Your engagement session is a special milestone, a moment to capture the excitement and love that builds the excitement for your wedding day! It’s a chance to create beautiful memories and photos that you’ll cherish forever. To ensure your engagement session goes smoothly and you and your partner come home with images you love, here are some essential tips and tricks to help you prepare:
1. Communicate with Your Photographer
We as photographers are here to tell the story of ~you~ and we want to make sure that we’re doing that to the best of our ability, and the best way to help us do that is to communicate with us. The more we understand and get to know about you as a couple the better we can curate your experience and provide you with photos you’ll be excited to show off!
Discuss your vision, styles that catch your eye, and if there are any specific shots you want to get as well as any potential physical limitations one of you may be experiencing (injury, pregnancy, etc.) Don’t be afraid to reach out to your photographer once you've booked with them if you have any questions or are looking for some ideas!
A pre-session consultation is always beneficial in aligning expectations and ensuring that your photographer understands your style, your preferences, and your needs.
2. Choose Location That is Special to You and Your Partner
Selecting the perfect location is crucial for your engagement session. Think about places that hold special meaning for you as a couple or locations that reflect your personalities. Is there a park or beach that you both enjoy spending time together? Where did you go on your first date? What was the place you were in when you got engaged? All of these are great places to start with when it comes to ideas on the best location for your Engagement Session because they speak to the connection you share with your partner and tell the story of your love that much more! Additionally, having a few locations picked out will help your photographer plan out their angles and best lighting in the places you have in mind.
3. Decide on Outfits Together
What you decide to wear on the day of your engagement session plays a big role in how your pictures turn out! Take some time to pick out some of your favorite clothing items to wear that show a little bit about who you are both personally and as a couple. Go with clothes and accessories that make you feel the most you. I usually like to tell my couples to plan on something that feels dressed up as well as outfits that feel more on the comfortable or relaxed side. It also never hurts to talk with your photographer about having a couple of potential outfits for multiple looks on the day of your shoot. One casual look and one more formal offers opportunity for a more diverse range of shots.
4. Practice Poses and Expressions
Being in front of a camera, especially when it’s not something you might be used to doing, can feel nerve wracking for some people (myself included!) You don’t need to strut your way down a runway, although if that’s where you want to go that’s always an option, a little practice can go a long way. Try practicing poses and expressions in front of a mirror to see what feels natural and what you find flattering. It’s hard to know what we look like when on a photo shoot, but if you take some time to see yourself and take note of how those looks feel it’ll be easier to flow naturally once your photo shoot day comes.
Also think about how you can interact with your partner - candid moments of laughter, gentle touches, and natural interactions make for the most authentic photos. Your photographer more than likely has a few tricks up their sleeve to help ease the process and inspire posing ideas, but it definitely doesn't hurt to come in feeling prepared. Try not to take yourself too seriously and remember to have fun!
5. Put Together a Playlist
Having the right music sets the mood for how you show up in any space. Most of my clients find having music allows them to relax and get into their groove while at their photo sessions. Use your favorite music streaming service to put together a playlist with your partner that tells a story about who you are. It’s a fun way to take a trip down memory lane together and the emotions that the songs bring up will help to tell your love story. (The mix you make can also be a great starting point for your wedding day playlist!)
6. Think About Props and Personal Touches
Props can be a fun way to add a unique element to your photos. When deciding if you’d like to incorporate props in your shoot you want them to be a complement to the main focus of your photos: your relationship. That might be a special sign you’ve made, a favorite bottle of wine or snacks for you to share, or a meaningful token of your relationship, anything that enhances the representation of who you are together. Having props also provides an interactive element in frame that can inspire some more candid photos.
7. Bring Along Essentials
Pack a small bag with essentials for the session. This might include a lint roller to keep your clothes looking pristine, a water bottle to stay hydrated, and any touch-up makeup or hair products. It’s also a good idea to bring some snacks, especially if your session will be long or if you’re planning on going to multiple locations.
8. Plan for the Day
On the day of the session, plan to arrive at the location a little early to account for any unexpected delays. Give yourselves some time to get settled and to calm any pre-session nervousness that might come up. Having a relaxed start makes the entire session more enjoyable for you and your partner.
At the end of the day the most important thing is for you and your partner to have fun. Enjoy the experience together and allow the excitement of your engagement session to build that much more anticipation for your wedding day.
