For our own engagement photos, we decided to do something a little different and take them ourselves. We brought a tripod to Grand Teton National Park, set the camera up on the lakeshore with the mountains behind us, and spent the evening just being together while the camera did its thing. It's one of my favorite sets of photos we have, because it's completely us: no one directing, just the two of us, the lake and those unreal peaks.
Why a self-portrait session
A self-portrait session is perfect when you're traveling somewhere far, want something private and low-pressure, or just love the idea of making them together. It feels more like a date than a photoshoot. You'll get fewer "perfect" frames than with a photographer, but the ones you do get feel honest, and you'll remember making them.
How we set it up
We used a sturdy tripod and triggered the camera from a phone app, so we could see ourselves in the frame and take photos without running back and forth. A few things made a big difference:
- Focus on your spot first. Set focus on something where you'll be standing, like a backpack or a rock, then switch to manual focus so it stays put.
- Use burst mode or an interval timer. Let it fire a lot of frames while you move, laugh and hug. The in-between moments are usually the best ones.
- Keep a little depth. An aperture around f/4 to f/5.6 keeps both of you sharp while the mountains stay soft and dreamy.
- Frame wide. Leave extra room around yourselves so you can crop later if you drift out of place.
The best time to shoot in Grand Teton
Evening golden hour and sunset are magical here. The light turns the snowy peaks soft and pink, and the lakes go calm and reflective as the wind dies down. Sunrise is just as beautiful and much quieter if you don't mind an early alarm. Midday light is harsh on the mountains and on faces, so plan around the edges of the day.
Good to know before you go
The weather in the Tetons changes fast, so bring warm layers even in summer (you can see our jackets). Stick to durable surfaces like the rocky shoreline, and leave no trace. Taking your own photos is simple, but if you'd like a photographer to shoot your session in a national park, the park requires professional photographers to have a commercial permit, so plan that part ahead.
