Engagement photo shoots might just be one of my favorite things to photograph. We definitely encourage all of our couples to do an engagement session with us because they are zero stress and LOTS of fun! Especially since all we do is laugh, snuggle up, and maybe be a little inappropriate.
But Judith, you say, what if I don’t like having my pictures taken?!
Have no fear! We’ve put together a list of ways to help in preparing for your engagement session!
Read on for our expert tips to make the most of this fun photo shoot!
Preparing for Your Engagement Session
Time of Day
Where we choose to do your photos will really dictate the time. But usually I recommend to couples that we aim for late afternoon, or early evening.
That hour before sunset is when all the magic happens – we call it the golden hour. And that’s where all the magic happens! So if the sun is scheduled to set at 7:30pm, then we would start our session around 6:30pm.
Making sure that everyone is there on time makes all the difference in the world!
Where Should we Go for our Session?!
I like to start by asking if there is anywhere special to you/your fiancé that comes to mind when you think about your love story. We really want to personalize this to YOU!
We also have lots of places we can recommend. If you can give us an idea of the type of background you are interested in, we can send you examples of sessions that have been done at that location:
- Uptown City (historic neighborhood, rooftop views, etc)
- Urban (colorful murals, city streets, graffiti, etc.)
- Natural / Organic (woodsy, open fields, lakes, etc.)
- Beachy (under the pier, sea grass, dunes, etc)
- Garden (parks, gardens, etc.)
- Vineyard/Brewery (winery, local brewery, etc)
- Coffee Shop/Bookstore/Library
Outfit Choices
Most of our couples have two outfits for their session. One outfit that is dressier (think button up shirt for him, and long flowing dress for her), and one outfit that’s more casual (jeans, sandals/boots, etc).
There are lots of great looks you can incorporate into your session, but I recommend one thing over all: be comfortable!
You can check out our ideas for “what to wear” via this link!
And if your looking for something fun to wear just for your engagement session, consider getting something gorgeous from Rent the Runway.
Get All Dolled Up
Preparing for your engagement session is the perfect reason to get all dolled up! This is a great excuse to get your hair and makeup professionally done. I’m telling you, those false lashes really do make your photos super glam!
Plus, you’ll have the best excuse for going out to dinner or grabbing a drink with your fiancé after we are finished taking pictures.
We’ve worked with some amazing beauty artists here in Hampton Roads, and would be happy to give you some recommendations!
Don’t Overthink Things
We want this session to be about you lovebirds, and the things that make your hearts happy.
So do you really enjoy hanging out at the local java joint? Awesome, let’s go and get you two snuggled up with a cup of joe.
A friendly game of Scrabble more your speed? We can set it up and see who’s the better orthographer.
Need more inspiration, here are just a few ideas:
- Roll up those pants and splash in the creek
- Brewery for a pint
- Putt putt golf
- Fly a kite on Mount Trashmore
- Pottery Painting
- Have a Sing-Along (complete with instruments)
- Picnic in the Park
- Snuggle In a Library
- Enjoy a Carnival
Can We Bring Our Pet?
Absolutely! Pets are part of the family too, and we love including your four-legged children in the portraits! We recommend having the pet in some photos at the beginning of the shoot, and then handing it off to someone else to go play while we finish taking pictures.
Another tip – get to the location early and let your pet run off all that extra energy. If they have a chance to go sniff everything, chances are they’re more likely to be relaxed when we take pictures.
Love What You See? Want to Have Your Own Session?!
If you’ve finished looking at this post on preparing for your engagement session and are thinking – I wanna do something like that! Awesome!!! We would LOVE to create a custom portrait session for you and the ones you love! Feel free to message me by hitting the { CONTACT ME } button or by giving me a call at 757-749-5350. I can’t wait to create some magic for you!
Leave A Comment