VIEW THE POST
I am going to say something that might ruffle a few feathers — and I mean every word of it.
Your proposal session does not count as your engagement session. Not even a little.
I say this with love, with experience, and with the very specific memory of the countless couples who have come to me after their proposals absolutely dreading their proposal photos. The double chins. The facial expressions. The tears they did not see coming. The un-planned attire. Lack of hair and makeup. The angle their photographer chose that they will never forgive. The images that captured the most important question of their lives and somehow made them feel worse about how they look than any photo ever has before rather than complimenting.
This is not a criticism of proposal photographers. The proposal session serves a sacred, specific purpose — it documents the moment. The raw, unscripted, completely unguarded instant when your entire world shifts. That is beautiful and worth every penny.
But it is not the same thing as an engagement session. And confusing the two is one of the most common — and most costly — mistakes I see newly engaged couples make. Yet they choose to settle for what they have rather than taking the time, intention to thoughtfully take that next step to plan for their engagement session.
Here Is the Truth About Proposal Photos
When you are being proposed to, you are not thinking about your angles. You are not thinking about the light, or your posture, or whether your expression is reading as joyful versus terrified. You are feeling something enormous — and your body and face are simply responding to that feeling in real time, completely un-curated, completely unguided.
That authenticity is the entire point of a proposal session. But it is also exactly why those images rarely make it to the wall and curated in your home.
Most of the couples who come to me after their proposals share some version of the same story: the moment was perfect, but I hate how I look in every single photo. They want to recreate something. Recapture something. Fix something. And I always tell them the same thing: there is nothing to fix. Those photos did exactly what they were supposed to do.
What you are actually craving — what you are really asking for — is your engagement session.
What an Engagement Session Actually Does
Your engagement session is the first time I photograph you and your partner together — intentionally, unhurriedly, with full attention to light and location and the specific, beautiful way you two exist in the world side by side. For many couples, it is the first professional portrait session they have ever had as a couple. And that matters enormously.
Because here is what I have learned after over a decade behind the lens: the single greatest predictor of how much a couple loves their wedding photos is how comfortable they feel in front of a camera. Comfort breeds confidence. Confidence breeds presence. And presence — that quality of being fully, openly there — is what separates an image you scroll past from an image that stops you completely.
Your engagement session is where we build that.
Before I ever lift my camera, we have already talked through your vision, your style, your timeline. On the day of your session, I guide you through every movement — not with rigid direction, but with gentle, intuitive prompts that draw your attention back to each other and away from the lens entirely. By the end of our session together, most of my couples forget I am there. That is the goal. That is the point.
You walk away not only with images you genuinely love — images that feel effortless and alive and completely true to who you are — but with something just as valuable: the knowledge of how to be yourselves in front of a camera. So that when your wedding day arrives and the stakes are at their absolute highest, you are not starting from zero. You are already comfortable. Already confident. Already completely at ease.
Why I Believe in Capturing Both
I will always advocate for having your proposal documented. The moment someone gets down on one knee and changes the entire trajectory of your life? That deserves a witness. That deserves to be preserved. Book that session — do not hesitate.
And then, once the champagne has been poured and the calls have been made and you have both exhaled — book your engagement session. Separately. Intentionally. As its own experience.
Because your proposal was the question. Your engagement session is the answer — the two of you, fully present, stepping into this chapter together with intention and joy and the kind of ease that only comes from being genuinely, beautifully guided.
You deserve both. You deserve to walk away from every session feeling seen — not cringing, not self-conscious, not wishing you could do it over.
That is what I am here for.
Ready to Plan Your Engagement Session?
At Michelle Behre Photography, every engagement session begins with a full consultation — so that by the time we are actually shooting, all you have to do is show up and love each other. The rest is mine to handle.
Inquire here to check availability. I would be honored to be part of your story — from the very first frame to the last page of your heirloom album.
Thoughtfully Curating Your Moments
A moment this meaningful deserves to be remembered with intention. Whether you’re planning an intimate proposal and your wedding tucked within a quiet garden or a grand gesture overlooking sweeping views, having it documented allows you to relive the emotion for years to come.
At Michelle Behre Photography, we specialize in capturing proposals in a way that feels natural, refined, and true to you—so nothing feels staged, only beautifully preserved. From discreetly documenting the moment itself to guiding you through a just-engaged portrait session afterward, we ensure your experience feels effortless from beginning to end and curated with deep intention.
If you’re dreaming of a proposal that is not only unforgettable in the moment, but timeless in how it’s remembered, we would be honored to be part of your story, inquire within for further details on availability.
VIEW THE POST
I am going to say something that might ruffle a few feathers — and I mean every word of it.
Your proposal session does not count as your engagement session. Not even a little.
I say this with love, with experience, and with the very specific memory of the countless couples who have come to me after their proposals absolutely dreading their proposal photos. The double chins. The facial expressions. The tears they did not see coming. The un-planned attire. Lack of hair and makeup. The angle their photographer chose that they will never forgive. The images that captured the most important question of their lives and somehow made them feel worse about how they look than any photo ever has before rather than complimenting.
This is not a criticism of proposal photographers. The proposal session serves a sacred, specific purpose — it documents the moment. The raw, unscripted, completely unguarded instant when your entire world shifts. That is beautiful and worth every penny.
But it is not the same thing as an engagement session. And confusing the two is one of the most common — and most costly — mistakes I see newly engaged couples make. Yet they choose to settle for what they have rather than taking the time, intention to thoughtfully take that next step to plan for their engagement session.
Here Is the Truth About Proposal Photos
When you are being proposed to, you are not thinking about your angles. You are not thinking about the light, or your posture, or whether your expression is reading as joyful versus terrified. You are feeling something enormous — and your body and face are simply responding to that feeling in real time, completely un-curated, completely unguided.
That authenticity is the entire point of a proposal session. But it is also exactly why those images rarely make it to the wall and curated in your home.
Most of the couples who come to me after their proposals share some version of the same story: the moment was perfect, but I hate how I look in every single photo. They want to recreate something. Recapture something. Fix something. And I always tell them the same thing: there is nothing to fix. Those photos did exactly what they were supposed to do.
What you are actually craving — what you are really asking for — is your engagement session.
What an Engagement Session Actually Does
Your engagement session is the first time I photograph you and your partner together — intentionally, unhurriedly, with full attention to light and location and the specific, beautiful way you two exist in the world side by side. For many couples, it is the first professional portrait session they have ever had as a couple. And that matters enormously.
Because here is what I have learned after over a decade behind the lens: the single greatest predictor of how much a couple loves their wedding photos is how comfortable they feel in front of a camera. Comfort breeds confidence. Confidence breeds presence. And presence — that quality of being fully, openly there — is what separates an image you scroll past from an image that stops you completely.
Your engagement session is where we build that.
Before I ever lift my camera, we have already talked through your vision, your style, your timeline. On the day of your session, I guide you through every movement — not with rigid direction, but with gentle, intuitive prompts that draw your attention back to each other and away from the lens entirely. By the end of our session together, most of my couples forget I am there. That is the goal. That is the point.
You walk away not only with images you genuinely love — images that feel effortless and alive and completely true to who you are — but with something just as valuable: the knowledge of how to be yourselves in front of a camera. So that when your wedding day arrives and the stakes are at their absolute highest, you are not starting from zero. You are already comfortable. Already confident. Already completely at ease.
Why I Believe in Capturing Both
I will always advocate for having your proposal documented. The moment someone gets down on one knee and changes the entire trajectory of your life? That deserves a witness. That deserves to be preserved. Book that session — do not hesitate.
And then, once the champagne has been poured and the calls have been made and you have both exhaled — book your engagement session. Separately. Intentionally. As its own experience.
Because your proposal was the question. Your engagement session is the answer — the two of you, fully present, stepping into this chapter together with intention and joy and the kind of ease that only comes from being genuinely, beautifully guided.
You deserve both. You deserve to walk away from every session feeling seen — not cringing, not self-conscious, not wishing you could do it over.
That is what I am here for.
Ready to Plan Your Engagement Session?
At Michelle Behre Photography, every engagement session begins with a full consultation — so that by the time we are actually shooting, all you have to do is show up and love each other. The rest is mine to handle.
Inquire here to check availability. I would be honored to be part of your story — from the very first frame to the last page of your heirloom album.
Thoughtfully Curating Your Moments
A moment this meaningful deserves to be remembered with intention. Whether you’re planning an intimate proposal and your wedding tucked within a quiet garden or a grand gesture overlooking sweeping views, having it documented allows you to relive the emotion for years to come.
At Michelle Behre Photography, we specialize in capturing proposals in a way that feels natural, refined, and true to you—so nothing feels staged, only beautifully preserved. From discreetly documenting the moment itself to guiding you through a just-engaged portrait session afterward, we ensure your experience feels effortless from beginning to end and curated with deep intention.
If you’re dreaming of a proposal that is not only unforgettable in the moment, but timeless in how it’s remembered, we would be honored to be part of your story, inquire within for further details on availability.
June 5, 2026
VIEW THE POST
There’s something undeniably romantic about summer evenings. The warmth in the air, golden light stretching past sunset, the sound of waves crashing along the shoreline, late-night boardwalk strolls, and the feeling that time slows down. At Michelle Behre Photography, summer engagement sessions are some of our favorite stories to capture because they allow couples to fully immerse themselves in the quiet in-between moments together.
Your engagement season is fleeting. Before the timelines, before the vows, before officially stepping into your bridal era, there’s this beautiful chapter where life feels full of anticipation and possibility. Summer engagement sessions preserve that feeling effortlessly — creating imagery that feels cinematic, emotional, nostalgic, and true to your relationship.
As leading New Jersey wedding photographers and videographers, Michelle Behre Photography captures luxury weddings and engagement sessions with a documentary and editorial-inspired approach.
Planning your Session to Compliment Your Day
One of our favorite reasons to schedule a summer engagement session is when couples are getting married during another season entirely. Their session will compliment their Wedding Day images beautifully. Additionally, they will have their save the dates to their guests within ample time.
If your wedding day is taking place in the fall, winter, or spring, your summer engagement session becomes an opportunity to create variety within your overall wedding story. Instead of having both your engagement and wedding images feel visually similar captured in the same season, choosing an opposing season adds depth and contrast to your gallery, story, and heirloom albums.
Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- a cozy winter wedding with a carefree summer engagement session,
- a romantic spring wedding with golden beach portraits,
- or a fall estate wedding with nostalgic twilight boardwalk imagery.
The contrast creates a fuller visual story of your relationship throughout different chapters of your engagement season. Summer sessions also allow couples to embrace a more relaxed, playful atmosphere that often feels entirely different from the elegance and formality of a wedding day.
Capturing the Fleeting Romance of Summer Date Nights
Summer engagement sessions naturally feel effortless because they mirror real experiences couples already love sharing together.
Late sunsets, warm evenings, spontaneous adventures, and lingering conversations all create the perfect environment for authentic imagery. Rather than forcing overly posed moments, we focus on documenting movement, connection, and emotion as your evening naturally unfolds.
Some of the most romantic engagement sessions happen during:
- twilight encounters along the shoreline,
- slow walks through beach towns or along the water,
- cocktails at your favorite rooftop bar,
- golden-hour boardwalk rides,
- or quiet moments watching the sunset together and at your favorite restaurant as we leave you two for dinner together.
There’s a nostalgia attached to summer evenings that translates beautifully into photographs. The imagery feels cinematic and intimate — like scenes from your own love story unfolding naturally in real time.
At Michelle Behre Photography, we intentionally photograph those quiet in-between moments: the laughter between poses, windswept hair along the beach, your hands brushing together during a walk, or the way you look at each other when you think no one is watching.
Those are the moments that matter most.
Beach Sessions Along the Jersey Shore
As New Jersey wedding photographers, we may be slightly biased, but the Jersey Shore offers some of the most beautiful and versatile engagement session locations on the East Coast.
From the refined charm of Spring Lake and Bay Head to the energy of Asbury Park and nostalgic boardwalk towns throughout the shore, summer creates the perfect setting for engagement sessions that feel timeless yet deeply personal.
Beach engagement sessions allow couples to fully relax. Shoes come off, timelines disappear, and the evening becomes less about “taking photos” and more about spending intentional time together.
The shoreline also provides incredible natural variety:
- soft dunes and light greenery,
- colorful boardwalk lights and vintage arcades,
- beach bonfires,
- and quiet sunset moments along the water.
The result is imagery that feels elevated while still preserving the carefree romance summer is known for.
A Relaxed, Vacation-Like Experience
One of the reasons couples love summer engagement sessions is because they often feel more like a date night or mini getaway than a formal photoshoot.
There’s less pressure to perform and more space to simply enjoy the experience together.
We encourage our couples to plan engagement sessions around activities and locations that genuinely reflect their relationship. Some of our favorite summer-inspired engagement session ideas include:
- a twilight hike overlooking the coastline,
- a beach bonfire with music and champagne,
- a carnival or summer fair,
- coffee shop or cocktail bar dates,
- visiting your favorite boardwalk,
- sunset boat rides,
- or nostalgic drive-in movie nights.
These experiences create real memories together while allowing us to capture imagery that feels authentic to your story.
The beauty of engagement sessions is that they preserve not only what your relationship looked like during this season — but what it felt like.
Creating Memories Before Your Bridal Era Begins
Before the wedding day arrives, before the dress is carefully hung in the bridal suite, before the first dance and emotional vows, there’s this season of becoming.
Your engagement session freezes that chapter in time.
At Michelle Behre Photography, our approach is centered around documenting genuine connection through emotional storytelling and timeless imagery. We believe your engagement photos should feel immersive, effortless, and reflective of the relationship you’ve built together.
As trusted New Jersey wedding photographers and videographers, we are honored to capture couples throughout the region while preserving the fleeting, romantic moments that shape your story long before the wedding day arrives. Inquire within to check your date and to begin planning your Engagement Session with Michelle.
May 12, 2026
MICHELLE BEHRE, THE PHOTOGRAPHER
GET TO KNOW her
xoxo,
Michelle
With cheerful energy, a contagious smile, and an intentional eye, award-winning celebrity New Jersey wedding and commercial photographer, Michelle Behre, captures love stories to stand the test of time.
She uses her refined fine art photography skills to expertly capture the wedding day. From the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect portraits, Michelle expertly blends editorial documentary, and photojournalism photography in fine art curation of your special wedding events and day.
She confidently empowers each client who steps in front of her lens. During your time together, she illuminates your personalities, genuine compassion, and captures the joy that you and your families bring to one another in an unobtrusive fashion.
