Have Your Engagement Photos In A Bookstore For A Unique Experience
February 20, 2020
This hilarious couple decided to celebrate their engagement with photos at 2nd & Charles in Kettering (Dayton suburb) Ohio. We spent the better part of an hour in several rows of books creating fun and off-beat engagement pictures using books, step stools, and more. 2nd & Charles is a local bookstore. They were kind to let us photograph around the store. The couple called ahead to seek permission. As a Dayton and Cincinnati photographer, anytime I am working in a commercial space, I always get permission to be there. Then, I usually provide whatever image I got as a courtesy to the commercial entity.
Thank you to this fun couple and 2nd & Charles! You made this a fun Dayton engagement session location for me to photograph!
A Tip For You
I have a couple of tips when creating photos like this. One, make sure you have permission from the bookstore. You don’t want to anger the owners. Two, make sure you pick a time when the store is not busy. Customers who you upset may ultimately get you kicked out. Three, try interesting setups using items from the store. One of my favorite photos is the one where the books are piled high and the couple is peeking through.
Get Permission And Be Kind
I have found that management at a specific business is not always in sync with the staff. (not with 2nd & Charles) So, make sure you have names and emails available so that you can reference who you originally talked to. It is good to even have a manager’s phone number in case the employee needs to further validate your request. Doing your due diligence will ensure everything goes smoothly.
Bonus Tips For Engagement Photos In A Bookstore
A bonus tip for you is to incorporate the couples’ favorite books or genres. How cool would it be to have engagement photos alongside your favorite books? Something to watch for is to not have any unwanted titles in the photos. For example, don’t be in the fiction area if the couple only reads non-fiction. This will be greatly appreciated by the couple.
There’s something incredibly cozy about having your engagement photos taken in a bookstore. It instantly sets the tone for a relaxed, intimate session where you don’t feel pressured to “perform” for the camera. You just get to be yourselves—two people hanging out, exploring shelves, flipping through pages, and sharing little moments that feel warm and real. As a photographer, I love shooting in spaces that naturally slow people down, and bookstores do that better than almost anywhere.
The second you walk in, the vibe changes. The soft lighting, the quiet aisles, the smell of old paper and fresh coffee—everything feels comfortable. You don’t have to pose perfectly or stand in dramatic light. You just move through the space together. I’ll usually start with simple things: browsing a shelf, pointing out a favorite author, finding a quirky book cover that makes you laugh. Those moments always photograph beautifully because they’re genuine. You forget the camera is even there.
Bookstore Variety
Bookstores also give you incredible variety without ever leaving the building. Tall shelves create natural frames around you. Cozy chairs or reading nooks give you a spot to cuddle up. Tables offer opportunities for overhead shots of hands, coffee cups, and little details. If the shop has a café, even better—you get those relaxed, “Saturday morning date” vibes that feel effortless on camera.
And let’s not forget the aesthetic. Books create texture and color everywhere you look. Whether the shelves are chaotic, vintage, rainbow-organized, or stacked floor to ceiling, they add character to every image. You get a unique backdrop that looks warm, inviting, and totally different from the usual outdoor shots.
If you love reading, want something more unique, or simply prefer a quieter, more comfortable setting, a bookstore engagement session makes perfect sense. It’s intimate, meaningful, and effortlessly romantic—the perfect way to capture who you are together.
Check out all of recent and past engagement session blog posts and galleries here!
