6 TIPS FOR AMAZING
ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
How to rock your engagement photo session
and have fun doing it!
and have fun doing it!
CONGRATS, YOU’RE ENGAGED! — NOW WHAT?
It’s an exciting time but it can also be an overwhelming time. After all, now you have a wedding to start planning! But first, stop. There will be plenty of time to worry about flowers and cakes and dresses. So take a breath and enjoy this feeling right now. One of the best ways to enjoy this time is to have an engagement photo session. We love engagement sessions! Not only are they super fun, but they also give you a chance to work with your wedding photographer ahead of time so you’ll be much more comfortable and at ease on your wedding day!
Here are some of our top tips for making sure you get the best results possible and enjoy yourselves doing it.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION…
One of the first things you’ll want to decide on is a location for your engagement photo session. Luckily, here in Northern Colorado we have tons of fantastic spots to choose from. It all comes down to your personalities and what you want the look and feel of your photos to be. Are you an outdoorsy couple who wants to go up to the mountains? Want more of an urban feel with old buildings in Old Town Fort Collins, Downtown Loveland or even Denver? Or maybe you just love tall grassy fields and trees? Also consider if there is a place that has special meaning to the two of you — perhaps where you first met or got engaged. Talk through these things with your photographer beforehand. They should be able to listen and help make suggestions. For example, we recommend having two different locations that are near each other, like starting in an urban area and then heading to nearby park for some awesome sunset photos! This allows for more variety within a reasonable timeframe.
WHEN TO HAVE YOUR SESSION…
The great thing about engagement sessions is that often you have your choice of when to do them. A lot of couples will have them done right away, and that’s great. You’ve just gotten engaged, it’s exciting, and you want to let all your friends know! But don’t feel like you have to have your engagement photos taken immediately. If there is a specific season you’d prefer as a backdrop — think winter snow, spring flowers, or fall leaves — then wait a while. Also think about the time of day. We try to plan sessions for the last hour and a half or so of daylight. This way, most of the session gets that beautiful end-of-day lighting and we can get in some sunset photos (did we mention we love sunsets?!). That also means the timing of your session can vary greatly, so be prepared; during the winter months this might mean taking off work early, since you would be starting earlier in the afternoon. Another important factor to consider is whether you are planning to use these photos for Save The Date cards. Those generally need to be sent out at least 6 months prior to the wedding, so you’ll want to plan accordingly.
WHAT TO WEAR…
Don’t be afraid to look hot! Wear outfits you feel great wearing. That confidence and comfort will definitely show in your photographs. Try to wear outfits in the same color family. This doesn’t mean you have to be too matchy-matchy — in fact we usually advise against matching outfits — but just try not to clash. A brightly-colored dress with polka dots won’t look great with an earth-tone plaid shirt. That being said, don’t be afraid of color. Fun, colorful outfits add an extra pop to your pictures. These photos will reflect who you are, so feel free to express your style and show everyone who you are! Bring different outfits, but just know that too many wardrobe changes will cut into our shooting time. We like to recommend choosing two options: one more casual, and one maybe a little dressier. If you want to change up a look quickly and easily, consider different shirts or tank tops that can be layered with jackets, scarves, jewelry, and a quick shoe change. This will give you more variety in your photos without having to take up time with full on wardrobe changes. Wear cute shoes. Details like your shoes can make or break an outfit, so think head-to-toe. Bright flats, bold flips flops, and your favorite Converse are all great options!
GENERAL SESSION PREP…
Show up on time. We like to plan sessions for that beautiful end-of-day light, which means we’re on the sun’s timeline. If the session starts late, we can’t get that time back at the end. Be sure that your hair and makeup are done. Ladies, this could possibly be a great opportunity to do a trial run with a hair and makeup artist that you’re considering for the wedding day. Bring along your makeup for touch-ups throughout the session, as well as tools for quick fixes to your hair between locations (hair spray, brush, comb, etc). If your hair is very long, you might want to bring some clips, bobby pins, hair bands, or cute head bands to pull your hair back if it starts bugging you or if you just want to change up your look. There will be close up hand photos (you’ll want to show off that ring!) so make sure that your nails are either free of polish or freshly polished. Guys, we don’t expect you to run out and get a manicure, but be sure your nails are clean and free of peeling cuticles. In other words, no working on the car a half hour before the session. And lastly, bring lip balm — you’ll be kissing a lot!
FURRY FRIENDS…
Lots of people like to include their pets in some of their photos, and we love it! If that’s something you’d like to do, just make sure pets are allowed at the specific locations you’ll be using, and that you follow any leash laws if applicable. Also, it’s helpful to bring along a friend who can look after your pet when they aren’t part of the photo.
AND FINALLY… HAVE FUN!
The best advice we could give you for your session is to be yourselves and have fun with it! It’s not every day that you get to spend an hour or more staring into each other’s eyes, holding hands, hugging, kissing, and enjoying each other — so take advantage of that time! Our goal is for our clients to forget we’re even there. We just want to capture photos of you being genuine and being together. So forget about the camera and just let loose. When you’re comfortable enough to do that, the best photos are usually created!
We hope you’ve found these tips helpful!
Check out our portfolio to see more engagement photos
or send us a quick message if you’d like to know more about our engagement and wedding photography.