Congratulations, lovely! You’ve just become engaged to the person of your dreams, and I’m sure you’re thrilled to get started planning your life together. Maybe you’ve been planning your wedding since you were little, or perhaps it didn’t really cross your mind until lately, but now that it’s happening (and soon!), you might be a bit overwhelmed with all of the details and decisions…
Take a breath! It’ll be just fine. You’ve got this! No matter what hiccups come along the way, whether your perfect wedding venue is already booked or it takes hunting through over a dozen bridal shops to find your dream wedding gown, you can do anything you put your mind to. At the end of the day, all you really want is to be married to this wonderful person, and this day is really just a party to celebrate the start of the next of your lives together.
You’re a boss-babe, and what’s more, you’ll have girl power support from your bridesmaids, your mom, your wedding planner, your wedding photography team, or a mix of all of the above.
One of the very first steps in planning your wedding is to have your engagement photo session, since you’ll be using these photos for your save-the-dates. This may be the first professional photo shoot you and your sweetie have ever had together, or ever had at all, for that matter. So, here are some key tips for how to prep for your engagement photo session.
- Be yourself. This session is all about you and the connection you two have, and that’s important to keep in mind both during your shoot as well as while planning it. Lots of couples like to browse Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration, and that’s great! But it’s important to keep in mind that your engagement photos should show off you and your relationship. If you’re an athletic sports enthusiast, maybe that old cathedral isn’t quite the right setting for your engagement photos. If you’re romantic and love the outdoors, that local botanical garden may be just the place. And think beyond locations to the poses you two would like to do as well. Your engagement photographer will definitely have some ideas and pointers, but it’s good to think about poses and positions that you do all the time in real life that might look sweet in your photos.
2. Schedule thoughtfully. Depending on your planned wedding date, you may want to have your engagement photo session sooner rather than later. As a rule of thumb, wedding pros recommend sending your save-the-dates about 6-8 months before your wedding date, and sending your wedding invitations about two months beforehand. But if you’re having a destination wedding, your guests will need more time to make their travel plans and you should send the save-the-dates about 8-10 months before the big day. Schedule your engagement photo session with your photographer in mind as well; don’t forget the turnaround time for editing! My turnaround time for editing engagement photos is usually about 7 to 10 days, so add that on top of your scheduling timeline as well. And be sure to give yourself time (as in, more than an hour) to choose your favorite for the Save the Dates.
3. Pick a good location (or locations). As they say, it’s all about location, location, location, and this applies to your engagement photo session as well. Choose a spot or a couple of spots that matter to you and your partner, whether it’s a nice park in your neighborhood, the church you go to, or a pretty old building on your jogging route. Not only does this help capture you two in a setting that’s uniquely you, it’ll help you feel more relaxed in front of the camera if you’re in a place that is comfortable and familiar.
4. Plan the session time around the light. Even if you’re not a photographer, you may have heard of ‘the golden hour’, which is the time of day just before sunset. Both dawn and sunset are wonderful times to shoot photos because the natural light is beautiful! Check Google or your weather app to determine when these times will be on the day of your shoot. Keep in mind that you’ll probably want to avoid the early afternoon for a photo shoot, since the light is much harsher at this time of day.
5. Make sure your partner is in the loop. Communication is important in any marriage, and you’ll want to get yours off to a great start, even with your engagement photo session details. This may be more or less important depending on your partner’s personality and taste, but guys can be a bit blindsided and nobody wants that. Before your session, be sure to tell him how long it will take (usually about an hour and a half to two hours), and note important details such as if you’ll be changing outfits or locations. You might also want to consider timing the session so that it doesn’t conflict with things on your partner’s schedule such as sports games or other things he’d rather be doing than taking photos.
6. Dress to feel good and compliment one another. I’d recommend bringing 2-3 outfits to wear for your engagement photo session. You’ll want a variety of looks, including something more dressed up and something more casual. I don’t recommend wearing something brand new, since you might not know how it looks and it could turn out to be uncomfortable, but if you want to get new looks before your shoot, give the outfit(s) a trial run with plenty of time to launder them just in case. Don’t forget the accessories! But keep timelessness in mind as you plan your accessorizing (i.e. leave your smartwatch at home, since it’ll probably be outdated in a few years). Be sure to plan your outfits for the weather and location, and consider bringing an extra outfit or two just in case. If you don’t wear all of them, that’s fine, but at least you’ll have the option. Finally, save yourself (and your photographer) some stress by ironing your clothes beforehand so they’re looking their best. It can be time-consuming and lengthen the editing turnaround time to “just Photoshop things out” later, and neither of us wants that.
7. Trial run your wedding hair and makeup. Not every bride opts for a professional stylist for hair and makeup, but if you’re one of the ones that is, your engagement session is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of your trial run. If you’re just doing a pre-wedding consultation with your stylist, try to schedule it for the morning of your engagement photo session so that you can knock out two things at once. Also, consider getting a manicure beforehand as well, since we’ll be wanting to get plenty of shots of that gorgeous new ring on your finger!
8. Do some mental prep. You feel your best when you’re well-rested and your mind is at ease, and this will show through in your engagement photos. Your shoot will have the best result if you and your partner arrive relaxed, fed and after a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep, hunger, stress and anxiety don’t belong during your engagement shoot day, so do your best to keep them out of it. You might want to make this day a fun date day as well, so that you will have plenty of time for the actual shoot without rushing, and give yourselves a little treat to engage with each other and have the best day that you can. Start it off with brunch or coffee at your favorite spot, have a fun day planned before and maybe after the shoot itself, and you’ll have a beautiful day together to remember along with your photos.
9. Consider bringing props. There may be some items that are iconic to your relationship, such as sports equipment, an umbrella that you bought on your first date when it suddenly rained, his Letterman’s jacket, etc. Bring these along to use in some of your shots so that you can keep the memories going! If you have a pet or pets together, bring them, too, but maybe ask a friend or sibling to join you for the shoot to take care of Fido or Fluffy while you’re taking shots without them. Some couples also like to make a sign with their wedding date on it for their save-the-dates.
10. Have fun and enjoy the time! Your engagement photo session is about more than just getting some pretty photographs, it’s the first step celebrating your relationship together and the beginning of your life as a married couple! Have conversations with each other, tell jokes, be silly (as long as you’re being yourselves), and try to get each other to laugh. The more fun you can have together on this day, the better and more candid your photos will turn out. My favorite engagement sessions are with couples who truly enjoy being with one another and having a good time as we get these shots. The energy is amazing, and the results bring a smile to my face as I edit – I’m sure they smile over their photos for years to come as well.
