the planned activities, you can create a more authentic and visually pleasing set of photos that truly capture your life and love in your own space.
Activities for your indoor engagement session
When planning a home engagement session, think about including activities that really reflect who you are as a couple. Doing things you love together, like cooking a meal, having a cozy breakfast in bed, or getting creative with a hobby like painting or pottery, can make the photos feel more natural and relaxed. Playing with your pets, reading books, or even just dancing around the living room can capture those genuine, candid moments. By picking activities that mean something to you both, your home engagement session will be not only beautiful but also full of personal and memorable touches.
We already talked about how Tate and Cameron love a good breakfast in bed on a Sunday morning… that’s just normal routine for them. However there’s been a few dropped hints at this point of a pottery session. Another tipping point in choosing their home over a studio was because Tate actually owns a pottery wheel — a vintage one, decades old, that traveled all the way in the back of her little sedan in a cross country move between Florida and Washington. Tate is actually part of a local studio and regularly makes pottery while Cameron simply enjoys spending time with her watching her create. This time though, Cameron got involved and tried his own hand at making something.
Lean into personalizing your engagement photos
Personalizing your engagement session is absolutely key. It's about capturing what makes you feel at home or what sets your soul on fire. Think about the little things that make your relationship unique—like Tate and Cameron’s Sunday mornings in bed or their pottery sessions. These moments not only make your photos special but also tell your love story in the most genuine way. Choosing outfits that represent who you are and reflect your personalities adds another layer of authenticity, making everything feel true to you. This session is a celebration of your connection and the life you share, so fill it with things that mean the most to you. It's these personal touches that will make your engagement photos truly unforgettable and full of heart.
When I work with couples, I always ask them to think deeply about what they want their session to look like and how they want to feel during their session. Then, we sit down together and get to work brainstorming ideas. I want to create images that are personal and meaningful, that reflect who they are as individuals and as a couple.
Kind words from Tate & Cameron
“We had such an amazing experience with Heather! Working through all the details with her was straight forward and smooth. She has great attention to detail not only behind the camera but during the planning/communication process. Our shoot was the first time we met in person and she made us feel so comfortable immediately. Personality makes a big difference for me when selecting a photographer and we truly hit the jackpot with Heather. Her photos are gorgeous and we couldn’t be more thrilled with our experience. She truly is the whole package. Would highly highly recommend!”
This session was an excellent reminder of why I love what I do. It’s about more than just taking pictures - it’s about telling a story, capturing moments that will be treasured for a lifetime. It’s about creating images that are intimate and real, that speak to the heart of a couple’s love. I feel privileged to have been a part of this couple’s story, and I hope that one day they will fulfill their dream of returning to Washington, where their hearts call home.
Continue exploring other couples sessions and helpful planning resources…
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