How to Prepare for Your Engagement Session | Wedding Photographer

So your engagement photo session is coming up, and I’m sure you’re super excited! I LOVE these sessions for so many reasons. Who doesn’t want to spend 1-2 hours goofing off with the person you love most in the world??? 

But you may also have some questions and thoughts swimming in your head, like… “How long is this going to last?” or “What should I wear?” or “Ugh, I hate being in front of the camera…how am I going to look relaxed and natural?”

I get it… these sessions can be a little unnerving since it’s (likely) your first time having them taken. So I’ve got some tips for you as you start getting ready for your engagement session.

Tips for your Nerves

This is a great time to get comfortable with your wedding photographer.  Keep in mind that your engagement photo shoot is the perfect time to get you comfortable with working with your photographer. Because… whether you realize it yet or not… your photographer is going to spend a lot of time with you on your wedding day, one of the biggest days of your life. It’s so important to be comfortable around this person.

Your professional photographer knows what he or she is doing. If you’ve hired a professional photographer, he or she is going to know how to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. In fact, your photographer will likely have some tricks up her sleeve that will make you so comfortable you won’t even realize what she’s up to.

Tips on What to Wear to Your Engagement Session

1. Coordinate your colors, but avoid being too matchy-matchy. Neutrals are always a safe bet, but if one of you wants to wear a pop of color… that’s fine! Just make sure the other person isn’t also wearing a pop color, too, or you’ll risk it being “too much”.
2. Choose colors that you love and that look good on you.
3. Choose styles that you love and that look good on you. These photos are going to last forever, so you don’t want to look back and regret wearing something.
4. Try to avoid patterns and anything with a logo because both of those can be super distracting in photos.
5. Confirm with your photographer if you have time for 2 outfits, and if so, consider having one of the outfits be more casual and the other more dressy.
6. Talk with your photographer about where you’re going to take the photos. Downtown? Inside? Outside? In a field? At a lake? Mountains? Beach? Make sure the clothes you wear reflect the location to at least some degree.

If you’ve been eyeing an outfit from Anthropologie, and you JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT, this is your excuse to buy it 😉

Tips for the Ladies

Hair and Makeup: This is a great chance for you to have your hair and makeup done by the same person you’d like to take care of you on your wedding day. Just like your engagement photo session helps you get to know your photographer, having your hair and makeup done for your engagement photos can help you get to know your Hair and Makeup Artist. But also know that the service you receive for your engagement session is not going to be the same service you receive on your wedding day.

Nails: You’ve got a new ring on your finger, and this is the time to show it off! Your photographer is going to take a lot of close-up shots of your hands and ring… so make sure you get a good manicure!

Shoes: Bring an extra pair of shoes in case you’re going to do a lot of walking for your session… that way if you have on heels or wedges, you can take them off before walking to the next photo spot.

Tips for the Guys

Hair and Facial Hair: Don’t do anything crazy with your hair and facial hair in the week or so leading up to your engagement photo session. 

Nails: You may not have a new ring on your finger, but that doesn’t mean your photographer won’t be getting close-up shots of your hands. So make sure your hands and fingernails are clean and groomed.

An Extra Tip for Both of You

Since you’re already dressed up and lookin’ good… turn this into a date, and go out for dinner and drinks after your photo session!

When all is said and done, your engagement shoot is supposed to be fun and enjoyable! If all else fails, pretend it’s just you and your significant other and enjoy the time together! 

You may also be interested in When to Schedule Your Engagement Session.