Date Night Engagement Session in Champaign, IL
[THE BLOG]
After matching on Hinge, T&A met up at The Literary in Champaign, IL for their first date. They ended up having lunch AND dinner there. Because when you know, you know! And you keep hanging out for hours. So it made sense to start their engagement photos there. Check out their date night engagement session in Champaign!
That candid black & white is one of my fave photos of all time. Catching people in the moment as they are! It’s a great contrast to the laughing smiles of T&A in other photos.
There were so many spots to frame them for pictures!! The Literary is an amazing spot for not only drinks & food, but community events.
The Lit’s motto is “Good Books, Good Food, Good Friends.” It’s a woman-and-locally-owned business! On the weekends they encourage folks to socialize with tables reserved for non-device use. Such a cool idea.
I’ve been to the Champaign-Urbana area for engagement photos before! Delight Flower Farm is just outside and WOW it’s so cool.
Date Night Engagement Photos: Editorial Style
What even is editorial? It’s a word thrown around a lot in the photographer world at the moment. According to Adobe, editorial photography includes a narrative or creative concept. My work is less conceptual, and more narrative.
The narrative behind these photos:
Tiegan & Angelica enjoy a date night at their first date spot. They have drinks, look at books, and reminisce over their first time meeting.
When I talk about editorial photos- I usually mean I use a LOT of flash. It was super fun using flash to manipulate light and highlight their awesome outfits for their session.
When planning any photoshoot- it’s important to think of the location as the unspoken main character in photos. It sets the tone for the story being told.
For the Lit, the features are the bookshelves, the bar, the comfy seating- it’s a cute & fancy place to hang out at!
Their rehearsal dinner spot
When we were done at the lit for their date night engagement photos, we drove to Tiegan’s grandparent’s property!
Her grandparents build the home, and have done so much with the land around it through the years. Knowing their rehearsal dinner will be there next year, it was so cool to hang out & take photos there!
Not every engagement session has two outfits and two locations- this one was extra special.
Their rehearsal dinner will be hosted on this property next June! I am SO excited to go back and hang out with all their friends and family.
See you next year, Tiegan & Angelica !!!!!
Check out theses other Champaign-Urbana, IL area engagement sessions:
Rachael Marie Photography values inclusivity and will never discriminate against your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, body type, or abilities. You are wonderful, beautiful, and loved here.
All love is affirmed & celebrated here.
I'll give you direction when you need it and space when you don't. I believe the best photos aren't always the ones where everyone is looking at the camera.
Sometimes they're the ones where your best friend is crying. Your grandma is laughing.
Your partner is looking at you when you aren't paying attention. And someone is absolutely losing their mind on the dance floor.
Those are the photos I want to make.
I'm Rachael (she/her) by the way.
For the people who would rather be living the moment than posing for it.
