4 Tips on How to Make the Best of Your Engagement Portraits

First let me say congrats on your engagement! I'm super excited for you guys, and I hope I can be of service to you in some way. If you’re reading this post, there’s a good chance that you’ve already decided to take engagement photos. While you're here, you'll learn how to make the best out of your portrait session. You will also learn WHY you should take Engagement Portraits if you're on the fence.

One important factor to consider when you hire your Wedding Photographer is if you will be a good fit. Outside of your wedding consultation, an Engagement Session will give you the opportunity to get to know each other in a more personal setting and build a relationship. You get a chance to see how they work, how well we understand you as a couple, and how we connect. An Engagement Session is the best way to capture that. Some couples are reserved and intimate, while some are energetic and ready to party! The more we learn about each other, the more natural and relaxed you feel.

Most couples have very little experience in front of the camera - except when it comes to family pictures and more often than not, were most likely taken ages ago! From experience, being comfortable in front of the camera doesn't come to everyone naturally (myself included), but think of it like this: your engagement session can be considered a test run before the big day. There isn't much time on your wedding day to get a lot of couple shots, you won't want to spend a great deal of time taking pictures either, and you don't want to spend time warming up and getting comfortable in front of the camera. Scheduling an Engagement Session remedies this, and it's also a good opportunity to get some beautiful portraits that can be used for different reasons: Wedding Website, Save The Dates, and printing them out to be showcased on the day of your wedding!

So how do you make the best out of an Engagement Session? Keep reading to learn more!

1. Make A Day Out Of It

Make the day of your session a Day Long Date. Start your day together, give yourself time to prepare for your session by doing a favorite activity together, or getting some brunch or coffee and invite your photographer to join. This will give you time to connect with one another and not feel rushed into the session.

2. Consider Professional Hair And Makeup For Your Shoot

Professional Photography require slightly more saturated makeup than your every day look so that you don’t get washed out in photographs. Plus, when we get our hair and makeup done, we channel our inner Beyonce and feel extra beautiful, PERIODT!

In need of an PMUA referral? I've had the experience of working with some talented professional makeup artists in the city, but my two favorites by far are Artistry by Camille and Erica Nicole.

3. Set The Scene

Location is everything. This will dictate what you wear and the look of the session. Consider what you love as a couple and let the location you choose reflect that. If you're a lover of books and coffee dates, a vintage book store that sells coffee would be a great backdrop. More of a Netflix and Chill type of couple? In-home sessions are also very intimate and comfortable. In love with nature like me? Make it a picnic date in the Botanical Gardens in City Park or at a lake at sunset. There are also the options of Private Hotels and Court Yards that give a more curated look and usually require a permit fee.

4. Wear Something That Matches Your Personality and You're Comfortable Wearing

This is pretty important. Next to setting the scene of your session, you'll want your outfits to match it. Clothes that are too tight or clingy end up being adjusted and pulled at, taking time away from actually taking pictures , or feeling uncomfortable in what you're wearing and worried about how you look in photographs, which can translate as looking uncomfortable in your photos.

Ensure your clothes are ironed/steamed ahead of time, bring flip flops if there is a lot of walking, bottled water, extra makeup for reapplication, hair products/brush, and wear something that is weather appropriate and fits your personality to tell your love story. This can be jeans, converse and a t-shirt for a more casual look, or flowing gowns and a tux for a more formal look.

Have any questions or other tips you’d like to share, comment below!