Downtown Celebration Town Center Engagement Photos in Celebration, Florida - Katie and CJ
Katie and CJ wanted to start their engagement session with some beautiful, traditional portraits, then bring in a little more of their personalities. Downtown Celebration gave us the setting for the first part, and their football jerseys, a football, and a homemade engagement newspaper brought the personal details. They are such a sweet couple, and I loved that they came with ideas that reflected what they enjoy together.
There is also a second chapter planned: Halloween Horror Nights! Katie and CJ love horror movies and HHN, so we are planning to meet up again for another round of engagement photos. Classic portraits in Celebration, football-inspired photos, and eventually a night celebrating their shared horror fandom. I love when couples give themselves room to include all those different parts of their relationship.
Starting with Traditional Engagement Photos in Downtown Celebration
We began with the portraits Katie and CJ wanted first: nice, traditional engagement photos together. There is a reason those photographs remain such an important part of a session. They are the images couples can picture framed at home, shared with family, or used for their wedding announcements. Before introducing the props, we made space for photographs focused on the two of them.
As an Orlando engagement photographer, I like to talk through that balance before a session. Some couples want mostly classic portraits with a few playful images mixed in. Others want their favorite activity or a meaningful location to shape the entire experience. Katie and CJ had a clear starting point, which helped us build a session around both the portraits they wanted and the interests they wanted to include.
If you are figuring out what that balance could look like for your own photos, my engagement photography portfolio is a helpful place to start. Pay attention to which photographs feel like something you would actually want on your wall, then think about what personal details you might enjoy adding.
Football Jerseys and a Football Made the Session Their Own
After the traditional portraits, Katie and CJ incorporated football jerseys and a football into their photos. Bringing those pieces gave us another way to photograph them together and made their gallery more personal. The jerseys were part of what they wanted to remember about this season of their relationship, right alongside the classic engagement portraits.
This is something I love about photographing engagement sessions. A couple can arrive with a straightforward portrait plan, then bring out one or two things that tell you a little more about them. You do not need an elaborate setup. Katie and CJ brought a small collection of props that mattered to them, and we worked those into the session.
How to Include Your Interests in Engagement Photos
Start with something you already enjoy together. That could be football, horror movies, video games, or another shared interest. Then decide whether it makes more sense to bring an item along or choose a location connected to that interest. Jerseys and a football can fit into part of a portrait session, while a night at Halloween Horror Nights deserves its own plan.
For another example of a session built around a couple's interests, take a look at Kaitlyn and Daniel's engagement photos at Player 1 Video Game Bar. The details will look different for every couple. What matters is choosing something you actually enjoy.
Katie's DIY Engagement Newspaper Cost Just $13
One of my favorite details from this session was the engagement newspaper Katie made herself. She designed it in Canva and had it printed at Walgreens. With a coupon, her total came to just $13! It was such a fun addition, and I love being able to share an idea that another couple could realistically make for their own session.
Katie used a 20-by-30-inch print and folded it in half to create the newspaper-style prop. That is a useful detail if you have seen engagement newspaper photos and wondered how to make one. Her version started with a digital design and a large print, with the fold giving it the look she wanted for the photographs.
How to Make a Newspaper Prop for Your Engagement Session
- Create your newspaper-style design in Canva, using your names and the announcement details you want to include.
- Set up the layout with the finished fold in mind so your main headline appears where you want it.
- Proofread names, dates, and spelling before ordering your print.
- Katie had hers printed at Walgreens Photo as a 20-by-30-inch print, then folded it in half.
- Bring it to your session and let me know you would like to include newspaper photos in the plan.
The $13 was Katie's total with the coupon she used, so your cost may differ. Still, her project is a great example of how a simple DIY detail can add something memorable to an engagement session without requiring a large prop budget.
Choosing Celebration Town Center for Engagement Photos
Katie and CJ chose downtown Celebration, also known as Celebration Town Center, for this part of their engagement photos. Having one location as the starting point let us keep the session focused while changing the feel through their portraits, jerseys, and newspaper. Their plans are a useful example for couples who want variety without building every photograph around a different destination.
When choosing your own engagement location, think about the photos you want first. Are you picturing traditional portraits, a session centered on an activity, or a combination? Your location and the things you bring should support that plan. I can help you talk through those choices before we photograph your session.
If you are still exploring options around Central Florida, my guide to the best Orlando engagement photo locations is a starting point for finding a setting that fits your ideas.
Next Up: Halloween Horror Nights Engagement Photos
Katie and CJ are HHN fans and love horror movies, so we are planning another round of engagement pictures at Halloween Horror Nights in a few weeks. I am excited to photograph that side of their relationship, too. It gives us something completely different to look forward to after their Celebration session.
Spreading their ideas across two sessions gives each one its own space. We were able to focus on traditional portraits and their props in Celebration, with their HHN fandom becoming the inspiration for another day. If you have two ideas you are equally excited about, that is something we can discuss when planning your engagement photography.
You can see a completed session with that atmosphere in Mary and Duff's Halloween Horror Nights engagement photos at Universal Orlando Resort. I cannot wait to see Katie and CJ's next chapter come together!
Engagement Photos That Include What You Love Together
What I loved about Katie and CJ's approach was how clearly they knew the different things they wanted to include. They wanted traditional photos, they brought their football jerseys, and Katie put time into making their newspaper. Their session had personal details without losing sight of the reason we were there: photographing the two of them during their engagement.
If you are planning engagement photos in Celebration or the Orlando area, I would love to hear what you have in mind. Whether you already have a prop ready or are still deciding on a location, send me an inquiry and we can start planning a session around you.
Katie and CJ's Engagement Session Details
- Couple: Katie and CJ | @katieoneil98 and @lifeofthaddy
- Joint Wedding Instagram: @cooperbowl27
- Location: Downtown Celebration / Celebration Town Center, Celebration, Florida
- Photography: Michelle Vila Photography | @michellevilaphotography
- Newspaper Design: Created by Katie using Canva
- Newspaper Printing: Walgreens Photo
- Personal Props: Football jerseys, a football, and a DIY engagement newspaper
