Couple Portraits

coaching

why we love them

timeline

On This Page:

sunset pictures

locations

Whether you do a first look or save the surprise for the aisle, we want to make sure you carve out time to be together throughout the wedding day.

We recommend an hour for couple portraits. This can be done all at once or spread out across different parts of the day:

couple portraits timeline

making time for yourselves

First Look with 30 minutes of couple portraits to follow

Praying together (before mass)

Photos around your church (inside or outside)

Newlywed pictures after your wedding party pictures

Sunset pictures

These romantic portraits of just the two of you will be the images that you frame beside your bed or over your mantle, and they will also be the images that will fill your album for future generations to enjoy.

Not only are they beautiful, but they’re also such a sweet portion of your wedding day experience as a couple to have a brief moment alone together! We encourage the wedding party to leave you two alone during this time and give you two the chance to love on each other and really connect.

reasons why we love them

Have no fear, we will coach you through everything - like where to stand, where to put your hands, and more! Get ready to twirl in your wedding dress, kiss under the veil, hold each other close, walk arm in arm, show off the beautiful details of your dress, and be lovingly playful together. We really favor giving you a handful of classic looking at the camera shots and then dozens more of you interacting with one another. Please let us know if there is anything you want specifically incorporated and we will help make it happen.

We’ll coach you through everything.

photo locations to consider:

outside the church

inside the church

a park or landmark

reception venue

When the trees are bare and snow isn't a guarantee, we recommend choosing locations that have architecture or green evergreen trees to help bring pops of color back into the images. Your church or reception venue might provide all the backdrop you need, or we can make a stop on the way.

seasonal reminder

for november - april

James J. Hill Library & Rice Park (Saint Paul, MN)
Mill City Ruins (Minneapolis, MN)
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis, MN)
Hansen Tree Farm (Anoka, MN)
Bunker Lake Regional Park (Coon Rapids, MN)

A few favorite local options:

During cocktail hour as part of newlywed portraits if the sunset is earlier in the day

Before toasts and speeches - give yourself 30 minutes to eat and then sneak off for sunset pictures

While dinner tables are being cleared from the dance floor (if applicable)

After first dances

Final 15-20 minutes before photography coverage ends

We love doing sunset pictures anytime in the 45-60 minutes before the scheduled sunset for the day. A big reason that we don’t often plan sunset pictures for the actual sunset time is because clouds risk the light fading sooner (and sometimes other buildings block it too! Sunset pictures typically happen either:

Timing of sunset pictures

Sneak away from the reception for some pictures in the glow of the sunset during "golden hour". There is additional variety to your photos now that your wedding dress is bustled and more movement we can do since you’ve likely had a glass of wine from the party bus or cocktail hour putting you in a relaxed playful mood ;)

sunset pictures