Engagement Photos
Session Guide
Congratulations!
This whole process can feel really intimidating if you’ve never been in front of a camera, but if you follow these steps as you start to think about your engagement session, I really think it will ease some of the stress, anxiety and unknowns. The one thing to keep going back to is to make it fun! This is such a momentous time in your relationship journey, and you deserve to enjoy every moment of it! But, of course, if you have any questions that I don’t answer here, I’m always just an email away!
Get Inspired!
You know what my editing style is like, but don’t be afraid to tell or show me what style/vibe you’re going for with storytelling. Share the inspiration you found or what is most important for me to capture. You can even add me to your Pinterest board! Also if you have any must-have shots you want me to capture, I’m here for it! I will try to do my best to capture your vision.
Finding The Best Light
Think about your relationship and choose a location that truly reflects you! Every location has its own best light, and once we settle on where we’re going, I’ll help you determine the best time to go so we have the best light for the spot. Most often the best light will be the last 2 hours before sunset or the first 2 hours after sunrise when the light is soft and the sun is lower in the sky.
Of course, not every schedule allows for an evening session, and not every evening is sunny, but no worries, there is always beautiful light to be found!
If you feel awkward and uncomfortable, the photos will look that way too. In this case, stop and adjust. It’s always okay to reset!
Feeling Uncomfortable?
Look Good, Feel Good
You might be tempted to go out and buy a whole new outfit but you might consider wearing some of your favourite pieces that you already have! Feeling comfortable in your clothes is going to make such a huge difference to how you act in front of the camera. Wearing something that you already know you love will give you that boost of confidence that you might need!
If you do decide to go get something new, wear it around the house first or out on a date with your hot fiance! Make sure there is nothing annoying about the clothes that you fell in love with at the store. If you find yourself constantly fidgeting with straps, hemlines, pants riding up, itching etc. consider wearing something else. Make sure you check yourself out in all angles so there are no surprises and have some friends that you trust give you honest opinions! We could have THE BEST time (and we probably will) on our shoot and you could feel great, but if you get the pictures back and there is some “unflattering” aspect of your outfit, you probably won’t be happy with the images. So make sure you love how you look and feel in the clothes that you pick out! That goes for both parties!
COLOURS & PATTERNS
Neutrals always photograph beautifully, but if you’re someone that loves bold colours, try to stick to earth tones. Bright colours or neons can reflect off your skin in photographs, so earth tones are a great way to appeal to your colourful side while ensuring your skin will look fresh. I recommend sticking to a colour palette of 3-4 tones. Think about colours that complement each other and your surroundings. Colours like olive green, warm rust, dusty rose, burnt orange or soft neutrals like ivory or beige are great colours to play with. You could start with a neutral base then build from there.
I would avoid too many bold graphics, geometrics, bright patterns and anything else that takes attention away from your face. If you do go with a print, make sure it’s not too loud! If you are a bold person, opt for a super fun pair of shoes or showcase it with your accessories, rather than a bold print! You want to look like yourself in these pictures. Remember, feeling comfortable and confident is key!
Hair&Nails
Don’t get your hair cut/coloured right before the shoot, the best time to do it is about 1 to 2 weeks before.
Make sure your nails are clean. A manicure isn’t required, but recommended. Either do it yourself, or a salon. Keep in mind your outfit colours when choosing a look for your nails.
COORDINATING WITH YOUR PARTNER
Plan coordinating outfits. Mixing and matching neutrals with earth toned colours like blues, greens and burgundy’s, always looks great. Make sure you’re coordinating the style too so you don’t end up with one of you super casual and one of you super formal. If you’re having a hard time agreeing on this, I’d say to do both, so you have some casual and some more glam.
Treat It Like Date Night
This might be my biggest piece of advice. Have fun getting ready, compliment each other, let go of outside stressors, jam out to your favorite songs on the way and go out for dinner, a drink or dessert after the session. Not only will this help you get excited for your session, but it will also help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera. And it will definitely make it an extra special memory.
Be Yourselves & Have Fun!
The engagement session is meant to be a moment of the wedding planning journey that celebrates who you are as a couple. You might be a couple that loves to snuggle in and hold each other. Perhaps you more naturally gravitate towards fashion type poses together. And maybe you’re total goofballs together and laugh all the time.
Don’t shy away from letting your true colours show! Being yourselves will result in amazing photos that bring you right back to what you love about each other every time you look at them!