How To Prepare For Your Engagement Photos

CONGRATS! You recently got engaged and now you’re thinking about your engagement photos. I know you may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or even scared. I mean, there are so many things to consider and it can be a lot. As a wedding photographer and past bride – I have so many tips, the ultimate do’s and dont’s that I want to share with you! Hopefully this post will be your ultimate guide to prepare you for your own engagement photos.

Engagement photos will EASILY be the most memorable date night you and your fiancé ever go on, that is, if you make sure you do the things that will make that true for you.

1. FIND YOUR DREAM PHOTOGRAPHER

I mean, let’s be real here, your photographer is the one who could potentially make or break this for you. It is a lot of pressure but that’s why you’re investing a lot of money in a great photographer!! This is their job and its crucial the photographer you choose is someone who you vibe with, feel comfortable with, and trust to take gorgeous photos. Take it from me, if or when you hire me as your photographer, my ultimate goal is to deliver photos that reflect you and your fiancé. There are 3 main things that I do that have helped all my clients feel confident in me & hopefully, if I am not your photographer, the photographer you hired does these things for you as well.

• Solidify the vibes/theme of the shoot. I’ll either send out a questionnaire to get to know the couple a little better or I’ll send a Pinterest board with different ideas that the couple can gain inspiration from. From there we’ll come up with unique ideas we want to incorporate in their session to help it feel like their own & we’ll solidify the location(s).
• Plan, plan, plan! I always create a google doc that helps me plan the evening out. Lighting and time is crucial so if we have two locations or a couple outfits, I like to make sure the couple and I are on the same page about the amount of time we spend at each location and outfit changes. This is especially crucial when we have dogs involved! (I’ve been told that it’s been helpful to know how long the dogs will be apart of the session so if someone needs to pick them up, they can coordinate that.)
• The session itself. WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS SO IMPORTANT! It truly makes me the photographer I am. I plan out a “shot list” for myself. I study the dang thing. This may sound weird but not only do I study it, I screenshot it and put it on the background of my phone so incase my brain goes blank, I have a list I can quickly use as a resource. Usually my shot list includes inspiration from a Pinterest board & prompts I use to create that natural, authentic style. Every couple is different and this helps me deliver the best photos that are a direct reflection of my couple & their love.

2. THE PREPPING BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR BOO

So, we talked about the prep I do and the prep your photographer should do, but now it’s time to talk about the prep you and your boo should be doing. Honestly, if you’re a low maintenance, type B couple, you may not need to do all these things but I truly believe that any prep in advance will boost confidence and avoid pre-session stress.

• LADIES, TREAT YO SELF – that ring is gonna be a huge focal point so don’t forget about those nails! Get your nails done, or if you’re like me, I am a huge advocate of some Walmart press on’s. They are cheappppp and they get the job done!
• Speaking of that ring…Clean your engagement ring!
• Plan outfits early; Pinterest is your style BFF – remember, coordinating outfits is always better than matching
• Try outfits on a few days before. Nothing would be worse than your outfits either not looking good together or not fitting the day of the session. Remember, we are trying to alleviate any stress here!
• Hair and makeup trial? Have you booked your hair and makeup for the wedding yet? If the answer is yes, it could be a perfect time to book your trial for the same day of your engagement photos! (I will say, sometimes this could be the wrong thing to do if you know that you want your hair up in an elaborate updo.)
• Anything can happen. I love being spontaneous and as your photographer, I know I will never hold back asking to do crazy things like getting dirty or wet. So, pack a small tote with essentials: water, gum, makeup kit, hair kit, snacks, extra clothes, comfortable shoes, umbrella, towel, and maybe some ibuprofen. Be ready for anything!!

3. HOW TO NOT FEEL AWKWARD

While this is also a something your photographer should help you with, you and your fiance can also remind eachother of a couple things to help the potential awkwardness subside.

• Don’t stress perfection; be yourself! This is you and your boo’s session. Own it. Show off your love. It’s a fun date that will get to be documented! Forget about if your hair looks perfect or if your laugh is showing off too much of your double chin, focus on you and your significant other. Lean on each other if it ever feels weird & if it does, a good kiss between the two of you will help you forget about how weird ya feel. Truly, when in doubt, just love on each other.
• Movement is crucial to create less posing and more authenticity. Your photographer should be prompting you with little games or scenarios but your photographer will also love if you and your boo move around as if the camera wasn’t there. Dance together, cuddle up & tell each other a joke, laugh and poke fun at each other, I mean, my god, FLIRT LIKE CRAZY. Oh, and I always tell my couples, DON’T STOP TOUCHING EACH OTHER!

Feel free to refer back to this guide as many times as you need while prepping for your engagement photos. You’ve got this!

Let Us Be Your Photographers

Love, connection, and having fun – that is our jam. Getting to love on you and capture your love truly lights us up and brings us both so much joy. If you’d like to inquire to book us as your engagement photos & wedding day, please reach out through our contact form right here! We cannot wait to hear from you!