Engagement Sessions! What a lovely time to get to know your photographer and get a better idea of what it’s like to be in front of the camera. You will leave with a lovely set of photographs of the two of you, be better prepared for photos on your wedding day and also have some fun! I’ve put together these tips to help aid your planning as you start to think about your engagement session.
WHERE TO TAKE YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
If you have a location that is special to you and your partner, I’d absolutely suggest starting there! That could be your house, a restaurant or coffee shop you frequent, family cottage, a hiking trail, you name it. That goes for activities too - if you love to spend Saturdays at the local brewery, do that for your engagement session. Do you love to cook at home together? Incorporate that into your photos. They are about you and who you are as a couple - so make them just that.
Think about the photos that resonate with you most when you pin them on Pinterest or save them on Instagram - is it the location that stands out (is it an amazing landscape or cool downtown area?), or is it the vibe of the photo (are they super heartfelt in the couples home or more formal?) - is it what they’re wearing? Think about what you resonate most with and what you want your photos to feel like and use that to guide your planning.
Lastly - ask your photographer for ideas! If you’re stumped or nothing feels quite right, we have looooong lists of places that we love to take photos at. Don’t hesitate to ask us for location ideas, we’re always happy to try out a new place that’s been on our list or take you to our favourites.
WHAT TO WEAR TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
My number one suggestion is wear something that is YOU. If you are jeans and t shirt people, there’s no need to dress formally. You want the photos to feel like you, so no need to try out a new wardrobe for these photos.
That being said, a little planning goes a long way! Plan clothing that works well in the location you’re shooting at. The beach isn’t the best place for heels, but downtown might be. Bare feet might be comfy and casual at home.
Wear clothing that you feel comfortable in as ultimately, you want to feel 100% you when your photos are being taken. If you're generally very casual people, opt for a more casual look. Or, consider having a casual outfit and a dressier outfit as well so that you get a bit of both. Another thing to keep in mind is to dress in clothes that flatter your body type - we all have things we are self conscious about so keep that in mind - aka if you're self-conscious about your arms, opt to forgo the sleeveless top. If you're comfortable and feeling your best self, this will be reflected in your photos.
Coordinating with your partner is KEY. Pick 2-3 colours to work within between the two of you. You can work with different shades, but have the same base. Make sure you both match the vibe, if it’s casual, make sure you’re both casual. If dressier, make sure you BOTH are dressier - if he’s in a baseball hat while you’re in heels, the vibe won’t match. As for colours - light, neutral colours reflect light well. When in doubt, jeans and a white tee are always classic.
Ask for help if needed! Consult a stylist to put together an outfit for you if you’re at a loss (Hellooo @charlygoss!). Get your hair and or makeup done if you don’t want to worry about doing it yourself. If there’s any stressor that’s holding you back (like - what do I do with my hair!!?), outsource it and make it enjoyable!
DO YOU NEED A SHOT LIST?
NOPE! Trust your photographer. If you see a general trend you want to try (i.e. blurry photos) then absolutely ask. But you don’t need to give them a list or a Pinterest board of ideas, we know what we’re doing!
HAVE FUN!
Make a date out of it. Go out for lunch before hand or dinner afterwards. Take a day off work and make the day of it. These are your photos, they should be fun, and the best way to do that is to plan for it to be fun and go in with a good mindset. And remember - it’s a great time to get to know your photographer and know what they will ask you to do, and to get comfortable in front of the camera. Ultimately it will help the wedding day photo taking process feel stress free, so enjoy it and trust your photographer, I am confident you will be happy with the results!
Ultimately, communication is Key - think about what you want from your photos and make sure to communicate that with your photographer. Are you laid back and love to laugh and hang out? Are you more formal and will your fashion be a huge part of the photos? All these factors can dictate the feel of your photos so spend some time thinking about what it is you want out of the photos and how you want them to feel and let’s chat about it and make sure we have the best time with your engagement session!
Take a peek at the photos below - I’ve given some examples of the planning that went into these sessions and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions at all!