Engagement photos are a great way to announce your engagement and to use for your wedding website or save the dates. This post will go over engagement photo tips for all stages of the process.
Before Engagement Photos
Booking
Before booking an engagement photographer, book your wedding photographer. This doesn’t have to be the same person but there are few reasons why you’ll want them to be the same.
Some wedding photographers offer free or discounted engagement sessions so why pay for two separate photographers? This is potentially a nice wedding cost savings. You’ll also want to get a chance to work with your photographers before the big day to get comfortable with each other. They are sharing one of your most important days so you’ll feel more comfortable having met them first.
Picking A Date & Time
Sometimes the photographer is pretty booked up if it’s wedding season so you might not have a say with an exact date. When you’re picking a date for your engagement photos you’ll want to avoid rainy seasons or the heat of summer.
When deciding between time of day the question here is: sunrise or sunset?
Waking up early might not be your thing. Are your eyes even open enough at that time? We did ours for sunrise, it made for great lighting and we were not at all rushed. Sunsets at golden hour make for gorgeous photos but once that sun sets your session is pretty much over. Some people might feel rushed.
Picking an Outfit
When picking an outfit choose comfort first and foremost. You’ll be moving around and if you really want to diversify your poses wear something you feel good in and feel comfortable in. For the ladies, long flowy dress options are nice and add movement to the photos. If you’re wanting to be picked up or twirled around avoid short dresses where you’ll feel self conscious.
You don’t have to wear white for your engagement photos. You’ll be wearing white throughout all your wedding events all year. Pick a color you look great in, avoid crazy patterns or strong pops of colors that distract from your faces. You’ll want to coordinate with each other but not match.
Ask your photographer if they allow an outfit change so you have some options.
Look Your Best, Feel Your Best
You’re going to have these photos forever. Treat yourself to all things beauty before. Get a fresh haircut or color, get manicures because you’ll definitely be getting close ups of that ring. Treat yourself to a facial, because why not? Have your hair and makeup done if you want. You could even try to line up your hair and make up trials for your wedding day with your engagement photos. Kill two birds with one stone.
Do Your Research
Decide what you want your photos to look like. Head on over to Pinterest and decide what you want your engagement photos to look like. Do you like city vibe, beach photos, walks in nature? Do you have specific shots that you know you want? Write it down and share it with your photographer. Use this photographer planning checklist to write down a list of shots you definitely want to have.
During Engagement Photos
It’s hard to feel comfortable or natural in front of a camera. That’s why you’re getting practice before your wedding day. Try your best to pretend that the camera is not even there. Try to be in the moment with your fiance and just HAVE FUN! Movement is the key to natural, great photos.
Lastly, trust your photographer. You picked your photographer for a reason, they’ll deliver.
After Engagement Photos
When you get your photos back, wait to look at them together. Make a date night out of it. Grab some wine, cuddle up on the couch, order take out, whatever you decide, make it about you and experience them together. Also, be sure to view them on a computer rather than on your phone.
Keep this post of engagement photo tips handy to make the most of your experience. They are photos you’ll cherish forever.