How to Prepare for your Engagement Photo Session
Engagement photos are some of my favorite photos. It’s typically more relaxed that your wedding as we have time to get to know each other and have fun getting images that represent you as a couple. As you prepare for your engagement session, here are some key tips I recommend keeping in mind.
Choose a location for a vibe, not just a landmark:
Think about the locations that are meaningful to you as a couple, or that reflect your personalities. This could be a park, beach, or even your own home. Here in the Bay area, we have so many touristy areas that frankly, get a little overcrowded with tourists and photo sessions.
Because of this, I love recommending either choosing a spot that gives you the vibe you love but is less likely to be so busy you have people in the background of every photo or having a longer session with multiple locations so you can get a great representation of the local character and time to just focus on being connected with the one you love rather than thinking about the setting.
For example, you could have photos in front of the Painted Ladies near Alamo Square, but there are literally dozens of blocks in the city with beautiful buildings that have the same Victorian Look and no crowds of people from all over the world vying for the same shot.
Plan your outfits: Consider coordinating your outfits to complement each other and the location. Avoid wearing clothes with busy patterns or logos, as they can be distracting in photographs.
I love recommending shades of neutral, solid colors that aren’t too distracting. You still want the focus to be on you and your love, not just on the clothing. I also recommend having a dressier outfit and an outfit that represents you on a typical day so you get some variety in your look. Architectural settings tend to pair very well with dressier looks and outdoorsy, natural settings go well with more every-day looks.
Make a list of any specific style of shots you want: Do you prefer action or lifestyle photos, more traditional poses or a bit of both? Make note of what type of images you prefer and go over this with your photographer ahead of time to ensure you get the shots you want. I love giving my clients a diverse selection of creative editorial images and adding in some more traditional images as well so you always have plenty of options to choose from.
Practice your poses: It can be helpful to practice posing in front of a mirror or with a friend to get a feel for what looks natural and comfortable so you aren’t guessing at what type of smile you like best during your session. I love focusing on the natural connection so “smiling for the camera” usually isn’t the focus of my work, but I do want you to feel comfortable and know that you’ll be happy with your smile, so it never hurts to practice.
Get your hair and makeup done professionally: If you want to look your best in your engagement photos, consider getting your hair and makeup done professionally. This can help you feel more confident and relaxed during the photo session. It’s okay to do a little more makeup for your engagement session than you would for a normal day. Just like actors wear more makeup when filming scenes for TV or movies, your makeup will look more subdued in the photos than it likely looks to the naked eye.
Love the look of false eyelashes? Go for it! You just want to make sure you’re accentuating the features you naturally like and feel good about the overall look, even if it’s a bit more than what you would wear on the daily.
Relax and have fun: The most important thing is to relax and have fun during the photo session. This will help you feel more comfortable and natural in front of the camera, resulting in more genuine and authentic photos. I always tell people that how you feel will inevitably come through in your images. Of course it’s partially my job to direct you with ways of interacting that feel natural and comfortable for you, but the quicker you can orient and be present, the more you will LOVE your photos.
The way I try to direct is by giving you things to do together, and ways to interact with each other. So while I’m the photographer, you’re not really focused on me and my camera for most of the session, but rather on connecting with the one you love most. If you can do that, I’ll be able to get some stunning images, and you’ll have a great time and get photos you’ll enjoy looking at because they are true to who you are as a couple.
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The Top 6 Questions Your Should Ask A Wedding Photographer before Booking,
Your wedding day photographer is the one wedding creative who is with you your whole wedding day. They are the ones you hire to tell your whole story. You want to know that you trust them completely and know that they will see your wedding day as you envisioned it.
These 6 questions are designed to help you understand if the photographer you’re talking is a good fit for YOU.
