Artful Engagement Photos in Champaign, Illinois | Elaina + Clayton

You all know how I love my moody and untraditional engagement sessions, and thankfully Elaina did as well as it’s what inclined her to book me for her and Clayton’s wedding and engagement session! On her inquiry Elaina noted: “I’m interested in some non-traditional images. I’m not super into the posed like getting ready photos and would love your creative vision.” Knowing this, I understood I had to take the moody and creative vibes to the next level for their engagement photos, which then led us to Allerton Park and the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois! 

Starting Their Session at Allerton Park

We began the engagement session at a location I am very familiar with, the lovely and scenic Allerton Park! This gorgeous park just outside of Champaign, Illinois is one I’ve taken engagement photos at many times, and has even made it to the blog a couple times through Abby and Al and Madison and Austin’s engagement sessions. The park’s uncompromising beauty comes from its combination of pristinely kept gardens and natural scenery, in addition to the sculptures, brick walls, and other manmade structures found throughout the park. 

It was the perfect setting to start off Elaina and Clayton’s moody session at, and the two were naturals from the get-go! Clayton would argue otherwise, as he initially was saying  “yeah no, not a fan of photos, def not photogenic”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The chemistry between these two is unmatched, and something that would only become more apparent as we spent more and more time together. After a steamy start to their session in Allerton Park  it was then time to head to our next location, the Virginia Theatre!

Engagement Photos at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois

Elaina’s vision and desire for a moody and vintage vibe for her and Clayton’s engagement photos made it a necessity for me to think outside my box of locations for engagement sessions. The Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois would be the answer we were looking for, and it couldn’t have been a better setting for their engagement photos! The classic architecture, vintage décor, and moody lighting perfectly set the scene for the second half of our session that felt like something straight out of the Phantom of the Opera. Elaina and Clayton completely matched the vibe thanks to their more formal attire, and their endless adoration for one another! 

Three of my favorite things about engagement sessions are planning the location and vibe of the session, working with or creating my own ambient lighting, and of course seeing my couples let their guards down in front of the camera. Elaina and Clayton’s engagement photos in Champaign, Illinois are about as spot on as an example of all three of these factors can get! I had THE best time with these two and love how Elaina’s desire for something untraditional led me to reach new levels of creativity in my work! If you’re wanting a more artful and less traditional engagement session like theirs head over to my contact page to send me an inquiry!