Engagement photos are a perfect way for us to get to know each other before your wedding day. The purpose of the session is to prepare you and your fiancé for your wedding day by getting you comfortable with being intimate in front of me and my lens. It’s a great time to have a trial run with your makeup artist and hairstylist. The goal of the session is to take photos that share your unique romance. That can mean anything from choosing a meaningful location or using Props that are significant to you. You should look and feel your best on the day of your session. When you are comfortable and confident it shows in your photos. Since this is likely your first professional photo shoot, these tips will help you prepare for engagement photos.
Engagement Photo Locations
To personalize your session and tell your story – choose a location that is meaningful to you – the college you attended together, the first place you kissed, your proposal spot, your favorite hangouts around town, etc. Want to try something a bit different: choose a theme park, carnival, hot air balloon, horse drawn carriage, sail boat, a rooftop bar or coffee shop as your backdrop. Or you can choose from a variety of locations I have listed in the blogs below:
What to wear in engagement photos
- Don’t try to match, try to pick outfits and accessories that coordinate instead. Don’t wear the exact same color.
- Do wear the same color family, like a dark and a light of the same color. Try pastels or light colors contrasted with bold color.
- Accessorize and make your outfits your own! Try bold jewellery or shoes with solid colors.
- Avoid graphics and overwhelming patterns. Avoid bright Red and Neon colors becasue they can cast color shadows on your faces that is difficult to edit out.
- Fitted clothing photographs better than loose clothing but a flowy dress is more fun and carefree than a mini skirt.
- It’s a great time to have a trial run with your makeup artist and hairstylist. You should look and feel your best on the day of your session.
- Relax! You don’t have to be a pro at this! I am going to help you along the way and it’s going to be a blast. Enjoy this time together and make a date out of it. Plan dinner afterwards and celebrate!!
Engagement Photo Tips
- NO ALCOHOL: Don’t drink the night before you have photos taken. Drinking dehydrates your skin and makes your eyes puffy.
- BE ON TIME: We typically plan your start time based on sunset time. If you are late, it cuts into the sunlight we have available! No one wants dark photos, so arriving on time will ensure we have gorgeous light to work with.
- BRINGING THE DOG: The best way to include pups is to have a friend come along to leash and watch the dogs during your session.
- CLEAN THE RING: Your ring will be a focal point of your photos, and I’d love to grab a few up close shots of just your ring while you change outfits! Cleaning it will ensure it’s nice and sparkly for photos!
- EMPTY YOUR POCKETS: Especially for guys, make sure you don’t have anything in your pockets!
- GET YOUR NAILS DONE: Make sure your nails are freshly painted! Chipped nails will be noticeable in your photos. Neutral colors and pastels photograph beautifully and will match any outfit!
- BRING COMFY SHOES: If you’re wearing heels, bring a pair of flip flops or comfortable shoes to walk from spot to spot. Your feet will thank me later!
Weather & Session Time
I want to give you the best possible photos and the best experience and a large part of this will depend on the lighting and weather: On a sunny day we generally begin shooting 2 hours before sunset. On a cloudy day, do not fear! Lighting is actually soft and beautiful, but we do need to start earlier (appx 3 hours before sunset).
On Rainy Days we will have to reschedule. If your location is a popular beach or an urban space we might consider an early morning session. That way we will have better access to the area and fewer people to work around.
Save the Dates cards
If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding. If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, I recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates. Between inclement weather rescheduling, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.
Beach Engagement Tips
- If you are thinking about getting in the water, bring a change of clothes so you do not drive home wet.
- Bring baby powder and a towel to remove sand before getting in the car.
- Bring comfy shoes even if you are going barefoot. Many beaches in Laguna have rocky areas we may need to navigate.
Props for Engagement Photos
Choose props that have meaning! They should accessorize you and not distract from you. Your location and props should all come together as one cohesive story of you. Not sure what to bring, consider these:
- A Pet (Tip: Bring a friend to help handle them when you are shooting, unless they are very well behaved)
- A “Thank You” or “Save the Date” sign on a poster-board for personalized thank you and save the date cards.
- Champagne to pop
- A clear umbrella or parasol
- A shiny vintage car (you can even try a rental)
- Bicycles or Skateboards
- Blanket and picnic supplies
- Anything else that makes your relationship unique or that is special to you
LOVE WHAT YOU SEE? – Let’s connect!
I hope you enjoyed my tips on how to prepare for your engagement photos. I am so thankful for the wonderful people that hire me and support my passion! If you’re thinking about taking engagement photos, (or pssst, if you’re looking for a romantic place to propose), I’d love to be your photographer. Fill out the contact form on my website, and let’s make memories!
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