Engagement sessions aren't always possible before the wedding—and that's exactly why I love offering anniversary sessions as an alternative.
They're usually scheduled sometime around the couple's first anniversary and work a lot like an engagement session...except for the obvious difference that you're already married!
Kelly and Jeff decided this was the perfect option for them, and they brought something along that made their session completely their own: their motorcycles.
Making the Session Their Own
I'm always a fan of incorporating something personal into a session, especially when it's genuinely part of a couple's life together.
For Kelly and Jeff, that meant bringing their bikes.
It immediately gave us something different to work with and created photos that felt much more personal than simply choosing a pretty location and calling it good.
It also gave me an opportunity to injure myself within approximately five minutes of starting.
So there's that. 😅
A Slightly Painful Beginning
My husband's family is very much a biker family, but it had been a while since I'd spent much time around motorcycles.
Apparently long enough to forget that motorcycles that have just been ridden are HOT.
While demonstrating how I wanted Kelly and Jeff positioned for literally our first pose, I backed straight into the pipes and managed to nail the backs of both calves.
Ouch.
There was nothing to do but laugh, recover what remained of my dignity, and keep shooting.
Thankfully, the photos were absolutely worth it.
Anniversary Sessions Deserve More Love
One thing I really enjoy about anniversary sessions is that they don't come with quite the same expectations as engagement photos.
You're already married. You've already done the wedding. There's nothing you need these photos for.
You simply get to celebrate this season of your relationship and create something that feels like the two of you.
For Kelly and Jeff, that meant motorcycles, a summer evening, and a photographer who learned a valuable lesson about exhaust pipes.
I'd call that a successful session.