Storytelling Photography at Shawnee Mission Park, KS

Capturing the essence of young love is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work as a photographer. Recently, I had the privilege of photographing a couple whose romance began in their high school career. This session, set against the stunning backdrop of Shawnee Mission Park, was an extraordinary journey through their love story, beautifully enhanced by storytelling photography, movement poses, and thoughtful prompts. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we created these memorable images and the magic that unfolded.

High School Sweethearts: Crafting Timeless Memories Through Storytelling Photography

There’s something undeniably special about high school sweethearts. Their story often starts with shy glances and stolen moments at high school parties or sports games, and evolves into a deep, abiding love that can last a lifetime. When photographing such a couple, the goal is to capture not just their current relationship but the entire journey that brought them to this point. For this particular shoot, my aim was to reflect their growth from high school friends to life partners, all while showcasing their unique personalities and the depth of their connection.

Storytelling Photography: More Than Just a Snapshot

Storytelling photography goes beyond mere images; it’s about capturing a narrative and conveying emotions through visual elements. For our shoot at Shawnee Mission Park, I aimed to create a series of images that together told the couple’s love story. The intentionality of the shoot was conveyed even in the location that was chosen. Chris and Chloe both grew up north of Kansas City in small country towns. The peace and familiarity of an open field was meaningful to them and their relationship, so we chose a place that they could feel comfortable in while creating new memories. Personally, I was happy about this choice because I grew up in the same little town as Chloe and also enjoy the freedom and peace of photographing in a wide open field. Shawnee Mission Park was perfect for creating a romantic setting for this shoot. We didn’t even utilize its vast amount of scenery options, but we were perfectly content in our peaceful little nook of the woods without anybody to interrupt us.

An essential piece to telling a couple’s story through photography is knowing their story. In my booking process, I like to send out questionnaires to my couples and families to get to know them, their vision, their love story, and what about their love they’d like to be conveyed in their photographs. Some questions that I ask would include, “What is your typical date night?” or “What is your love language with each other?” This helps me to know exactly what to focus on throughout their session to be able to tell their love story, authentically. In Chris and Chloe’s questionnaire, they told me that their typical date night included legos, long car rides down country roads, and Chick-Fil-A – we did exactly that!

We started with a relaxed and candid approach, allowing the two to interact naturally while I documented their genuine moments of connection. From playful exchanges to quiet, intimate moments, each photograph was designed to contribute to the larger narrative of their relationship. By focusing on these authentic interactions, we created a set of images that not only reflect their love but also tell a story that will be cherished for years to come.

Movement Poses and Prompts: Bringing the Story to Life

To bring out Chris and Chloe’s dynamic energy and connection, I incorporated movement poses and prompts into our session. Static, traditional poses can sometimes feel stiff, so incorporating movement helps to capture the natural flow and spontaneity of a relationship.

Movement Poses: For this shoot, I encourages Chris and Chloe to engage in activities that allowed for natural movement. This included walking hand-in-hand, spinning around, rolling on the ground, or even dancing to their favorite song. These actions helped to create a sense of fluidity and vibrancy in the images, reflecting their joyful and playful relationship.

Prompts: I used thoughtful prompts to evoke genuine emotions and interactions. For example, asking them to trace love notes on each other’s faces or whispering something special to each other prompted heartfelt responses and natural expressions. These prompts not only brought out their personalities but also added a layer of depth to the images, making them more relatable and impactful.

Creating Lasting Memories

The goal of this session was to create more than just beautiful photos; it was about capturing a moment in time that Chris and Chloe will cherish forever. By focusing on storytelling photography, incorporating real life meaningful activities, using movement poses and prompts, and selecting a meaningful location, we were able to produce a collection of images that truly reflect their unique love story.

As a photographer, witnessing the joy and connection between high school sweethearts and translating that into memorable visuals is incredibly fulfilling. It’s a reminder of the power of love and the beauty of documenting life’s most precious moments.

If you’re a high school sweetheart or simply looking to capture a special love story, let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact me today to discuss how we can turn your unique journey into a series of timeless photographs – abbyreephotography.com !