so you’ve booked your engagement session! you’re excited! aaaaaand also, nervous and not quite sure how to prepare or what to think going in to it. I totally get it! these photos are special and capturing a very specific, joyful season of your life. you want to be able to look your best, but also be yourself - so when you and others look back on these photos, they’re a beautiful and real life peek into you and your fiancé’s relationship!
as a photographer, I want my couples to feel comfortable, confident, and excited going into their engagement session. I want that for all couples actually, so I’ve compiled a list of 5 things (in no particular order) to think about when preparing for your engagement photos.
Tip #1
wear something comfortable that fits your personality!
when you are picking your outfits for your engagement session, two things to keep in mind are comfort + personality. leading up to your session, you might be tempted to wear a different style of clothing than you would usually. these are special photos, right? yes, they are! and of course, you want to look nice for them. but don’t go too far off the beaten path. for example, say you’ve got this great dress that would look good with high heels - but you NEVER wear high heels. more than likely during your session, you’re going to be thinking more about not tripping in uncomfortable shoes than hanging out with your person! the idea is to be comfortable moving around and cuddling, so wearing a constricting dress or pants that you have to keep pulling up might not be your best move. aim for comfort.
I loved Ian & Emily’s perfect classy, cozy, casual choices for their engagement session!
the other thing to keep in mind is dressing in a way that fits your personality! (within photographically recommended boundaries of course). if you guys like to dress up, wear a nice dress and a suit jacket! if you’re more outdoorsy, maybe go with sweaters and flannel. if you’re both? do a little of both. at the end of the day, your photographer should definitely be a resource for you - we love helping you figure out what to wear, so send over ALL the outfit options.
Tip #2
go somewhere special to your relationship or that the two of you would go on a date!
you are going to love your session AND the photos you get back if you pick a location that has meaning to the two of you! examples of this would be the restaurant you had your first date, or the hike you went on when you realized you wanted to marry each other, or the beach that you had a really sweet vacation at. the options are endless, it’s your story!
Alex & Jessie and I went back to the park where Alex proposed to her for their engagement session!
or, it could be somewhere your photographer suggests you’ve never been before but is definitely somewhere that you could see yourself and your significant other hanging out or going on a date. if you guys like going on walks downtown, or having picnics, going camping, etc. - you and your photographer can come up with the best version of your preferred adventure!
Zane and Jessica love to go hiking together, so I brought them to one of my favorite hiking trails that they’d never been to and we had a GREAT time.
Tip #3
don’t make any major hair/makeup etc. changes before your session!
the basic idea here is to keep things natural! if you usually wear a lot of makeup and that’s how you feel comfortable, then I wouldn’t suggest trying to go barefaced for the first time in a while before your session! the opposite is true - if you tend to wear minimal makeup, I wouldn’t put on fake eyelashes or intense lipstick. same goes for hair!
p.s. if you really really want to switch something up, just make sure you try it out within plenty of time before your session!
Tip #4
prepare to get goofy + cuddly!
PDA doesn’t bother photographers. it’s the biz we’re in and we CELEBRATE it. you are not going to make us uncomfortable if you are into each other. WE LOVE IT WHEN YOU LOVE EACH OTHER. say you’re not super touchy feely? that’s cool! everybody is different! want to goof around? a little bit of both? BRING IT. the bottom line is, don’t feel embarrassed - be proud of the relationship you have with your special human and revel in it. the romantic, intimate, peaceful, the goofy, ridiculous, and unique. allll of it. bring it all.
Tip #5
it is a-okay to feel a little awkward and unsure how to act in front of a camera at the beginning of your session.
let’s be real, most of us don’t get our photo taken every day so it isn’t something we’re immediately comfortable with. so don’t feel pressure to be “raw, real, yourselves” right off the bat in front of a camera! as the session goes on, you will naturally become more comfortable. focus on your fiancé! think of the entire session as a chance to put on your favorite clothes, hangout somewhere you like, and spend quality time with your person. my husband and I got photos taken a month or two ago and I absolutely clammed up in front of the camera - but then, I looked at him and thought about how grateful I am to be married to my best friend. All of the sudden it felt so sweet and relaxing even though there was a photographer following us around.
this photo was taken toward the end of Raven and Wyatt’s session when we finally figured out what Ed Sheeran song they used to dance to in high school LOL.
so there are five tips to help calm your nerves and help you LOVE your engagement session!
if you are looking for a photographer for your engagement session, I’d love to talk with you! I’ll happily walk you through each of these steps and more prepping for + on the day of your session. can’t wait to walk through this process with you!
- Rachel
