Your Engagement Photo Session
Congratulations!! You are engaged! You found your person and I am so excited to celebrate with you! Now it’s time to get your engagement photos done. I created this guide to help you plan and prepare for your session! There are so many moving parts in planning #allthethings, so I built this guide for how to get ready for engagement photos, so that you come prepared, confident and ready to have fun!
Choosing a Date and Time for Your Engagement Session
I begin all engagement sessions two hours before sunset when the light is the dreamiest. I also shoot early morning, but would prefer evening, so if our schedules can accommodate an evening session that would be ideal!!
To get the most out of your session, please plan a buffer when getting ready so you can arrive a few minutes early to your session and be ready to start on time.
I’m only able to shoot when natural light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down.
Selecting Your Location for Your Engagement Session
The location of your engagement session is totally up to you! The first thing to decide is what “look” fits your style as a couple.
Do you enjoy the city, or country?
Are you more romantic, or fun?
Do you like visiting mountains, or downtown?
Is there a special location that’s meaningful to you?
Let me know what you decide!
And if you are needing suggestions, I can send you a few of my favorite locations! I have a whole list I can send you and photos from those places if you would like to see them!
Say Yes to the Dress
Long, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. There are so many beautiful poses we can create with a long dress!
Cute, shorter-length dresses photograph beautifully as well. This would also give you an opportunity to show off any killer heels you may have!
Trust me when I say… dresses and skirts always look the most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body!
Favorite Shops
www.renttherunway.com Rent the Runway
www.morninglavender.com/ Morning Lavender
www.showmeyourmumu.com Show Me Your Mumu
www.thereddressboutique.com The Red Dress Boutique
www.anthropologie.com Anthropologie
www.balticborn.com Baltic Born
Dress It Up
Alright friend, do you ever see photos of women with a flower crown, or a tulle skirt, or a gorgeous sequin gown.. and think “WOW! Sister! This is your chance to do it up!
Remember: There is no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your engagement session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun!
If you don’t want to spend a ton and add a new permanent piece to your wardrobe, then use Rent the Runway!
Quick Tip: There’s no such thing as too dressed up.
Choosing Colors for Your Engagement Session
The colors of your outfits can totally transform how your images ultimately turn out! If you LOVE that light and airy style that I do, then this section is super important to read! I always recommend selecting lighter tones and more muted shades. By avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown, navy, and white.
How to Prep Your Man
In order to make sure your man is cool and confident walking up to your session, here are a few of my biggest tips to prep your future hubby!
1. Let him know that I will tell him exactly what to do! Absolutely zero pressure is on him! Think Simon Says! 😉
2. Let him choose what he’s going to wear! We don’t want flashbacks of his mother dressing him like an easter egg! Have him play a role in this decision!
3. Show him some of my engagement session photos! This will give him some sort of idea what he can expect and that other grooms survived and lived to tell about it!
4. PRAISE him! Your man will have so much confidence if you tell him how hot he looks! For real.
5. THANK him! When he feels appreciated, he feels loved! When he feels loved, he will do anything you (I) tell him to do!;)
What to Wear for Engagement Photos
If you are wearing a gorgeous dress, he’s definitely going to want to dress to impress!
Tailored suits are by far my favorite thing grooms wear! There’s a Neal Caffery appeal that we all can agree is super attractive! But if that’s not his “style” then here are a few options!!
khaki pants
dress pants
blazer
solid button down shirts
ties or bowties
suspenders, vests, watches
soft earth tones or neutral colors
My Fav: Dark sports coat, button up, bowtie, khaki pants, brown shoes
How to Get Ready for Your Engagement Session
Do
-Wear long flowy dresses (this is flattering on every body)
-Wear an outfit that covers or hides your trouble areas
-Choose colors like neutrals, earth tones, or pastels
-Choose soft colors such as blush, dusty blue, or cream
-Wear solids or non-busy floral patterns
-Wear accessories that compliment your dress
-Manicure your nails
-Have your ring cleaned
-Wear wedges or heels
-Pack water and snacks
-Plan a date night after
-Get excited and have fun!!
Don’t
Wear outfits that cling to or exposes your trouble areas
-Choose primary colors such as red, blue, or yellow.
-Choose loud colors such as orange, red, or hot pink.
-Wear busy patterns like plaid or stripes
-Underdress (t-shirts, tennis shoes, or shorts)
-Forget to match accessories to each outfit
-Stress! I will do ALL the work!
One Final Note
Alright friend, I know I just gave you a lot to think about! I really want to make this experience something that you both enjoy and can look back on as a sweet memory together!
At the end of the day, the location you choose and the outfits you select won’t matter nearly as much as your love for each other and the time you spent together.
Your future marriage is the most important thing to me, and I want your engagement session to be a time for you to just be yourselves and enjoy it!!!
Don’t Forget
You’re already dressed up, so you 100% need to celebrate your engagement session by heading out for a date night after! This is also a great way for the two of you to cap off an amazing engagement session.
