You’re engaged!! Holy smokes what a time to be alive!! I’m sure you’re rolling through your wedding planning list, looking at the checkbox saying “Save the Dates” or “Engagement Session” and saying “Oh shoot! We need to book those!” But how? Where do we do it? When do we do it? So many questions! Well you have come to the right place, my friend! Not only will we talk anything and everything about planning your engagement session, we will also talk about how to make your engagement session authentic and not awkward! I hear sooooo often couples say “we’re so awkward in front of the camera” or “we’ve never taken pictures of ourselves before.” Well, bestie me too. I am hella awkward in front of the camera, but great behind it! That’s why I’ve compiled this full guide to planning your authentic, storytelling, date-like engagement session!
Engagement Session 101: How to Plan your Photoshoot
Pick your vibe
First step when planning your engagement session is to pick your vibe! Do you have a favorite movie or romance book that you think “I want that.” Maybe it’s Edward and Bella laying in the lavender field from Twilight or the canoe scene from the Notebook. Go into pinterest and instead of typing in “engagement session” and seeing every engagement shoot in the history of the world pop up, type in “Twilight engagement shoot inspo” or “The Notebook engagement Shoot inspo” maybe even go into feelings like “authentic couples” or “free feeling beach couples.” Get creative with your Pinterest board! Try searching using adjectives like fun, silly, serene, calm, simple, adventurous, wet, designer, chic, modern, classic – the list goes on! Get together an entire mood board for your engagement session so you two know exactly what you’re looking for!
Vibe ✅
Pick your location
Now that you have the vibes you’re going for let’s find a location!! Is your location on the beach, in a National Park, in a neighborhood park, in a field off the side of the road, or maybe it’s in your house for pizza and game night!We’ll find the perfect spot together – one that matches your vision and creates the perfect scene for your storytelling engagement session
Location ✅
Pick your season
There are a wide range of days when you could take these engagement pictures! Think about the seasons, not only in general but as they pertain to your location! Do you want snow? If so, make sure trails or places aren’t closed during that time. Do you just want gorgeous springtime photos? Make sure you pick the time when the flowers are sure to be blooming – could be early March in the South or June in the North! Are you a sweaty person? Don’t be afraid to admit it, it’s okay, I accept you for who you are! But maybe don’t pick Louisiana in the Summer for your engagement pictures!! You don’t want to be uncomfortable, nor does your fiancé(e) so think about comfort when picking the perfect season!
Season ✅
Pick a date
Now that you have your season picked out, narrow down the date! Talk to your photographer (might I suggest me?), the location/venue and of course each other to determine the perfect date. Make sure everyone is available on that date and you all have plenty of time to get everything you need! I do highly suggest picking a day that is typically less crowded/busy, if you would like some privacy during your session – most likely a weekday!
Date ✅
Pick your outfits
Outfits are HUGE in making your engagement session feel comfortable, not awkward and seamless! Typically, you’ll want to pick something you’re comfortable in and free moving. If it’s 100 degrees outside and you’re wearing a suit, dress and heels, chances are you will be uncomfortable in 60 seconds because you’ll begin sweating before we’ve even taken a photo! If you don’t like to wear form fitting outfits – then don’t! By dressing in your normal attire, or something comfortable and flowy, you’ll be able to move around without stressing about your attire being off centered, wrinkled, or too constricting. Now if you want that designer magazine look then by all means do it! But if that’s not who you are as a couple, you will find that you will not be comfortable and that will reflect in the photos. Outfits can be anything! They don’t have to follow the stigma of dressy outfits. They can be jeans and tees, sweatpants, skirts, shorts, casual dresses, dressy dresses, khakis – really the list is endless. This is where your vibe comes into play! Follow your inspo and pick an outfit that speaks to you! Don’t force yourself into an outfit that makes you and everyone uncomfortable!
Outfits ✅
Engagement Session FAQs
Can we bring our dogs to our engagement shoot?
DUHHHHH. I love when you bring your furry friends to photoshoots! Just make sure to follow all venue/destination rules and verify that they allow animals. Most parks allow animals but have to stay on the road, not in the trails. Also most dogs will have to remain on a leash so maybe look into a neutral leash or something not crazy.
I also have had people say “I’ll bring my mom to hold the dog when we aren’t taking pictures with them.” I would HIGHLY suggest that the photoshoot just be us three! If you have friends or family around watching you, it’s harder for you to get super comfy with me and open up so I can capture those genuine emotions! I can always hold the pup or they can hang out nearby!
How far ahead of our wedding should we take our engagement photos?
This is totally up to you! If you want Save the Dates, then these need to be scheduled about 6-7 months before your wedding. Otherwise, you could do it the week before your wedding if you wanted to! It’s completely up to you. Moreso depends on the season, date, and feels you want for your photos!
How long will it take to get our engagement photos back?
It takes approximately 2-4 weeks to get your photos back!
What should we use our engagement photos for?
You could use these photos for Save the Dates, Invitations, prints on your wall, a photo album, your new facebook profile picture 🙂 You’ll have access to a print shop whenever you receive your gallery and there are plenty of options for ways you can display these photos!
Do we need permits for our engagement shoot?
Totally depends on the city and destination! Some Venues have a photography fee, which will be covered by you, and some places are free! National Parks vary for photography fees and where we can go. If you aren’t sure whether or not your destination requires a fee or permit, holler at your girl and I’ll help you look it up!
Will our Engagement shoot be awkward?
I try my damndest not to let it be! In the first 5 minutes it probably will be a little awkward as your nerves are at their peak, we just met and you’re anxious to get started. However, I’ll crack a few dad jokes, get to know you more, have the music playing and give you prompts to ease the tension! Prompts are phrases such as “Walk towards me like you’re stumbling home from the bar at 2am or in a Hallmark Christmas movie” vs saying “okay put your hand here and there and feet here and look at me and smile.” To me, poses are hella awkward but prompts help make things fun and silly and make us look like fools – but hey – we get good photos out of them! 🙂
How to make your Engagement Session Feel like a Date
My best advice? Pick something y’all do together and turn it into your photoshoot! Do you like to have pizza dates? Maybe you take out your favorite pizza and either take pictures in the restaurant or take it to a field and have a picnic! Do y’all like to go on hikes together and explore? Maybe ride bikes? Let’s do it!! Want to ride your motorcycle into the distance – done! Go to the beach, splash in the water. Spend the day at the lake house or on your boat in the water.
Do what feels right and normal to you!! That is the BEST way to capture your personality and your relationship! Photos do not have to be in a pretty garden in front of flowers (although they can), they should encompass you and show off your relationship with each other! I have a few ideas below of things you could do!
The importance of Storytelling, Authentic Engagement Photos
Why? Why not have your photos in front of flowers at the pretty garden? Because, if you and your boo are country living people, don’t put on a suit and heels that you had to buy for the shoot and walk around like that’s what you do on a normal basis! Grab your cowboy hat, go out to your farm and have a picnic, chase around the chickens, hang out together and run around the fields. I guarantee you’ll be much happier and those emotions will SHINE through the photos!
Engagement photos are about capturing YOU and your relationship in this exact moment. The job of a storytelling photographer is not to create a storyline but to bring your story to life! It’s to capture you in your elements – giddy, happy, head over heels with each other, can’t keep your hands off, excited to say “I do” selves.
Be You. Let me do the rest <3
Activities for your Engagement Session
Here are some ideas for your engagement session if you’re trying to come up with “date-like” ideas or just something different! Remember, these aren’t for everyone, these are just thoughts on how you can turn your everyday activities into your engagement photoshoot!
- Bike riding
- Pizza takeout
- Coffee dates
- Bar hopping
- Favorite Restaurant
- Sunset boat ride
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Lake house adventure
- Hiking
- Stay-at-home snuggle sesh
- Cooking Dinner with each other
- Picnic Dinner
- Hotel Pillow fight and staycation
- Skateboarding Sesh
- Motorcycle country driving
- Gardening/Fruit/Flower Picking
- Downtown city exploring
- Rooftop Garage casual
- National Park exploring
- New House bliss
- Arcade
- Game night
- Pet snuggles/dog park
- Upscale cocktail bar
- Painting
Day of Engagement Session Tips
The day is finally here! You’ve planned your photoshoot, found the perfect photographer, bought your perfect outfits and are ready to go! What can you do to prepare for your engagement session? First of all – make sure you have your engagement ring(s) cleaned and ready to go so they shine extra bright in the photos! I highly suggest turning the ENTIRE DAY into a date! Because why not? Go explore the area, grab lunch together, get ready together, go shopping – really just hang out! ~set the mood~
Another pro tip is if you are still nervous (which is totally okay and to be expected), throw back a drink or two or bring a shot to your photoshoot. Loosen up the nerves and calm yourself before – it makes a world of a difference!
Make sure you leave with plenty of time to arrive at your destination. If we are doing sunset or sunrise there is a small window to hit and if we miss it, we can’t get it back! So make sure you check travel routes, traffic and account for even more.
My final tip is to have fun. Cheesy right? But seriously, remember that these photos are about you two and the love you have for each other. It’s to capture the reason why you said yes to spending the rest of your lives together. Someday you’ll show your grandchildren, nieces and nephews these photos and they’ll be able to see how utterly in love you two were/are and it’ll be an inspiration to them! This time is about you two, so just enjoy it, let go and let me work my magic!
Here are some couples sessions and engagement session inspo!!
- Serene Couples Session at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, California
- Winter Greenwich Village Couples Session at Sunrise
- Picturesque Sunset Cape Kiwanda Elopement
