How to Prepare for Your Engagement Session
If you’re reading this blog post, that probably means you’re preparing for an engagement photography session with your soon-to-be-spouse! Or, maybe you’re engaged, and looking around for a photographer still. Either way, I wanted to share the tips that I give my clients to help them prepare for my engagement sessions.
I always recommend to book an engagement session with the photographer that will be capturing your wedding day. This way, you will be able to build a relationship, you know what to expect on your big day, and you’ll be more comfortable in front of the camera! Having that time to get to know your photographer (and vice versa) will allow you both to be vulnerable in front of the camera is how we can get such beautiful and intimate photos of your wedding day.
That being said, here are my top 6 tips for preparing for your engagement photos:
PICK A LOCATION SENTIMENTAL TO YOU
I always encourage my couples to pick the location(s) for the shoot; a place that is sentimental to both of them. This could be a coffee shop, a beach that you always travel to together on the weekends, or the place where you first met. I will shoot anywhere, you tell me the place! This allows for more intimate and natural photographs. It’s a familiar place, and with the person you love most in the world, which helps to ease some of the anxiety of getting your photos done.
Maybe you guys first met peeping at each other in your local gym, or over coffee at your favorite coffee shop. Incorporate those into your session! It brings so much personality into the shoot, and really allows you both to genuinely have a great time together.
2. Bring along props or your furry friend
It’s always fun to bring along props. For instance, I’ve had a couple bring along a soccer ball because they met on the field. Another couple had a Chicago record with their wedding date written on it, since they were getting married in Chicago. The list is endless! Suggestions: a favorite journal, pizza, signs, your pets. Anything! Don’t hesitate to bring anything that truly reflects you individually or as a couple.
I always love to get to meet your furry friends too! Don’t hesitate to bring along your dogs or even your cats to your engagement session. If you do bring along your dog, just be sure to pack a few treats and a leash!
3. Consider Getting Hair & makeup done
Some of my clients will have their practice run regarding hair and makeup for the engagement shoot. This helps them feel a little more ‘done-up’ for the shoot and boosts their confidence. I’m not saying you should do this at all! However, what I can say is that in my experience shooting engagement sessions, girls want to feel pretty and confident, and sometimes spending a little extra time getting ready achieves just that.
If you already have a makeup artist booked for your wedding, you can schedule the trial application on the day of the engagement session. This way, you can see how the hair & makeup from your artist will appear in photographs!
4. it’s okay to be nervous
Please know, that I do not expect both of you to be seasoned models straight off the bat. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve arrived to an engagement session, and the couple says “we’re really awkward in front of the camera, I’m sorry in advance”. My job is to make you both feel comfortable being in front of the camera, and direct you both in a way that helps you feel relaxed. I promise that when you see the photos, you won’t even know that you were nervous to take photos at all!
5. dress confidently & Bring an extra outfit
Wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Patterns, bold colors, and accessories photograph really well. However, the number one most important thing is to wear something that makes you feel confident and beautiful. Whatever makes you feel the most confident is what you should go with - whether it’s no makeup, or your favorite pair of red heels - be yourself! My goal during an engagement session is to capture the love story between both of you. It’s less about the clothes you wear, and the way your hair is styled - and more about the emotion and the love between you and your fiancé. Just remind yourself that you’re with your favorite person, in your favorite place… and enjoy every moment of it.
Feel free to bring along an extra outfit change for some variety as well. It’s a great way to add in some different colors and have a wide variety of images in the gallery.
6. make it a date night
Your makeup & hair is all done up, and you’re both in your nicest outfits - why not make it a date night after the photoshoot? Take advantage of all the time spent preparing, and go out to dinner together, enjoy a movie together, or go somewhere romantic together. Wedding planning can be stressful, so take some time to relax together and enjoy spending some quality time just the two of you!
Thanks for reading through this week’s blog post! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at laurenweberphoto@gmail.com.
Other Blog Posts you might like:
Top Engagement Session Locations in the Bay Area