How To Prepare For Your Engagement Session

I absolutely love engagement sessions. They’re one of my favorite things to photograph. Why? I feel like they’re a perfect way to get to know a couple, know what works well for them, and make something that captures who they are. Engagement sessions are included as part of all my wedding packages. I think they’re they’re just too valuable to skip. Engagement sessions give us the chance to work together ahead of time. That means we can build more of a connection. We can see what works well for you specifically, making for a better experience come wedding day. They also give you the chance to show your personality and capture this chapter in your life together. To plan the perfect one for you, keep reading for my tips below!

Timing

Most couples opt to schedule their engagement session anywhere between 6-12 months before their wedding. Think about when you’ll want to send out “Save the Date” cards and schedule your session 1-2 months before that in order to give yourself plenty of design time once your images are delivered. You may also opt to schedule your session during a season opposite the one when you’ll be getting married.

Time of Day

No matter the time of year, I stick to the same rule of thumb for the best light in photos. For outdoor portraits, I always like to plan around golden hour. Golden hour is the hour after the sun rises or before it sets. It gives you the best chance for glowy portraits and the most flattering light. My wedding packages all include a 2 hour engagement session. If you happen to have an overcast day though, don’t worry! Clouds soften the sun’s light creating a soft box effect.

Location

Engagement sessions are great because you get the opportunity to go anywhere for these special photos! You want to choose a location that either has a personal connection for you and your fiance or somewhere that has a look and feel that you want. Some clients want a modern urban city feel, while others want a more casual woods and hiking look to their engagement session. Figure out what is important to you! If you have an idea of the type of look you want, but do not know the perfect location, let me know as I know lots of places!

Outfits

My usual rule of thumb is that if you can wear the outfit to your office on a regular workday, don't wear it to your engagement session! On that note, engagement photos are a wonderful opportunity to wear something that really stands out and is fabulous and unique. Wearing an outfit that you think is boring or unflattering won't do you any favors, so make sure to choose things that make you feel great! When you feel your best, you're less inhibited and more likely to love the way you look in your photos, so take the extra time to get items tailored for your body the way it is TODAY for a perfect fitted look that you won't be tugging at in every photo.

My engagement sessions are long enough for my clients to wear two outfits. It's okay to pick a variety of styles to get different looks such as one dressy and one casual. I also absolutely love it when my clients ask my opinion on wardrobe in advance and send me photos of their outfit pairings. If you're still having mixed thoughts on your outfits, I suggest bringing a few outfits to choose from and bring them with you to the session so that we have options if you have a last minute change of heart. From there, I can make suggestions on similar items that might photograph a bit better or that I know from experience look great.

Don't forget the groom! The most important thing when choosing outfits is to make sure that both of you look like you belong in the same photo (without being matchy-matchy). If you're going with an amazing floor length gown for your shoot, make sure that he isn't wearing a loose button down shirt, jeans, and casual shoes. I love when grooms have one great casual outfit such as dark jeans or khakis, a button down shirt, a sweater, and a tie or bowtie underneath to create layers and texture, as well as a more fancy look like a slim cut suit and tie. However, tuxedos and bowties are really fun looks for more dressed up engagement photos depending on location, and it's also great to have some mix and match jackets, shirts and ties on hand to play with as well. Have fun with it! One mistake I see people make quite often is keeping the clothing extremely simple and I dare say boring. Engagement photos are not the last photos you will ever have together...they should be a great example of your style and the current trends. I say, the more fun the better! Don't be afraid to pull out a long skirt, formal wear, a fun hat, or small items that really showcase your personality. Creating a look for your engagement photos that you love will make you feel really confident at your shoot and also inspire your photographer to really make the most of whatever location you choose.

If you’re looking for dresses check out, Asos, Show me your Mumu, Revolve, Free People, Reformation, and Lulu’s! 

Want more outfit ideas and inspiration? Check out my engagement session outfits board for tips and examples.

Hair, Makeup & Ring Cleaner

Some brides opt to have their makeup trial done right before their engagement session so that they can see what their makeup will look like in pictures before the wedding day! I highly recommend this! It’s always fun when a bride gets her hair and makeup done for her shoot! If you want to do your own makeup, make sure you apply your eye makeup a little heavier than normal for your pictures. Last but not least, I will be taking a ring shot! So if your diamond could use a little cleaning, that would make it really SHINE!

Activities & Props

Coming up with some different activities that you both enjoy can really help take your minds off the photographs and allows you to authentically connect (like popping a bottle of champagne or bringing along an acoustic guitar). Whatever you decide, I think the most important part is to consider how realistic the props/activities are-- if thumbing through a record collection is not something you two find yourselves doing normally, doing it for the session isn't going to feel genuine.

I know wooden signs with the wedding date or cute little sayings are all the rage right now and Pinterest seems to be flooded with them, and sure that can be super adorable for your Save the Dates, but I like to push my couples to think beyond just the stationary. While there's always going to be trends, I think keeping the session as natural and authentic as possible is going to also make the photographs timeless-- which in turn makes it more likely that you will enjoy these photographs for a lifetime versus a couple years before such-and-such trend is deemed "overdone".

If you want to add a bouquet for texture, color, and use as a prop please let me know and I can gather quotes from my favorite florists.

What You Might Not Expect

It may be windy (especially on the beach), be prepared to do some walking and in rare occasions, some climbing - I always suggest a comfy pair of shoes to tag along with you and a hairbrush if you're wearing your hair down. There may be people around especially if shooting on the weekend, it’s best to ignore them and I always try to avoid them when shooting.

ONE FINAL NOTE – AFTER YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Don’t forget to plan a dinner date! You’re already going to be all dressed up, why not take advantage of it? I know the wedding planning process can feel all-consuming, so take some time after the session just for the two of you to relax and have some fun together. You deserve it!

I know I just gave you a lot to think about, but I really want help make your engagement session experience something you’ll look back fondly on for years and years to come. At the end of the day, though, the location you choose and the outfits you select won’t matter nearly as much as the memories you make together. Your future marriage is the most important thing to me, and I want your engagement session to be a time for you to just be yourselves and enjoy it. Have fun together. Laugh a lot. And I’ll take care of the rest!