When Elena and Jack told me they wanted two things for their engagement session, a field and the lake, I knew exactly the kind of evening I wanted to create for them. We started in an open field with rolling hills during golden hour, then made our way to Lake Bemidji as the sun went down and everything shifted into those soft blue-hour tones.

And I meannnn… look at them.

Their whole session felt romantic, relaxed, and just a little editorial, while still giving them plenty of room to play around, laugh together, and be themselves. It was the perfect example of why I love choosing outdoor engagement photo locations that give us a little variety without spending half the session driving around. 

Golden Hour Engagement Photos in a Bemidji Field 

We started the evening in one of those grassy Bemidji spots that becomes absolute MAGIC when the sun gets low.

Golden hour in an open field is hard to beat because there is so much space to work with the light. We could photograph Elena and Jack walking through the grass, sitting together, cuddling up, and just letting the sun pour in behind them without needing a ton of props or anything complicated happening around them. That warm light made everything feel so soft, and I loved how the rolling landscape gave the photos depth while still keeping the focus completely on them. 

And can we talk about their outfits?! Elena’s white dress with Jack’s dark brown top and neutral pants could not have worked better with this location. It felt elevated without looking overly dressed up, and the neutral tones let all that green and golden summer color around them actually shine. 

What to Wear for Your Outdoor Engagement Photos 

This session is basically my dream example of what I mean when I tell couples to dress with the landscape instead of competing against it.

When you’re choosing outfits for engagement photos outdoors, I usually recommend leaning toward neutrals, simple color blocking, and very limited patterns. You don’t want your clothes to be the loudest thing in the photo, especially when we’re somewhere beautiful! 

Think creamy whites instead of stark bright tones, browns instead of automatically reaching for black, soft earthy colors, and pieces that move naturally. Elena’s long white dress was especially perfect because of the movement it gave us. The way the skirt caught the breeze and moved through the grass added so much without needing to force anything. 

Simple does NOT have to mean boring. Sometimes keeping the outfits clean is exactly what allows the location, the light, and YOU TWO to stand out. 

From Golden Hour to Lake Bemidji 

After the field, we headed to the beach along Lake Bemidji for the second half of their session. 

This is why I love pairing these two kinds of locations! The first part of the evening had all those warm, golden, earthy tones, and then the lake gave us something completely different as the sun disappeared. The sky softened into pastel pinks and blues, the water became incredibly calm, and the whole session started to feel even more intimate. 

Elena and Jack kicked off their shoes, wandered along the sand, and even stepped into the water, which felt SO right for the setting. There’s something about photographing couples by the lake once the evening gets quiet that I absolutely love. We aren’t chasing harsh sunlight anymore, everything slows down a little, and it gives us space for some of those softer photos that feel a bit more cinematic. 

Why I Love Blue Hour Engagement Photos 

Golden hour gets alllll the attention, but blue hour deserves some love too. 

That little stretch of time right after sunset creates such a different feel in photos. Instead of warm sunlight, you get soft, even tones and those gorgeous blues coming through in the water and sky. And because Elena and Jack wore light neutrals for this portion of their session, they stood out beautifully without fighting against those softer colors. 

We even played around with a little intentional motion blur at the water! It’s such a fun way to add something a little more artistic while still having the classic, romantic photos too. 

Choosing Your Bemidji Engagement Photo Locations 

If you’re trying to decide where to take your own engagement photos in Bemidji, you definitely do not have to choose between pretty fields, lake views, golden light, or something a little more romantic and moody. We can mix them!

One of the biggest things I think about when helping couples choose locations is how the different places will work together. Instead of picking two random pretty spots, I want the session to have a natural flow. For Elena and Jack, starting in the field while the sun was higher and finishing at Lake Bemidji around sunset gave us sooo much variety while still making the whole gallery feel cohesive.

And if you already know what you want but have no clue WHERE to find it, tell me. “We want a field and a lake” is genuinely plenty for me to start working with.

Planning Your Own Engagement Photos in Bemidji? 

If you’re dreaming of engagement photos outdoors with golden fields, lake views, and alllll that dreamy Minnesota evening light, I’m your girl. 

Whether you already have your exact Pinterest vision figured out or you just know you want somewhere pretty where you can run around together and not feel awkward in front of the camera, I’ll help you figure out locations, outfits, timing, and everything else. 

Engagement sessions are included in my full-day wedding packages, so we can capture your love story before, during, and even after the “I do.”

I’m booking 2027 weddings now, and if you’re planning yours in Nisswa, Bemidji, Brainerd, or anywhere in Minnesota, let’s talk! I’m here to help capture all the candid smiles and sweet in-between moments you’ll never want to forget.

Reach out here and let’s plan something beautiful together!