Congratulations! You’re engaged! I am so genuinely excited for you both. So what’s the next step? Your engagement photos of course! Engagement sessions are so much fun and you can really make them unique to you and your relationship, but the trick is preparing for them properly. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to create the perfect engagement session, unique to you!
Book Your Photographer And Set A Date
The very first step in the process of creating the perfect engagement session includes finding a photographer that meets your needs and vision. There are thousands of photographers out there, and every single one of them has a different style and approach to taking a couple’s photos. This is not meant to overwhelm you!
Even though photographers have different styles and approaches, most photographers can fit into three different categories to describe their work: dark and moody, light and airy, or true to color. These three categories describe editing style, and while they are pretty broad categories, some photographers cross the lines a bit (for example, a photographer can have a darker editing style but still be true to color). My style is pretty self explanatory, but I lean more towards a dark and moody style with muted but natural colors.
Another way to describe the different approaches to creating beautiful images is shooting style, which is basically the way the photographer composes the image and directs the couple. Some photographers are crisp, clean, and posed, while others enjoy adding a bit of texture and blur to describe movement in the image. All of these factors work together to create beautiful images, so it is super important for you to find a photographer that meshes with your style as well.
A couple of questions to ask yourself as you search for a photographer could include: Do you like the messy, in-between moment type photos that tell a story, or do you lean more towards crisp, clean, perfectly coordinated images? Are you in between the two? Are you more drawn to images that are lighter or darker, lighthearted or dramatic?
Once you find the perfect photographer that matches your style and is available on your preferred date, it’s time to book and move along in the planning process!
Adventure or Chill Date?
You’ve found the perfect photographer, now it’s time to get down to the basics of your engagement session vision. The options are endless, the sky’s the limit! Think about how you want your engagement session to look. Are you thinking that you’d like to go on a fun adventure, or do you want to keep it cozy and casual? Do you want it to look dramatic and romantic, or sweet and fun? Below are a few different ideas of what you can do for your engagement session.
The Adventure Packed Session
#1 Head out on an off-roading adventure to a remote spot, and take photos along the way to document the adventure. Arrive at a stunning spot, change into something a bit more formal and take dramatic sunset photos overlooking the mountains.
#2 Hike to a gorgeous location, taking photos along the way to document. Arrive at the beautiful location, and take some breathtaking photos during golden hour.
When it comes to adventure packed engagement sessions, the options really are endless. Think about what you both love doing the most, and turn it into a fun date! (rock climbing, horseback riding, hiking, skydiving, off-roading, kayaking, etc).
The Sweet Casual Session
#1 Take some intimate, sweet in-home photos that describe who you are in your home. Have a pillow fight, bake something sweet, or just chill with a cup of coffee. These photos are meant to display your relationship in a fun, sweet, intimate way.
#2 Head to a beautiful location and take some fun, casual photos during golden hour. These sessions are usually filled with laughs, and you can add something fun such as a picnic or bonfire. Maybe even pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate your engagement!
location, location, location!
Location is everything, it sets the style of the shoot — whether dramatic or sweet — and really makes the photos, and the entire experience for that matter, special. When deciding on location, it is important to think about logistics and how difficult it is to get there, but also think about what kind of ties you have to the location. It could be a coffee shop where you had your first date, it could be where you did your first hike together, it could be in your home, or even just at a beautiful lake or overlook in the mountains.
Locations that are tied to past memories, or locations that spark emotions that create new memories, turns a simple photoshoot into an experience that you will never forget.
As you can see, location is everything, which is why I have a massive list of tons of different beautiful locations for you to choose from if you don’t already have a spot in mind.
Plan Your Outfits: Coordinating With Your Location
Along with location, your outfit is equally as important when planning your engagement session. By this point you have probably decided what style of shoot you are going for, and you most likely have also chosen your location. Your next step is deciding what you’ll wear, but there are a few things you need to consider before you decide.
Colors: Bright or Neutral
When choosing what you’ll wear, colors are super important to consider. Think about what season it is and also your location. I always encourage my couples to go with something neutral, or choose colors that are softer and not as distracting. When you look at your photos you want to see emotion, not a hot pink or neon orange dress. Don’t get me wrong, I love bright colors, but in engagement photos you want your eyes to go straight to the people, not the clothes.
In some instances when a couple has chosen a location that is a relatively blank canvas (such as Great Sand Dunes National Park), it can be fun to go for a brighter color like a rich red or sapphire blue. Think about how your clothes coordinate with your location; for example, if you’ve chosen to take photos in an aspen grove in September, go for something with texture like a cozy knit sweater in a warm color. Another example is if you have decided to hike to a lake in the mountains, maybe go for something more dramatic to match the landscape (maybe a flowing dress in a jewel tone).
Patterns
Another thing I always encourage couples to stay away from are big, distracting patterns like stripes or other crazy patterns. Like I said earlier, be careful about choosing clothes that distract. If you are going to go for a pattern, stick to smaller prints, and think about your location and feel of the shoot.
Great examples of when to wear patterns is if your location has more of a blank canvas such as a beach, sand dunes, or a urban cityscape.
Flexibility: Is It Easy To Move Around In?
Before finalizing what you’ll wear to your engagement session, one more thing to consider is how comfortable and flexible your outfit is. You will be doing a lot of moving around, walking, running, and even hiking in these clothes, so definitely keep that in mind. If you are hiking to a lake or walking through a forest, I would not recommend wearing heels ladies. Before your engagement session, try your clothes on and try sitting, moving, and jumping around a little bit. Getting in front of a camera is already hard enough, so be sure you are comfortable and feel great in your chosen clothing options. Also consider packing a few different options such as a casual outfit and then something more dramatic so you have two different looks.
Enjoy every moment, and have fun!
Now that you have gone through every step, it’s time to take some photos! Engagement sessions are so much fun, think of it like a cool date with a third wheel (AKA, me). A couple things to keep in mind at your engagement session:
1. Be present with one another, don’t let the camera distract you.
2. Keep moving, the more you move the less stiff and awkward you’ll feel. Don’t worry, I’ll guide you into subtle, comfortable poses that look amazing!
3. If you get caught up in the moment and feel like kissing, twirling around, or dancing, do it! Enjoy the moment, get caught up in one another!