4 Tips to Prepare for and Have the Best Engagement Session
Lisa & Cody celebrating their engagement // Vanessa Lee Photo
If you’re reading this, it probably means that you just got engaged — woohoo!
One of the most fun times during your engagement will be your engagement photoshoot (also known as an engagement session). You’ll get to celebrate your engagement, show off the ring, and maybe for the first time in your relationship have professional photos taken!
Most photographers will offer an engagement session as part of their wedding packages so typically you’ll book this vendor early on (9-12 months pre-wedding!). This session is the perfect opportunity to get more comfortable in front of the camera and get to know your photographer, plus, you’ll be so excited to have all those cute photos for your save-the-date, holiday card, and, of course, posting all over your social media.
Your photographer will likely share their own tips to get camera-ready, but as a wedding planner who loves seeing your engagement photos, here’s a bit of advice to help you have the best engagement sesh!
1 — Choose a location that is meaningful to you.
Lizzy & Cory’s north shore engagement shoot in Duluth, MN // MR Photography
When you choose a location that is meaningful to you and your partner, the feelings and memories from that place will make the photos that much more sentimental. It could be where you met, where you had your first date, where your partner proposed, or somewhere you like to hangout and spend time together (like a library or a brewery). Your photos will feel very “you” and looking back on them will remind you of those other moments you’ve shared at the same special place!
2 — Consider somewhere with a similar vibe to your wedding style or venue aesthetic.
Alex & Rachel chose an industrial studio in Minneapolis for their engagement session // Photos by Kathy
If you’re having an outdoor wedding, you might want to have your engagement photos taken in the woods surrounded by pine trees or in a garden. If your vibe is more modern or industrial, maybe you want your photos taken downtown on the city streets or in a glam hotel lobby. Or you could choose a bowling alley or the fairgrounds for something more playful or retro. You can sometimes even have your photos taken at your venue!
Of course, you can have your session wherever, whether it ties into your wedding vision or not. It’s all about what’s important to you. And, your photographer will for sure have recommendations for their favorite local spots!
3 — Wear what you already own and feel comfortable in.
Abby & Will’s woodsy engagement session // Michaela Paige Photo
Don’t stress about going out and buying new clothes for your engagement shoot. You 100% already have something that looks great on you and makes you feel confident. Too many couples feel pressured to “dress up” or buy something “wedding-y.” You might find a super cute dress to order online and it might be super cute in person, too, but maybe it just doesn’t feel like you or it’s not comfortable to move in. If it feels more like your “dressing the part” rather than dressing how you normally would… don’t do it.
During your engagement photo shoot, the last thing that you want is to feel uncomfortable or be questioning how you look in your new outfit. Your photographer will have you posing with a variety of angles and movements (walking, bumping hips, being lifted up, piggy-back, sitting together, etc) and if you feel uncomfortable or are squirming in your outfit, it will show on camera.
Ultimately, buying a new outfit for engagement photos tends to be an additional expense for something you probably will not wear again. So, pick your favorite well-loved outfits from your closet!
4 — Don’t wait to book your engagement session.
Photographers often book months in advance so get on their calendar as soon as you’ve decided what season you prefer for engagement photos. To determine when to have your engagement photos taken, you should consider what you want to wear and what you plan to use your photos for. If you have a favorite flannel, plan a fall engagement session so you can crunch in the leaves! If you have a favorite sundress, a summer session on the beach would be perfect!
Perhaps more important than the season will be if you have any pending plans for using these photos. If you plan to use your engagement photos for holiday cards, do you prefer having photos taken in the winter once there’s a bit of snowfall? If you want to send save the dates asap and use one of your photos, you’re going to need to schedule your engagement session asap whether or not you like the season! Always be sure to communicate with your photographer about your desired season and any time-sensitive needs. They will be able to let you know the latest you can book your session to allow enough turnaround time to edit and deliver your photos.
Your engagement session is such a fun way to celebrate yourselves and your future ahead! So, take a lil’ break from wedding planning and make a date night out of it. We can’t wait to see your photos!
If you’re looking for support throughout your wedding planning process, HappiLily Events is ready to help! We have professional planning tools to keep you organized, detailed planning guides with our best advice, and a list of amazing wedding photographers we’d love to recommend!
