How to Prepare for Your Engagement Photos (8 Tips From a Wedding Photographer)
Wondering how to prepare for your engagement photos? You’ve come to the right place for answers!
As a Minneapolis-St. Paul, wedding photographer, I wanted to create an easy-to-follow guide to help you prepare for your engagement session, including tips on what to wear from what to bring to your session.
Let’s dive into what you need to know.
How to Prepare for Your Engagement Photos
Here are my top tips on how to prepare for your engagement session:
Include a favorite activity
While I love engagement sessions in the park, downtown, and other locations, I also suggest adding a favorite activity to your session. This will help make the session feel more natural and put you and your partner at ease.
Plus, there are many fun activities we could add, such as visiting your favorite coffee shop, browsing books at the local bookstore, or playing games at the arcade. Anything you and your partner enjoy doing together is perfect for your session!
Book professional hair and makeup
This isn’t an absolute must, but I recommend booking professional hair and makeup for my couples for a couple of different reasons, one of which is that it serves as a good trial run for your wedding.
Also, it takes one less thing off your to-do list on the day of your engagement session, and it’s a great confidence booster!
Get your ring cleaned
This is a big one! We want your ring to sparkle in your session, and you might be surprised by how quickly your ring can get dirty. It is best practice to have it polished beforehand.
Don’t show up to your session on an empty stomach
Drink plenty of water before your session and make sure you have something to eat – even if you’re nervous. Trust me, you’ll have more energy and a much more enjoyable experience when you’re not hungry.
I’d also recommend bringing water with you to your session, especially if you are going to be walking around outdoors. You can even pack some small snacks like granola bars to snack on throughout the photoshoot!
Bring significant items to your session
One of the best ways to make an engagement session feel authentic and truly encapsulate your unique love story is by bringing meaningful items with you, such as jewelry, a favorite book, or a sentimental gift from your partner.
Additionally, if you have a pet, they can also be a part of your session. Please let me know beforehand, and I would personally recommend bringing a trusted friend/family member to take care of them when they’re not in front of the camera.
Choosing your outfits
One of the most common questions my clients ask me is, “What should we wear to our engagement session?” First and foremost, when it comes to choosing outfits, pick whatever you feel most comfortable and confident in. Making sure that you’re comfortable in whatever you choose to wear is essential! It will definitely show up in your photos if you’re uncomfortable.
Remember, when it comes to choosing your outfits, there are no hard and fast rules that you have to follow. I’ve included here for you some tips to help guide you, but you can take them or leave them. Also, as your engagement photographer, I’m always here to help you choose what to wear, too!
- Consider your location – I like to recommend to my couples picking outfits that go well color-wise with their engagement session location. Also, make sure you consider the weather and season too, and dress accordingly!
- Bring two outfits, one that’s more casual and one that’s more formal, to have variety
- Choose a color palette. Picking a color palette before your engagement session makes choosing what to wear a lot easier! I typically suggest to the couples I work with to choose a color palette a) that they like and b) that suits the location they’ve chosen for their session. I’ve found that neutral colors work really well with natural settings.
Outfit ideas
When it comes to outfit ideas, I’ve seen it all. I’ve had couples that have worn their favorite sports team jersey, formal wear, and others who have worn cultural outfits. You could also choose to wear matching hats, a favorite band t-shirt, clothes with fringe or sequins, outfits with bright pops of colors – you get to pick!
Also, when it comes to outfit ideas, another unique idea to try is having a theme for your session and centering your outfits around it!
Checking the weather beforehand is also super important, especially if you are going to be outside for your session. Layers are your best friend to make sure you aren’t too hot/cold throughout the shoot.
For colder weather, I would definitely recommend wearing a base layer. Not only will this keep you warm, but it also gives you more flexibility in what you can wear without having to wear a bulky jacket.
During the warmer months, sticking to lighter, more breathable fabrics is going to make the session so much better. Getting overheated can definitely dampen the mood, and you want to be as comfortable as possible!
Overall, there is no rule for what you can or can’t wear. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident in your outfit. If you are wearing a new outfit, try wearing it around the house a bit beforehand so you know you can move around in it comfortably.
While it may seem like a small thing, if you are uncomfortable with what you are wearing or don’t feel totally confident in it, it can be noticeable in the photos. This is a time to really just celebrate you and your partner, so set aside anyone else’s expectations for what you think this session should look like and have fun with it!
Have fun with your session
This is my most important tip I can share with you! Your engagement session isn’t meant to be too serious. This is such an exciting time in your and your partner’s lives, and an engagement session is about celebrating this moment. You and your partner should be enjoying yourselves.
Another way to make your session even more fun? Turn it into a date afterwards. Head to your favorite restaurant or favorite local spot and enjoy each other’s company!
Additional engagement session tips
Here are a few more tips I wanted to share with you so you can have the best session possible
- Bring along a pair of comfortable shoes for your session
- Moisturize your skin
- Get a good night’s sleep
- If you’re doing your own hair/makeup, make sure you do a trial run prior to your session
- Bring along an essentials kit (first aid items, makeup, hair pins, mini hairspray, etc.)
Ready to Book Your Engagement Session?
I hope you found all these tips on how to prepare for your engagement photos helpful. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can easily come back to it as the date for your session gets closer!
Are you still searching for a Minneapolis-St. Paul wedding photographer for your session? I’d love to connect! I truly understand that your engagement session should be one-of-a-kind and special to you and your partner, and I’d love to learn more about your love story and photograph the little moments of your love.
Click here to get in touch with me or here to learn more about my services!
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