Recently engaged?! You have lots of planning ahead of you and one great way to kick things off is to find a photographer and have an engagement session. This will help you commemorate your engagement and can also serve as a great stepping stone to finding your wedding photographer! Below you’ll find some helpful tips to make the most out of your engagement session!
1.) FINDING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
The first step in having the engagement session of your dreams is finding the right photographer for you. Beyond finding the photography style you’re drawn to, finding a photographer you mesh well with and who makes you feel comfortable will make all the difference. You can browse Google, Pinterest, Instagram and Tiktok and when you have a good list of photographers to choose from, schedule a consultation and trust your instincts! It should feel natural and ideally you should feel at ease with them. This will aid in your comfort level during your engagement session.
2.) FINDING THE BEST LOCATION(S)
There are a few things to consider when choosing the location of your engagement session- Do you have a particular theme you’d like to incorporate with your wedding? Do you have a special location you’ve always wanted to shoot at? How far away is the location? Is it a popular spot where lots of other people will be? Will you need a permit? Do you prefer being in the city, forest, countryside, by the sea, the desert? These photos will be showcased in your home and may even be used for your save-the-dates, so choosing a location you feel at one with and which best represents your interests and personality are really important! It’s also important to consider how your location will affect/influence your color palette (which ties into wardrobe below!).
3. WARDROBE
There are so many ways one can approach their wardrobe choices for an engagement session, but my most important recommendation is to make the decision which will best aid in you being comfortable and feeling your most confident. That said, as this is an extension of sorts of your wedding, it is advantageous to view your engagement session as an opportunity to get dressed up and done up!
When choosing attire, consider the environment you’ll be in and make color choices that will complement the scenery, not blend into it so much that you don’t stand out. As an example, if your engagement session is going to be in a lush green forest, shades of blue or white will pop! If in the desert, black is fantastic (black is always fantastic honestly!).
Last to consider is making sure that whatever you choose to wear, you will not be uncomfortable (whether physically or emotionally) and that you won’t feel hindered in any way while moving during your session. Discomfort or feeling uncomfortable in general can potentially lead to not feeling as present and involved and the last thing you want is to be frustrated or uncomfortable!
4. TIME OF DAY
A talented photographer can make magic any time of day; and using various lighting conditions can add a little extra something to your session. That said, harsh midday sun will yield an entirely different look in comparison to the ever so popular golden hour light of sunset (my favorite with it’s gorgeous, buttery warmth!)
The other thing to consider is how much time you’ll have during your session. If your session is in the morning, you may want to keep it a bit earlier so you don’t have to worry about the rising sun causing bad shadows. If your session is later in the afternoon and you want to take advantage of golden hour, be mindful of how quickly it gets dark after sunset.
5. HAVE FUN!
This is one of the main goals after all!! And it will show in your photos because natural smiles and laughter will always shine through. Ideas to consider-
Bring a fur baby or 2!
Include items which yield special meaning or are sentimental
DANCE!!!!!!!
Don’t be afraid to tell jokes!
Whisper sweet nothings that will cause a great response!
Play music! Use your phone or a portable speaker to throw on your favorite songs.
There is always much to consider for your engagement session. So be sure to consider what makes you happy, think about your style and how you want to be represented in your photos and then discuss it all with your photographer!!!!