Charlottesville Common House is a stand-out wedding venue, but did you know that you can also take stunning editorial engagement photos here? If you’re looking for a unique location for your engagement session in Charlottesville, this might be the place you’ve been searching for.
As a Charlottesville wedding photographer, I personally love Charlottesville Common House as it offers you sharp sleek angles to play with, an eclectic mix of backdrops, and it is an incredibly versatile space.
Let’s explore why you should consider planning your engagement session at Charlottesville Common House with a behind-the-lens peek at Meg and Brekan’s editorial engagement photos.
Why You Should Plan a Charlottesville Common House Engagement Session
The Charlottesville Common House is just steps from the downtown mall. This venue is historic, as it was a social club for the African American community of Vinegar Hill, built in 1913.
If your vision for your engagement session is editorial, artistic, with a modern aesthetic then Charlottesville Common House is perfect for you.
Here are some of my top reasons why you should plan your engagement session here:
Versatility
Eight different spaces are available for your engagement session. Each space tells its own story and gives you plenty to work with to create gorgeous engagement images.
The different spaces include:
- Vinegar Hall / Vinegar Hall North / Vinegar Hall South
This spot is a modern, curated gallery of art and sophistication located on the first floor of the building. The hall can be split into two sections (north and south) or combined into one larger room.
- Social Hall / Social Hall Bar
Social Hall also has fun, decorative artwork, pops of color, chandeliers, velvety lounge chairs, and modern furniture. It also has large windows that bathe the space with natural light.
- The Library
The library is the smallest space, and it is lined with bright blue bookcases stacked with books. It also has a pool table and a piano and here you’ll find warm textures and bold artwork.
- Bridge Room
The Bridge Room is spacious and bright blue. Its walls are framed by artwork that serves as a fun backdrop.
- The Tea Room
The Tea Room is cozy, warm, and full of light, and a wall with art that serves as an iconic backdrop.
- The Terrace
The Rooftop Terrace has a panoramic 360-degree view of Charlottesville, and you can even see Lewis Mountain, UVA, and Carter’s Mountain.
Editorial vibe
This location is full of eye-catching details, and your images will tell a one-of-a-kind story. Common House also allows for a flow of creativity and artistic expression and promises to leave you with a gallery of stunning images.
Unique photos
There isn’t another all-in-one location in Charlottesville like the Common House. Not only do you get so many different backdrops, including indoor and outdoor photos but you also get a location with a colorful design and three floors of elevated modern design.
Meg and Brekan’s Engagement Session at Charlottesville Common House
Meg and Breakan came to me with a really fun vision for their engagement session, and we made it happen. They wanted to lean into an editorial bar vibe, and they couldn’t have picked a better location.
From the pool table to the modern furniture to the assorted artwork, this venue definitely hits the mark if you want editorial photos.
Since the Charlottesville Common House has so many different spaces, we made sure to include them in their session to make their engagement session photos unique and more dynamic.
For their session, we took photos in the Library, the Bridge Room, and the Social Hall Bar, Tea Room. Some of my favorite photos we took were Meg and Brekan’s photos at the pool table. Also, we, of course, took some photos on the panoramic Rooftop Terrace that has beautiful city skyline views.
All of these different spaces added their own unique flare to Meg and Brekan’s photos and the best part was they didn’t even have to leave the building to get this much variety in their images.
How to Have Editorial Engagement Photos
If you want to have an editorial engagement photos, here are my tips:
Location is everything
When it comes to getting those gorgeous editorial images you can’t neglect the location where you’re planning to have your session. Choose a location that speaks to you and your partner, intrigues you, sparks your creativity, and also is stylish.
Hire an editorial photographer
If you want dreamy editorial photos that convey elevated elegance, then you’ll want to work with someone who knows how to capture them. This is a niche style that not every photographer specializes in. A photographer who knows how to take editorial photos will know how to pose you and how to take photos that tell your love story.
Editorial style fashion
When deciding what you and your partner are going to wear, choose outfits that make a statement. Consider high-fashion and elegant outfits.
Don’t be afraid to use props
Props can elevate your editorial photos and add a heightened level of sophistication. Some props that you can consider using during your session are leather couches or leather bar stools, flowers, food, drinks, an engagement cake, champagne glasses, etc.
Ready to Plan Your Charlottesville Common House Engagement Session?
I hope that you found this guide helpful – I know there are many different, lovely spaces in Charlottesville you could choose from for your engagement session, but the Charlottesville Common House truly stands on its own as a one-of-a-kind location.
Also, if you love this location for your engagement session, you might want to consider planning your wedding here. To learn more about what a wedding here looks like, be sure to check out the blog post I wrote here.
If you are still looking for the perfect photographer to capture your engagement session, click here to get in touch and see how we can make your dream engagement photos a reality!
