A themed lifestyle session is not something every couple or family thinks to ask for — and that’s exactly the problem, because it might be my favorite kind of session to shoot, for engagements and for families.

Think about a session that feels like who you are as a couple or family –  a little playful, a little polished, definitely not another “walk toward me and laugh” session at the same overused field. 

For this particular themed lifestyle session we landed on tennis. Vintage wooden rackets. Matching all-white outfits. A court nobody else was using at golden hour. And tennis balls. So many tennis balls, scattered across green asphalt like confetti. Here are some of my absolute favorites from this session!

If a concept like this is calling your name — I promise it’s more fun (and less awkward) than you’d think— let’s chat (here or on IG @brookebakken)! If you need a little more convincing, keep reading 😉. 

The truth about a themed lifestyle session

Here’s the honest truth about concept sessions: most people assume they need to be “photogenic enough” or “creative enough” to pull one off. You don’t. The concept does the heavy lifting. When you give me a strong visual anchor — a location, a color palette, a prop, a mood — the posing almost happens on its own. This is true whether I’m photographing two people or five. A theme gives everyone something to do together. Toss a ball. Chase a sibling. Steal a kiss behind a racket. Suddenly nobody’s thinking about where to put their hands, and the little ones stop noticing the camera altogether.

That’s the part people don’t expect. A themed session often produces more genuine, unposed moments than a traditional one, not fewer. Structure breeds spontaneity — one of those funny truths about photography that sounds backwards until you’ve lived it.

The question everyone asks before a concept shoot: “What if it feels too matchy or too costume-y in the photos?” This is the one thing I actually manage carefully on your behalf. The key is picking one or two elements to commit to fully — here, that was the all-white wardrobe and the vintage rackets — and letting everything else stay natural: real laughter, real hands, real “did we just nail that shot” glances at each other. When a theme is styled with restraint, it reads as intentional and elevated, not gimmicky or costume-y. That’s the difference between a Pinterest board and a photo that actually looks like your life.

Why “Personal” Beats “Pretty” Every Time

Here’s the thing about a themed lifestyle session that I don’t think gets said enough: it’s not really about the theme. It’s about what the theme says about you.

Anyone can book a pretty location. But a session built around something personal — the sport you play together every Saturday, the record store where you had your third date, the backyard where your kids have spent every summer — does something a generic gallery can’t. It becomes a story your future selves will actually remember the why behind. Ten years from now, “we did an editorial-style shoot at a scenic overlook” is nice. “We did a tennis-themed shoot because that’s how we met” is a story you’ll tell at your reception. And for families, “we recreated our Saturday morning pancake ritual” will hit differently than a stiff lineup on a hillside ever could.

Here’s what you should think about when considering a themed lifestyle session: what’s a detail about your life that only your family would think to include? That’s a good thread to pull on. It might be a shared hobby, a running joke, a place that matters, or even just a color palette that feels like “you.” The goal isn’t to create the most Instagrammable shoot on the internet — it’s to create a gallery that couldn’t belong to anyone else’s story.

That’s the difference between photos you like and photos that make you cry a little when you scroll back through them on an anniversary, or when your kids are grown and gone.

Concept Inspiration for Engagement Sessions

If tennis isn’t quite your speed, here are a few directions I love building couples’ sessions around — all built the same way: one strong anchor, styled with restraint, left room to breathe.

• The “how we met” reenactment — if you met at a coffee shop, a concert, a bookstore, a bar trivia night — we recreate the scene, loosely, with real props and real wardrobe from that world
• A shared hobby or sport — golf, climbing, cycling, board games, cooking — anything you already do together translates beautifully into movement and genuine interaction
• A color-story shoot — instead of a literal theme, we build the whole session around a palette that feels like the two of you
• A season you love — an apple orchard in October, a snowy morning in your favorite coat, the first bloom of spring — timed intentionally rather than “whenever we’re both free”
• A “your everyday” session — genuinely just your apartment, your dog, your Sunday morning routine, shot with intention so it feels elevated instead of candid-by-accident

Concept Inspiration for a Family Themed Lifestyle Session

Families get to have just as much fun with this. A few of my favorite directions:

• A weekend ritual — pancake mornings, park days, the walk you take around the block every evening — the routine your family already loves, just photographed beautifully
• A backyard or home session — no location scouting, no car seat wrangling. Just your actual life, your actual space, and kids who feel comfortable enough to be completely themselves
• A shared family hobby — soccer Saturdays, camping trips, baking days, bike rides — built around whatever your family already does together for fun
• A multi-generational gathering — grandparents, cousins, the whole crew, centered around a tradition like a holiday recipe or an annual trip
• A “day in the life” — a looser, documentary-style session that follows your family through a real morning or afternoon rather than a series of posed setups

None of these themed lifestyle sessions need to be complicated, and none of them need a big production. What they need is a little bit of you in them.

If you’ve been quietly hoping your session — engagement or family — could be a little more “you” and a little less generic, this is your sign. Tell me your interests, your color palette, your traditions, your story — and I’ll help you build a concept around it.

Let’s design a session that actually feels like your life, not a template.