Why You Should Take Anniversary Photos: The Perfect (and Most Romantic) Way to Mark the Passage of Time
A guide to why you ought to invest in an anniversary photo session with your photographer, how to prepare, and what you can do with your photos.
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Why You Should Take Anniversary Photos
It has been my great privilege as an elopement photographer to bear witness to the many important milestones in a couple’s love story– from their first meeting to their engagement, to their wedding day, to their anniversaries. This last milestone is a poignant one. Whether it has been one year or ten, an anniversary is a time to reflect on how far you both have come, what blessings and losses you may have sustained, what adventures you have embarked on, and what dreams you hold for the future. It is a time to honor and celebrate your past and to joyously toast to what the next year holds.
As such, an anniversary is a perfect time to commemorate your relationship. But if you’re anything like me and my husband, every year you dither about how to celebrate, trying to come up with something fun, until at last the day passes unceremoniously, or you do what you always do– grab dinner at your favorite restaurant (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
This year, why not mix it up and schedule an anniversary photo session? I have done so many of these, and they are always SUCH a success. The nerves and anticipation of the engagement season and the stress and busyness of the wedding are both in the past. And so couples can really just luxuriate in each other's happy company and be present.
Tips for a Perfect Anniversary Photography Session
Here are some of my tips for carrying off the perfect session:
Choose a meaningful location. Obviously, the possibilities here are limitless. Go back to where you got engaged or where you wed. Or choose some other spot that has since become meaningful, like a favorite vacation locale, or just your charming backyard.
Make it a date After getting all dressed up and hamming it up for the lens, continue the good times by taking your celebration to a favorite restaurant or other fun pastime (a sporting event, a concert, a picnic in the park, etc).
Take pictures that reflect your current season of life You can include any new additions to your life– pets, children, and homes.
Go big Celebrate your lasting love in a big way by planning an anniversary trip and booking a destination photoshoot with your photographer. You will create new, lasting memories while reflecting on the beautiful memories of your past. I have a list of spectacular locales and VRBOs here.
What to Do With Your Pictures
These prints will of course look gorgeous adorning the walls of your home, but another idea is to compile them into a keepsake book, and perhaps even include your favorite photos of that last year. If you choose to do a session on each anniversary, you will ultimately end up with a lovely documentation of your lives for each year you have been together. Alternatively, if you are going to be celebrating a big anniversary with a party, you can use one or more of your pictures as a beautiful and unexpected invitation.
All in all, anniversary photos are the perfect way to mark the passage of time with thoughtfulness, intentionality, and, of course, love.
Ready to Celebrate Your Day Your Way?
Elopement Photographer Andrea Enger (Portrait by Realm Studios)
Find out how I can help make that happen!
If you’re ready to get the ball rolling to secure your photographer, that’s great!
You can do that by filling out the form below, by emailing me directly at andrea@andreaengerphotography.com, or by calling/texting me at (720) 739-0784. I look forward to hearing from you!
If you’re still in the research phase, I hear ya! Here are some more resources that my couples have found helpful. I hope you do, too!