5 Easy Steps To Prepare For Your Engagement Session

Do you even need an Engagement Session?

You’re engaged! You finally found that special someone you want to spend the rest of your life with. The engagement period flies by in a blink of an eye! It’s short lived and engagement photos will bring you back to the moment where you called each other fiancé/fiancée.

During your session you will meet your photographer, soon to be best friend! I highly recommended that you have the same photographer for all your events so you can build a friendship with them in order to feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Would you rather have a stranger take your pictures or your a good friend? Now that we’ve decided an engagement session is perfect for you, let’s help you prepare for one.

Here are a 5 simple steps to prepare you for your engagement session!

Step 1: Picking The Right Outfit -

Look Good, Feel Great

You just bought a new outfit and when you first wear it out to show the world you feel like a million bucks! When dressing for your engagement shoot you want to feel the same. How you feel translates how you are in front of the camera. But what exactly should you wear? Below you’ll see the Do’s and Don’ts of what you should wear that should help you pick the perfect outfit.

Do Wear:

1.) Comfortable - You’re going to be doing a lot of moving around so make sure you feel comfortable in your outfit. If you’re wearing heels or dress shoes, bring another pair of walking shoes for when you’re not taking pictures.

2.) Neutral Colors - Wearing neutral colors make it much easier to match your surroundings. You can never go wrong with pastel, cool colors and neutral tones.

3.) Matching Outfits - From my experience, photos always look better when the couple’s outfits compliment each other. You don’t have to wear the same exact pieces of clothing, but at least wear the same or even complimenting colors.

4.) Accessories - Don’t forget your rings! Accessories help add extra visual interest in your photos. For the ladies, a nice scarf, necklace, bracelets can do the trick. For the guys, wearing layers, a hat and/or a watch can help add more style to your look.

Don’t Wear:

1.) Loud patterns - Light and subtle patterns may work, but loud and strong patterns are a big no no! Stripes, dots, or anything similar make it difficult to match and compliment your partner and your surrounding.

2.) Bright Colors - The last thing you want is for your bright orange dress or shirt to cast an orange hue on your skin. Bright colored clothing can also throw off the color scheme of the photo.

3.) Restricting Clothing - During your shoot you will be doing a lot of moving around. Check the weather for the day so you can assess how many or how few layers for to wear.

Step 2: Picking The Right Spot -

Location Is Key

Think back to the last couples photo you saw on Instagram that made you go “Wow, that’s beautiful”. A huge part of that “wow” factor is location. Some couples like to chose a location that holds sentimental value to their relationship, such as the first place they met or where you had your first date. My advice would be to pick a place where you can have fun and look good doing so!

Step 3: Timing Is Everything -

Right Place, Right Time

Here’s a quick photography tip, it can be difficult to shoot during the day where the sun is the harshest (around 12pm-3pm). Harsh sun equals harsh shadow lines! The best time to shoot is during the morning hours (after sunrise) and during the evening hours (before sunset). I mean c’mon, who doesn’t like warm golden hour photos?!

Sometimes the weather may not be in our favor and that’s ok! A good photographer will produce beautiful photos regardless of the weather.

Step 4: Save Reference Pictures - Your Vision

Hop on Pinterest, Instagram or even Google and see which photos capture your eye. Search things related to engagement shoots such as posing, photo ideas, clothing, accessories, etc. Screen shot or save the pictures you like and share them with your photographer. Doing this not only helps you share you vision but it also helps your photographer plan ahead and give you the shots you want. I always ask my couples to do this and it helps me give them the perfect dreamy shots they want.

Step 5: Make a day out of it - It’s A Date

You usually don’t know how much fun an engagement shoot is until you’re in it! It’s a perfect date activity that is filled with smiles and lots of laughter. My couples usually go out to eat whether it’s breakfast or dinner, after I’ve helped them work up an apatite. Like we’ve mentioned before, it can be awkward and nerve wrecking at first but if you look at it as a date activity with your loved one then it’ll take the pressure off you and you’ll be able to enjoy it that much more!

See you at our next engagement shoot!

Are you ready to schedule yours?

If you’d like to learn bout my Free Engagement Sessions feel free to contact me below so we can schedule yours!