We’re so excited for your engagement session! Doing engagement photos isn’t just about getting images for your save the date cards. These photos will be timeless, because they will capture you and your other half in a more natural, relaxed setting. In addition, engagement sessions are a fantastic way for us to get to know each other a little better before your big day. We’ll test out some poses and get to know your personalities a little more, which will make your wedding day photos go a whole lot smoother. We’ve created this guide to help you get the most out of your photos, and by the time you’ve read through this, you'll have all (if not most) of your questions answered and feel more than ready and prepared for your session. From there, we’ll take care of the rest! Your only job is to be yourself, laugh a lot, and let us create photos you’ll love forever. We can’t wait!
1. Wear something COMFORTABLE! You want to feel good through the shoot because we're going to be walking, running, dancing, jumping, spinning, laughing, twerki- ...you get the idea! Wear something that makes you feel good and happy, but also take into consideration that this is a photo session, and will probably be shared and printed to hang on your walls. The last thing you want to do is look back at your photos and ask yourself "Why did I wear that?!"
2. Have options! Bring different layers and options in the car to pull and choose from, you can change as many times as you want. This works great since we’ll be changing locations often and it will add a lot of variety to your images!
3. Choose clothing that compliments your personality. Make sure your clothes look like YOU and fit your personality. We don't want you to go out of your way to wear something bold and different for the sake of taking photos.
4. Coordinate your clothing with each other. Wear clothes that are the same level of “dressyness,” and wear similar shades that compliment each other. Choose clothes that look best on you. For example, in the winter, the following colors look great together: navy, gray, maroon, cream/khaki. In the summer, the following colors look great together: white, cream/khaki, light blue. Try not to match the same colors (top vs top / bottom vs bottom) as you are aiming to contrast with your partner.
5. Choose clothes to compliment your location. Sticking to neutral colors and earth tones work well with any landscape. These are personally our favorites! Nothing too bright and loud unless that’s the look we’re going for. Also, consider wearing something classic that will remain timeless in your photos.
Long, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature. Cute, shorter-length dresses photograph beautifully as well. Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! We recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress or two.
As you’re coordinating your outfit with your fiance’s, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palettes coordinate, but don’t necessarily “match”. You should each aim to wear a different dominant color, but stay within a similar color palette family. So if you’re wearing a blush dress, soft blue earrings and nude heels (blush being your dominant color), then he could wear a navy coat with gray pants, paired with brown leather shoes and maybe even a blush pocket square. Now he has his own dominant color (navy) while still incorporating a few touches of your color palette. Normally, the female will choose their dress first and then put together their fiance’s outfit based on that! Instead of buying new clothes for the photoshoot, consider renting a dress. This is a more affordable alternative than buying an expensive dress. Here are a few links that rents dresses at a great price. You can also just google search dress rentals.
WeAreReclamation
POSHARE
RentTheRunway
Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images. Big statement necklaces bring a lot of pop to the photos, while the smaller, delicate ones are not be as noticeable on camera. Belts, bracelets and earrings bring great visual interest, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention. Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be a really romantic touch as well.
In our experience, every woman, regardless of her shape has an area of her body that she may be self-conscious about, so recognizing what area that is in advance is key. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos.
Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, so be on the lookout for an option with a longer length sleeve. You could also bring a cute jacket, blazer or cardigan along, too. Skinny straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on arms on camera, so we recommend avoiding those whenever possible if your goal is a set of slimmer-looking arms.
Quick Tip: Bring a pair of easy-to-kick-off flats to wear when moving from place to place in between photos. Your feet will thank you later!
I strongly recommend every girl to get their makeup professionally done for their engagement photos! It's a small investment that helps you feel confident, which in turn yields results in your pictures. Makeup artists also know all the right tricks for even skin tones and perfect application — all things if not done right, the camera is really good at picking up. Take some time to spoil yourself a little; you'll enjoy these images forever. We always suggest doing your makeup trial the day of your engagement session, but your hair trial will depend on how you are having your hair styled. If you are having long waves, then this could be great for your engagement session, but if you are having an elegant updo, then it might not be the style you are going for with your engagement portraits. Schedule your makeup and hair with the same people that you plan to do your wedding. Your makeup will most likely vary from your engagement session to your wedding, but you will be able to get to know your makeup artist and get a taste for their style. You could ask for natural-looking makeup and a casual blowout, beach wave, or soft ponytail - you can select any hair and makeup look you love, but the benefit of having a professional handle its execution is that it'll translate beautifully in photos. A professional knows just how much to apply for the camera so that you look your best. As they say, look good, feel good!
Long pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. So for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts, sandals and jeans at home, too. Suit pants, dress pants or colored pants work best. Brown leather dress shoes complement almost every look whether you are wearing a full suit or a blazer and colored pants. If you're going for a more casual look – nice dark jeans / chinos, collared shirt and a loose tie. A jacket or outer layer to finish it off.
Next time you walk by a store like J. Crew, you’ll notice the male mannequins and models are always wearing several layers at once. Layers on men look great on camera, so even when it’s hot outside, trust us when we say that it’s worth an hour or two of discomfort for photos that will last you both a lifetime. Adding another layer will bring extra dimension and visual interest to your photos. Blazers, vests and coats up the level of any look. If the temperature permits, you could even consider adding a v-neck sweater with a pop of color from a long-sleeved collared shirt and tie underneath. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with layers!
Our approach to photography leans more on the natural side, meaning we like using whats around us to make our photos stand out. We don’t mind you bringing a blanket that will compliment your photos. The blanket should be neutral in color and one you don’t mind getting a little dirty. You can also bring a champagne bottle to pop or a floral bouquet.
We mainly photograph engagement sessions using only natural light. We begin all portrait sessions approximately two hours before the scheduled sunset during “the golden hour,” when the light is the dreamiest. In other cases, we’re also down to wake up early in the morning to capture the sunrise with you guys if that’s something that interests you as well! To get the most out of your session, please plan a buffer when getting ready so you can arrive a few minutes early to your session and be ready to start on time. We’re only able to shoot optimally when natural light is still in the sky, so we definitely want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down. If you’re wearing two outfits, save your favorite one for the second half, and if you’re wearing one, arrive in that.
Choosing a location could be kind of overwhelming, but it really doesn't have to be! There's plenty of famous and renowned locations that would probably make for that great Instagram post, but guess what? Sometimes, the best engagement photos are taken in places that are meaningful / sentimental to you two. The ones that are near and dear to your heart.
So consider doing your engagement session at the restaurant you had your first date or love going to together or going to the local park where you had your first kiss or the place you officially became engaged. Enjoy the waters? Maybe a lake, beach, or nearby body of water. Enjoy hiking? How about the woods or driving to a national forest? Regardless of where you end up picking your location, just know that it's not always the location, but the person taking the photo at that location that makes it stunning. Feel free to pick our brains if you're stuck as well!
Clothing accenting your least favorite body parts: If you have certain body parts that you dislike or are uncomfortable about, don’t wear clothing that accents them. For example, if you do not like your arms, do not wear sleeveless tops or strapless dresses (this also applies to wedding gowns!). If you do not like your legs, do not wear a short skirt or a short dress. Darker colors such as navy blue or black also look great and create a slimming effect.
Fluorescent Colors: Fluorescent colors (such as bright orange) tend to color cast on faces, necks and hair. When the shirt is so bright, it often also changes the color of the person standing next to them. Trendy clothing: They will date your photos as soon as the trend goes out of style.
T-shirts and tennis shoes: This includes white t-shirts under button-up dress shirts with the top buttons undone. You don’t want a little white t-shirt peeking out above your nice dress shirt.
Large shirts that are not tucked in. For guys, it’s usually better to wear a belt if you are wearing a nice button-up shirt. Sometimes, if untucked shirts are too big or too wide, they don’t look good and are “boxy.” Fitted shirts and jackets look much better than wide boxy ones.
1. Try not to think of this as a photoshoot, but more so a date between you and your significant other. You guys are most natural in your own elements and we want to be able to capture the love that comes out when it comes down to you two. We're not here to force anything or make you do something out of you comfort zone. We're just here to tag along and capture what unfolds.
2. Have a light, but filling meal before your session. You don't want to be too bloated, but feel content enough to last a few hours. Bring water and snacks for the drive back as often times you may feel tired after moving around and smiling a lot!
3. Moisturize your skin early in the day, but not right before the shoot. You don't want your skin to look oily. Bring chapstick just incase! We're going to get close ups on them lips! Bring bobby pins, a mirror, hair spray, extra lipstick in case you might want to tidy up as the day goes by.
4. Feel awkward in front of the camera? Let us tell you right now.. just about EVERY single couple we've photographed has said the exact same thing. Just make sure you communicate with us whenever you feel uncomfortable, unnatural, or something is off. We're not mind-readers!
5. We're going to be focusing a lot on details. This means RING SHOTS! Treat yourself out to a manicure and get that ring cleaned before the shoot.
6. "We don't know how to pose" - Don't worry. Our job as professionals is to direct you and make sure you guys are comfortable. We love incorporating movement, action, and roleplay in order to bring out the natural sides of you two!
7. Have fun and be you. The results will be some pretty damn fabulous, unique, and memorable photos!
