We’ve all been there right? Even us photographers have been on the other side of the lens at some point in our lives. You are getting married and it’s time for your engagement session! Yay! You’ve spent countless hours on Pinterest researching the best engagement photo poses and possibly the location that you want to shoot at. You think “I’ve got this!” BUT…suddenly, you are bombarded with so many nerves and questions, things like “What should we wear?!” and “How should I fix my hair?”. You maybe even tried to coach your groom on how he should always smile and act like he’s happy to be taking engagement photos with you for 2 hours. Trust me. When I say we’ve all been there, we have! Even as a photographer, sometimes I get caught up in those types of questions and nerves when we get ready for a family photo shoot.
This is something that I DO NOT want my couples to feel as they prepare for their engagement session! I want you to have the BEST possible experience with me and your grooms to walk away saying “Wow! That’s wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be! That was actually enjoyable!”. I’ve put together 5 tips for preparing for your engagement session as well as some advice on outfit inspiration. By using these tips, you will be able to confidently approach your session and truly say “I’ve got this!”.
1. CLEAN YOUR RING! : I will be photographing your gorgeous diamond that your man so lovingly picked for you. This is the perfect time to have your ring cleaned so that it’s clear of dirt and build up that may be visible through my lens! Cleaning your ring will really make it sparkle! (P.S. If you forget or don’t have time to get it cleaned, I always carry a cleaning kit with me so no worries. I’ll shine that thing right up for you if I notice it’s a little dirty. 🙂 )
2. HAIR & MAKEUP : Splurge a little! If you were considering getting your hair and makeup done, this is a great time to treat yourself! You will cherish these images forever and so investing in professional hair and makeup can be an extra fun way to celebrate the occasion and allow you to be super confident during your shoot! (This is a great time to have your makeup and hair trial. It gives you the perfect opportunity to see how well your makeup photographs.)
Tip: If you’re worried about looking tired or just want to add a little something to your usual makeup routine, getting false lashes make the most impact in portraits! There are all types of lashes that range from looking completely natural to looking like Beyonce! I would lean towards the natural end of the spectrum! 🙂
3. THE TIMELINE : I’m always a few minutes early to my sessions to scope out the best places to shoot. I want the most flattering light for my couples. Because I normally shoot 2.5 hours before the sun sets, we will be racing to beat the sunlight, so I recommend leaving an extra 10-15 min earlier than you have planned just in case there is traffic or anything else that may hinder your arrival time.
4. HAVE A PREVIEW LESSON : I find it extremely helpful for brides to sit down with their grooms and have a little preview lesson for their engagement session. Take ten minutes and sit down together to scroll through 2-3 of your favorite engagement sessions on my blog. This will allow your groom to be prepared for what he is about to experience which will cause him to be more relaxed and not super stressed!
5. TAKE A DEEP BREATH! : You are going to be amazing! There is absolutely NO WAY that you can mess this up! Couples that are usually most nervous are the couples who totally rock their session! Seriously! So be encouraged! I have worked with every personality type and every body type and my couples always love their images! So get excited and don’t forget to breathe! 🙂
OUTFIT INSPIRATION:
I recommend a maximum of 2 outfits for your engagement session to ensure that we have plenty of time to capture both looks before sunset! While you change for your engagement session I will use that time to photograph your rings. FYI: If we are shooting in a very remote location, you may have to change in the car as there will be no indoor locations to change.
As I mentioned in your Bridal Guide, I recommend the following for your engagement session attire:
– Neutrals such as blush, tans, faint pinks, faint blues and teals, creams, grays and whites will always result in more of a light and airy look to your images. These colors give a softer more romantic look to your photographs.
– If you’re really looking for a soft, feminine look, I recommend a flowing dress or skirt. The movement of this type of fabric photographs so well and looks really pretty!
– If you choose 2 outfits, I always recommend a more formal one and a casual one.
– The goal is to COORDINATE instead of MATCHING! Along that note, it’s best not to both wear white for a top because there won’t be any sort of contrast to your images. I’m sure don’t want a white blob. 🙂
– Grooms, I recommend that you avoid patterns that are smaller than a dime! Patterns that are small create funky visual effects in digital cameras and cause the photo to go wonky. I also recommend avoiding graphic tees, tennis shoes, and open toes shoes!
– Brides, I recommend that you wear something that flatters the parts of you that you love the most and also allows you to be extremely confident! If you are uncomfortable when you look in the mirror (having to suck in and only like the way you look from one angle..we all do it!), then that probably isn’t the best outfit choice for your engagement session. I want you to be super confident and comfortable in the outfits that you choose because that will ensure that you love your photos and the way that you look in them! You are beautiful! So don’t wear something that you aren’t super confident in!
I hope that these tips will help you as you prepare for your engagement session! Remember, prep your groom, prep yourself, and you will have the absolute best experience! Engagement sessions are fun! This is possibly the last time that you will have portraits together before you start this new chapter in your lives! You’ve got this!
