Trust me when I say that this art museum engagement session at Arizona State University made allllll my golden hour dreams come to life. The drama of this shoot was everything I could have hoped for. The rich golden light that peaked through the clouds towards the end of the shoot took it to the next level! For this playful engagement session, we met up with Courtney and Joseph right before sunset. The ASU Art Museum has so many unique nooks and fun hidden locations to capture photos at, and we had the best time exploring all of the options. We even jumped over to the ASU Gammage after sunset to capture some dramatic portraits in the lights.
Courtney and Joseph’s engagement session was a blast from start to finish. They brought two different outfits that showed off their personalities and style. They went through their session with wide smiles, LOTS of laughter, and some celebratory bubbles. This dreamy art museum engagement session at golden hour felt like absolute heaven.
Best Friends Who Like To Do Karate In The Garage
Here’s the thing, I wouldn’t mind being the third wheel in Courtney and Joseph’s relationship because they have so much fun together! During their engagement session, they wanted to focus 100% on their love. They didn’t let the thought of looking silly get in the way of capturing this time in their life and it really allowed us to get some incredible photos! They were even willing to try a few new creative poses I had never shot before, and I am SO happy with how they turned out.
What made this session extra special was the fact that we all got to know each other really well during the shoot. I always love getting to know my clients early on so that I can make them feel comfortable, but also so we can capture them for who they are. Getting to know Courtney and Joseph was so much fun for me, documenting their love more authentically was the cherry on top.
We had the best time dreaming up the vibe for this outdoor art museum engagement session. There were essentially two different concepts for the shoot: playful and dramatic. At the beginning of the shoot Courtney and Joseph wanted to keep things light and fun to reflect their playful side, so we experimented with some fun spinning photos and adorable cheek kiss pics. To go along with the light and playful portion of the shoot they wore casual outfits, Courtney in a simple floral sundress and Joseph in overalls and a t-shirt. They really allowed their personalities to show through, which I loved! When it was time to bring a little drama into the session we headed over to the theater and Courtney and Joseph slipped into their second outfits. I was obsessssedddd! Like, the DRAMA! It was everything.
Courtney and Joseph’s Love Story
As I said, getting to know our couple and their love story was one of the best parts of this day. Before a session, I love asking my couples some fun “ice breaker” style questions. I asked them about the first thing that comes to mind about their relationship, and I loved their answer so much I just had to share them with you all! Here’s how they responded:
“We’re kind of like best friends who like to do karate in the garage. 😅 or pull all-nighters to watch Bachelor in Paradise, or take a trip to Iceland together after knowing each other for just 3 months. We fully appreciate each other’s quirks and are each other’s biggest fans <3”
Architecture and Romance at the ASU Art Museum
As a destination wedding photographer and videographer, we have seen our fair share of engagement session locations. Over the years we’ve compiled a list of our absolute favorites! Often when considering locations for Arizona couples, most people think about the desert or one of the many iconic outdoor settings. However, Arizona is full of secret spots that are perfect for an engagement session. If the desert or forest aren’t your vibe, a setting like the ASU Art Museum may be perfect for you! The ASU Art Museum is flooded with many beautiful backdrops and corners. With terracotta walls and gorgeous concrete stairs, the museum was essentially a playground for this outdoor engagement shoot.
ASU has some stunning architecture and we wanted to make the most of our time there. So after the sunset, we headed over to the ASU Gammage for some major drama shots. This is the part of the session where I fell in loveeeee!! As architecture enthusiasts, Courtney and Joseph were obsessed with the theater designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Beautiful archways, gorgeous uplighting, and an overall amazing setting made for the most iconic end to their engagement session. I was able to really work my creative muscles as we played around with different angles, ideas, and poses to make the most of the unique lighting and it all turned out great!
The Secret to Golden Hour Photos
Who doesn’t love soaking in the rich warmth of the golden hour sun?! It’s dreamy, cozy, and comforting, and for that reason many clients want golden hour photos. I don’t blame them, they’re sooo yummy! I mean, from a photographer’s POV, golden hour photos are a dream. Nothing really beats a good sunset and golden light. However, there are some tricky elements when it comes to shooting a good golden hour session.
One of my biggest tips is to give yourself enough time! Seriously, timing is everything. Whenever we have a client who wants a golden hour session we try to schedule our arrival ahead of the actual golden hour so we have ample time to scout the area, capture a few pre-golden hour photos, and so that we are able to use every single second of that rich lighting. You may think you have plenty of time to shoot your photos but trust me, once the sun starts to set time flies! The golden hour window is short and we want to make sure we capture each image you want within that time frame.
Whether you’re looking to capture some fun photos at a unique location in Arizona like the ASU Art Museum or are dreaming of an epic golden hour session with your boo we would loveeee to be your photographer! Slide on into our DM’s on IG or send us an inquiry here on our website! We can’t wait to take you to some of our favorite spots in AZ.
Courtney & Joseph’s Creative Art Museum Engagement Session
