In the fall of 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, I realized how taxed my relationship had been, how we really hadn’t spent much time together as a couple without the pressure of kids, responsibilities and our jobs. Before covid_19, we would often plan a trip when life got busy, but because we couldn’t travel we decided to create our own special date nights to help us reconnect.
Even staying home and turning our phones off, listening to music and having drinks become our little escape. We would often have wicked conversations about life, and our goals, and I cherish these times because it’s helped us process real life, and all the responsibilities that we have.
Sound familiar?
I realized after doing this, how a lot of other couples may feel the same, and to be honest, I wanted to share this with my couples because i know first hand how valuable it was to my own relationship. Sometimes during these dates, we were our best selves, our most free, and our happiest! I wanted to share that, document it and hold onto it for the times when things were stressful. Images we could pull out and look at, just as a simple reminder of how good things are, and how much we love each other.
I reached out to some friends of mine and asked if they might be interested in booking a fun date night with me, and we got to planning! We rented an AirBnB, got some drinks, created a fun playlist, and spent the evening dancing, talking, and having pure innocent fun. It made me realize how much these sessions not only mean to me on a personal level, but how much I LOVED witnessing other peoples genuine love.
You often book photographers when you have big life moments, like an engagement, a wedding or a big milestone. But what about celebrating every day life? What about those little moments that add up to those big ones? You should be celebrating those, and you NEED to document it the same way we document those big events.
How does Date Night work?
1 – PICK A DATE! Find a date that works the best for your schedule, make sure you can have a babysitter, dog sitter or house sitter. Make sure your responsibilities are covered, so you can just relax.
You may also want to decided on the time of year you’d like to do this, or maybe you want to do this multiple season per year. But if going to the beach is your thing, then summer is fabulous! If you like skiing, or sitting around big roaring fires, then fall and winter might be more your jam.
2 – BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER. I would LOVE to be your photographer, but sometimes I get booked up quickly, so make sure whoever you choose (hopefully me) is available on your desired date.
Also, if i’m not your jam, then do some research to find a photographer that fits your vibe. I can be boisterous, and easily excited. You can usually tell by their instagram or website what kind of personality they have. This is SO IMPORTANT, because you want to feel the most comfortable with your official date night third wheel.
3 – PICK YOUR ACTIVITY(IES) There are so many activities to choose from when planning your date night. The possibilities are endless, and I am game for ANYTHING (legal of course…. ish). This is why choosing and booking your photographer first is key, I am your date night planning guide, and my imagination is endless!
If you’re having trouble getting creative, here are a few ideas!
- Boating
- Picnic at the beach ( followed by swimming or skinny dipping)
- Picnic in the park, play volleyball, or a card game)
- Riding bikes, rollerskating, skateboarding
- Rent and AirBnB for the night
- Drinks and Snacks at home
- Cooking at home together, pillow fight and a movie
- Pool party in your backyard (even a small blowup pool is fun)
- Carwash in the driveway & Drinks
- Canoeing, paddle-boarding, kayaking
- Camping, hiking
- Go for a Drive in a unique vehicle (rent a cool car)
- 4x4ing into the mountains
4- MAKE A PLAN! Once your date is set, then we can start planning out the session. This will include time of day, what props or items we need. This could be things like grocery shopping, liquor store, creating playlists, book vehicle rentals or Airbnbs etc.
My goal for these sessions it to create an experience that you will never forget, and is a little stress as possible. Just a space for you to focus all your energy on your partner. Whatever I can do to prep, plan, bring etc. I have many connections in the event industry, that I can make almost anything happen. You want a donut foot truck, I got ya!
WHAT TO EXPECT!
I already know how you’re feeling right now…. I’M NERVOUS AS HECK!
This is totally normal, you many not have ever done anything like this! It’s a new experience, but I promise you once we start, the nerves will fall away. My first step after you book is to build a relationship with you prior to your session. This way, when we get to your date, it’ll feel more normal and relaxed.
OMG Megan’s coming over! WAHOO!
Something like that anyway! I send out a questionnaire to get to know you both, your likes, dislikes, etc. If you’re nervous about what you look like, or maybe you have a fear. What kind of music do you both like, or a beverage preference. The questionnaire asks a ton of questions, you simply answer as many as you can.
When I arrive to your session, whatever that may look like (depending on our plan) I love to just sit and chat, get music going, and of course pour drinks (or continue to pour drinks). A lot of couples prefer to warm up with drinks prior to my arrival, which you can do, just don’t indulge too much too fast!
MUSIC IS YOUR BFF – Seriously, music does wonders. IT takes that awkward silence and files it with something familiar. I bring a portable speaker that is clipped to me the entire time, so you don’t have to worry about bringing the tunes.
Your session with me is around an hour, but sometimes goes longer. We dance, laugh, get you cuddled up, movement movement movement. I rarely have you two standing still, be prepared to MOVE! It’s also totally up to you what you wear (or don’t). I have a what to wear guide that i’ll send, but i’m truly open to whatever makes you the most comfortable.
Skinny dipping and nudity is always encouraged, but NOT a must. It truly depends on how you and your partner love to be with each other. We can chat prior to your session if you’re wanting to change into lingerie, or be in the buff!
These sessions are designed to create a beautiful experience full of laughter and fun. I truly LOVE witnesses couples connections, and being able to photograph it, and then show you just how special your bond is.
ARE YOU READY TO BOOK YOUR SESSION?
I would absolutely love to book in your session with me as your photographer. If you head to my website and send me an inquiry through my contact page, we can get to planning!
Session fee’s start at $475
If you’d like to get to know me a little better, check out my about me page to learn more.
I can also add video to your date night session (additional fees)
