The Lafayette Hotel is one of those places where you can truly go crazy with outfits and vibes and do whatever speaks to you, and that’s EXACTLY why it’s one of my favorite places to take engagement photos in the city as a SoCal engagement photographer!!
Basically, if you’re afraid of color, texture, and patterns… Stay far, far away from here. If not, though… I love you already. Let’s talk about exactly how to plan your Lafayette Hotel engagement photos.
Why I Love Lafayette Hotel Engagement Photos
This is somewhere that you can show up for engagement photos, and even though it’s so full of character and funk, it still lets your personality shine. It’s also absolutely the kind of place where I take WAY too many photos… Oops!
From a photography perspective, I go a little crazy here because it gives us so much variety in settings. We can get outdoor shots in front of an ivy-covered wall, editorial photos in some of the most unique, bold spaces, and even some animal print backdrops that give me heart eyesss every time I’m here.
It’s the perfect location for the kind of couple who wants something different. Because as gorgeous as some of the fields with mountain views are around SoCal… I know it’s not for everybody. And that’s part of the reason I love my job so much!!
If you're thinking, “Wait, could we get MARRIED here too??” I actually photographed a wedding at The Lafayette, and you can see my Lafayette Hotel wedding guide for more venue inspiration.
Exactly How to Plan an Engagement Session at Lafayette Hotel
If you’re already sold on Lafayette Hotel engagement photos, I completely get it. Where else can you find this much color and personality that you can take engagement pics in???
Let’s break down everything you need to know, right from a SoCal engagement photographer who’s captured tons of sessions like this here.
Permitting
If you read nothing else in this blog, read this: PLEASE don’t just show up at The Lafayette Hotel with your lover and a camera and start shooting all around the hotel.
Before we start planning outfits and picking our favorite corners of The Lafayette, we need to check the hotel's current professional photography policy and permitting rules.
The good news? That’s something that I’m here to help you with as your LA engagement photographer. You don’t have to know exactly how to get legal permission to get into photography spaces… That’s 100% my job!!
How to Schedule Your Lafayette Hotel Engagement Photos
In that same vein of not just showing up and snapping away, be sure to reach out to the hotel beforehand to schedule a time. This is courtesy for the venue AND ensures that no one is taking pictures at the same time as you (free range of all the best photo ops, please)!!
The Best Time of Day for Lafayette Hotel Engagement Photos
No matter what time of day you choose, there will most likely be other guests around. The best tip? Don’t stress too much about it. I know how to work around a crowd and find the areas to get the best secluded pics.
If you want to avoid as many people as possible, though, I’d absolutely pick a weekday around midday! This is what we did for Chris and Layla’s session, and it wasn’t crazy crowded at ALL.
Photo Ops Here
The Lafayette Hotel is one big, living photo op itself, and when I’m taking any kind of photos here, I feel the need to go in with a loose plan. Of course, I'm flexible when it comes to things like lighting, location, and crowds, but if I don’t have some semblance of a plan, I’ll easily accidentally take approximately 7,975 photos.
Some corners feel vintage and moody, others are bold and colorful, and then you've got outdoor areas that give us a totally different feel. That's why I like planning out a few favorite spots before the session instead of just wandering around and hoping for the best.
For Chris and Layla’s shoot, we made a list together of their favorite spots in the hotel before we ever walked in. We had a two-hour window booked, so that let us know a good flow and what to prioritize in the time we had there!!
And don’t think that just because you’re planning Lafayette Hotel photos it means that you can’t add in another location. Because for me, personally?? That’s some of my favorite parts of the whole session. For these two, it looked like splitting a milkshake in the diner. 🥹 Can you sayyy cinematic???
What to Wear for Lafayette Hotel Engagement Photos
Okay, if you've been waiting for an excuse to wear that dress that's been sitting in your online cart for six months… This is your sign.
The Lafayette has SO much color and pattern going on that I love outfits with a little personality. Think interesting silhouettes, a fun dress, tailored separates, or something vintage-inspired. You don't have to match the hotel, either. Sometimes a simple outfit against a bold backdrop looks SO good.
My biggest tip? Bring outfits that make you feel like yourselves, just maybe a little more dressed up than usual. And we'll plan which looks make sense in each space so the photos feel cohesive without everything being overly coordinated.
Chris and Layla’s Lafayette Hotel Engagement Photos
Chris and Layla’s session reminded me exactly why I love taking engagement photos at The Lafayette SO much. We had the best time running around to all the little corners to get different backdrops and finding the cutest little spots in the hotel that made us say, “Oh my gosh, right here!!” 25 times.
Layla reached out to me for her wedding and knew she wanted to take engagement photos somewhere that wasn’t on the beach or out in nature. She actually wanted to make a full trip out of it to relish their engagement era instead of treating photos like another thing to check off the wedding to-do list. When she told me that (after saying, “Awww!!”), I immediately knew that The Lafayette Hotel was gonna be perfect!
And I have to say… It ended up fitting their adventurous, goofy spirits so well. Chris and Layla were a little nervous about being in front of the camera at first, which is SO normal. But once we started moving around the hotel, exploring their favorite spots, and letting them just hang out together, they relaxed into it. By the end, we were splitting a milkshake at a diner and having the best time. No need to show up knowing how to pose, promise.
This is the part of engagement photography I LOVE. Helping you figure out the location, planning a session that feels like you, and making sure you can actually relax and have fun instead of stressing about where to stand or what to do with your hands. If you're curious about what it's like working with me, come say hi!
Cambria Shelley | SoCal Engagement Photographer
If your dream engagement session involves funky outfits, colorful hotel corners, a little editorial goodness, and maybe a milkshake afterward… I am SO here for it.
I'm Cambria, a Southern California wedding and engagement photographer who loves a good adventure and making sure you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Whether you've got the whole session planned out or just know you want something a little different, we'll figure out the fun stuff together.
