Engagement Photography
Your engagement session isn't just about photos. It's a chance to spend an evening being present with each other, in a place that means something, before everything shifts into wedding mode. Honor the relationship that got you here, and where it is going.
"The best engagement photos feel like your relationship. Our job is to give you the space to actually show that."
What an Engagement Session Actually Is
Somewhere along the way, engagement sessions became a checkbox. You get engaged, you schedule a shoot, you post the photos. That's not what we're interested in.
What we care about is the version where you're actually present. Where the location feels like somewhere you'd go on your own. Where the evening has its own pace instead of a shot list driving it. The photos that come from that are different. You can feel the difference when you look at them.
This is a specific season of your relationship, and it's worth treating it that way. The engagement is the thing between the proposal and the wedding. It's full of energy and anticipation and a particular kind of closeness. We want images that reflect that, not images that could belong to anyone.
How We Work
Before the session, we talk. About where you feel comfortable, what times of day work for you, what you actually want to wear versus what you think you should wear. Some couples already have a location in mind. Others have no idea and want help thinking it through. Both are fine.
We've shot engagements in July at Sleeping Bear when the dunes go gold at 8pm. In October in the Leelanau woods when the color is at its peak. In downtown Traverse City on a weeknight when it was quiet enough to be interesting. Each one was built around that specific couple.
If We're Also Shooting Your Wedding
That matters more than most people expect. By the time your wedding day comes, we're not working with people we just met. You've already been in front of the camera with us. You know how we communicate, what the rhythm feels like, what to do when you don't know what to do. That ease shows up in the work.
A lot of the best moments on a wedding day happen fast and don't repeat. The couples who feel comfortable with their photographer are the ones who stay open when those moments come. The engagement session is where that comfort gets built.
Good Humans
Portfolio
The Process
Every session is built specifically around you. Here's how it tends to go from first contact to final images.
You reach out, we talk through what you're thinking: location ideas, timing, what kind of energy you want. This is where we figure out if we're a good fit and start planning something that actually fits your relationship.
Location, time of day, what you're wearing: these things matter more than most people think. We help you think through the details so the session feels intentional rather than staged.
On the day, the goal is for it to feel like a good evening, not a photo shoot. Your images arrive in a private online gallery, ready to download, share, or order prints from.
What Clients Say
"I know what y'all are thinking... yes we have the best photographers EVER who can capture the most perfect little moments and make them the big ones."
Ali, wedding client"They just knew what to do. Not to mention their photo style is incredible. They're so great at capturing moments between poses that make your photos truly special. You can look back and remember how you felt when it was being taken."
Brandi"Allen-Kent photography has a way of making you feel comfortable while also taking the best photos in Northern MI! I would highly recommend them for any photos you may need."
Amanda"Brooke and Michael are so laid back and easygoing while still maintaining professionalism so it makes it easy to be comfortable and trust them. The whole experience never felt like we had to feel the pressure of making it a good shoot."
BrandiNorthern Michigan
Traverse City and the surrounding region give engagement sessions a range that most places can't offer. The light over Lake Michigan in late summer is unlike anything else. The forests in Leelanau County have a quiet depth to them. The dunes at Sleeping Bear are constantly shifting and always worth it.
We've worked in all of these places, across every season. That familiarity means we're not guessing where to stand or what the light is going to do.
Tell us a little about what you're thinking and we'll take it from there.
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