What is an Adventure Session?!

It’s a term that you’ve maybe been seeing more and more lately:

Adventure Session.

But what does it mean? Is it just a trendy new rebranding of an Engagement Session? What makes it an Adventure? What does an Adventure Session entail? Who is an Adventure Session for? Where can you have an Adventure Session?

Keep reading to find out the answers to those questions and more, and learn about why an Adventure Session might be the perfect thing for you and your partner!

Adventure Session vs. Engagement Session:

If you’ve ever chatted with a photographer about doing an engagement session, you’ve probably heard some version of the following:

“It’s just like a cute date, you just have a third wheel with a camera!”

I’ve said it myself! However, if you’ve ever actually had engagement photos taken, you know that’s not always altogether true.

Most engagement sessions are in places where you wouldn’t typically go together, you’re dressed up, you have someone barking cues and poses at you and pointing a camera in your face.

You’re worried about things like whether you’re making a funny face, or whether you look “in love enough”, and are generally not having a very good time. At least not “cute date” levels of fun!

Adventure Sessions are different!

First, they’re not just for recently-engaged couples – but more about that later!

For an Adventure Session, we take the “cute date” and shake it up a bit.

I want you to enjoy the experience of your adventure session as much as you enjoy the gorgeous photos you’ll get from it!

Some of my favorite adventure session ideas include hiking in Shenandoah National Park, a day at the beach in Sandbridge, A scenic drive down Skyline Drive, and Rock-hopping in the James River, but there are so many other fun possibilities!

Adventure Sessions for Everyone!

Like I said, Adventure Sessions aren’t just for engaged couples!

They are great for celebrating anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions. Or maybe you and your partner realized that you haven’t had any nice photos taken together in a while (or maybe ever!) but the idea of doing an overly-posed couples session makes your skin crawl.

Perhaps you and your partner really bond over spending time outdoors together, and the couples photos you’ve seen just don’t feel like YOU.

I’m here to help you plan the perfect adventure session for you and your partner. From location scouting to activity suggestions, I am here to make this a fun experience for the two of you! Gorgeous photos are just the icing on the cake.

No Awkward, Uncomfortable Posing.

I’ll be the first to say that I’m not a fan of having my photo taken.

Forcing smiling until your face hurts and silly, sometimes super awkward cues to make it look like you’re having a good time just really aren’t my cup of tea.

I prefer to work with couples to show off the real ways they interact and show affection. I create photos that capture real moments of fun or closeness or intimacy. That doesn’t mean you have to do all the work, however!

If you’re ever at a loss for what to do, I am always here with cues and suggestions, but those will always be based on the real ways you interact with your partner and not some idealized list of what couples in love should look like!

What To Expect From Your Adventure Session: