Published January 2017 · Updated April 2026
Destination Engagement Session
One of my favorite parts of this work is meeting couples where they are — sometimes literally. Destination engagement sessions take us outside of Arizona, into the cities and landscapes where couples have built their lives together. Each city brings its own light, its own rhythm, and its own kind of beauty.
What I love about traveling for engagement sessions is the way a familiar place looks different through the lens of a love story. These backdrops carry meaning because the couple chose them. And that meaning always shows up in the photographs.
Planning Your Engagement Session
An engagement session is a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day and to create images you can use for save-the-dates, your wedding website, or guest sign-in displays. I typically recommend scheduling your session about 4 to 6 months before the wedding. For Arizona desert sessions, the best months are November through March when temperatures are mild and the light is warm. Sessions in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the surrounding desert typically start about 90 minutes before sunset to catch the golden hour. If you are planning a session, get in touch and we can talk about locations that work for you.
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Amanda & Matt are a dream couple. They live in my most favorite city, New York City, they are foodies and they are both really creative and fun people. When we were chatting about where to their engagement session there is no other place we all three of us would have rather taken them then NYC.
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We didn’t have a set in stone plan, we left their ridiculously adorable upper west side (my favorite part of the city) apartment and just wandered. We went to Central Park to capture the fresh fall coloring before it vanished to the winter.
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I have personally been to Central Park on many different occasions but to see it thru their eyes made it extra special. Wandering and adventure for a shoot is where some the best work comes from!
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After the park we headed down to Corner Bistro, If you are a NYC foodie like myself this is a must stop. The best Hamburger I have ever had. It was so yummy! After lunch we then went down to the village area and shot near the most adorable little restaurant where Amanda & Matt had their first date; I think it is always a fun idea to incorporate fun spots and places that are significant to the couple, it just makes it more memorable.
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This was such a lovely shoot and I love these two so so much. I am looking forward to their upcoming Four Seasons and Some like it Classic wedding! I know its going to be beyond AMAZING!
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Xoxo
nMore Engagement Sessions
Interested in a destination engagement session? Let’s talk about your vision.