This is my favorite session I’ve ever photographed. When Cali and Claire came to me with the idea for their engagement photos inspired by Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter, two ghosts in an indeterminate time finding each other in every life, I was immediately all in! What came of it is a session that was midwestern gothic, dreamy, and film inspired.
I searched through Airbnb listings until I found a place that allowed photos and could hold all the dreamy, eerie, romantic pieces they imagined, and getting to help create something this weird as my job was a true pinch-me moment! Just know that if you have an idea for a creative engagement session that lives outside the usual box, I’m more than ready to climb all the way out of it with you!
At Home in Another Lifetime | Unique Engagement Photos
The old farmhouse and weathered barn gave this part of their Midwestern Gothic engagement photos the feeling of a place suspended somewhere between past and present. I just loved the vintage-inspired layers, high collars, lace, and long skirts that really leaned into that indeterminate timeline without feeling like costumes.
Instead it all felt like we had stepped into a quiet life they had already shared once before, full of familiar rooms, soft light, and the sense that they had been finding each other here for years!
The Same Ghosts, a Different Decade
For the next part of Cali and Claire’s engagement session, they traded in their outfits for for powder blue and green suits. It was fun shifting the story from somewhere vaguely Victorian into something that could’ve been the 1990s. It felt like the same two people finding each other again, just in another version of their lives.
As the sun disappeared, we leaned into direct flash, deep blue skies, movement, and portraits that felt a little more editorial and strange, but still romantic.
Two Ghosts After Dark
Once it was fully dark, the session slipped into the strange, dreamy part of their original idea. They danced through the house, sat together at the piano, appeared in glowing windows, and wandered the property like two ghosts who had finally found each other again.
I played with direct flash, motion blur, and the warm light coming from the farmhouse. It was romantic, maybe a little unsettling, and the perfect ending to their Midwestern Gothic engagement photos!
Engagement Photo Planning Tips
If you’re planning your own unique Michigan engagement photos, these guides can help you think through the details! From what to wear to choosing a location that feels like your actual life. My hope is that you’ll find them helpful in planning a session that feels honest and true to your relationship.
Engagement Photos With Dogs: The Benefits & Tips if your pup is absolutely part of the plan.
4 Benefits of Doing an Engagement Session with Your Wedding Photographer if you’re wondering why engagement photos are worth it.
What to Wear for Your Engagement Photos (And How to Make Them Feel Like You) if outfit planning is stressing you out.
Why a Low-Key Engagement Session Might Be Exactly What You Need if you want photos that feel relaxed, personal, and not overly the top.
Your Engagement Photos Can Be Whatever the Hell You Want!
Your engagement photos don’t have to look like anyone else’s. They can be unconventional, playful, cinematic, a little weird, or completely impossible to put into words. Bring me the idea you’re almost afraid to say out loud. I’m ready to climb the f out of the box with you and create something that feels unmistakably yours!
If you’re looking for a Michigan engagement or wedding photographer who is excited to get weird with you, I’d love to hear from you. I’m based in Michigan, but I happily travel for couples who value artful, honest photographs that capture who they really are.
You can learn more about me on my about page, and if you’d love to create together, reach out here to tell me what you’re dreaming up! Until then, you can see more sessions, weddings, and resources on the blog.
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