How to Best Prepare for your Engagement Shoot

Hi! If you landed here, you must be engaged, and on that note, congratulations!

Also, if you are reading this, you probably have either never done a photo shoot before and or are an anxious over-preparer like myself. All are welcome, This post is here to provide you with information on how I conduct my engagement shoots, why I do them, why I suggest all my couples do them if they can, and how to best prepare yourself for them!

So the basic answer is you show up and smile a lot, however, as a photographer, it is our job to help you bring out that fun-loving, non-awkward photo posing comfortability that makes you feel like you're just getting in some extra time with your partner.

Now, onto what you should expect for your photoshoot! As a disclaimer, this is mostly my style, other professionals may differ, but some may follow a similar format!

1. Come to have fun!

   The best way to look at this new concept of spending an hour or two making your cheeks hurt is not by thinking about how you want to look in your photos, but how you want to feel looking back at them. The best way to do this is to come in with an open mind, chapstick, because you will be practicing your pecking game and like you are on a fun date with your partner, where you get to be the main character in romcom for a few hours.

   
   

   I will help you look into your partner's eyes, like you will devour his heart and help him touch your chin and make you feel like you're in a romance novel, but most of all, I will prompt you to have natural fun that will resonate in your photos the best. Laughter isn't just the best medicine, is also gold for Photoshoots.

   
   

   

   
   

   2. Make it a Day

   This concept piggybacks on the make it a date idea, where instead of just a few hours date, you design your day around making it a special occasion in its own right. You can do this a few ways.

   1. Schedule it on the same date as your wedding, but within whatever month you want the photos done.

   2. Make the whole day a date or event, go to your favorite restaurant, have the photoshoot somewhere you have never been before, and then get to explore either during or after, or make it an activity date (my favorite), where you are getting to experience a new thing, mixed with a photoshoot.

   3. With all that being said, dont put a time cap on this experience. Personally, my engagements shoots last anywhere from 1-3 hours. This gives us time to explore the area and get to know each other, but we wouldn't be able to do that if you put a time cap on your schedule. So with that being said, give yourself the time to do this!

   
   

   

   
   

   3. Make it Personal

   Your engagement shoot is like an extension of your wedding day, whether you are using it as something to put on your Wedding website or registry or your save the dates, these photos are the first part of making your wedding an extension of both of you. How do you do this? You make it personal to your relationship. Some of my personal favorite way to do this are:

   1. Location Location Location: I shoot mostly in Colorado, so everyones favorite go to is the mountains. I mean I can't blame them they are breathtaking and fill my soul too, and that is exactly what you want when picking a location. Pick somewhere that means something to you. A favorite hiking spot, your favorite coffee shop, an ice cream place you would always get. Make it personalized to both of you, the photographer will make any location work based on your story.

   2. Bring Props: I am personally a big fan of props, because this gives me something to work with more than just the two of you. Whether it's a hat, or matching cowboy boots, your favorite beer or ice cream. A teddy bear that means the world to you both, or something that will have a peak in theme for your wedding day. Your whole shoot doesn't have to be based on these items, but these items could bring a fun element to your shoot.

   3. Make it significant: Other then props there are ways to bring out the fun in your shoot! Start practicing that dip you will make at the end of the aisle, bring a speaker and practice your first dance, play an instrument, bring that and serenade each other. Make your engagement session unique to your relationship.

      
      

      

      4. Diversify Your Options

      This is for the art of changing it up! Bring an outfit you've been dying to wear but never found the place to wear it. Bring a few different outfit options so that when you look back, you have several different options to choose from not just in the location sense. We will be prompting you along the way, but the key to an abundance of photos is to always keep playing, and keep posing and keep focusing on each other.

      
      
      

      

      
      
      

      Be Open and ready for PDA

      Obviously, your comfort is the most important thing to me, so I always check before I ask you to kiss or show affection in public; however the more comfortable you are in showing each other love, the better the photos will be. In most cases I would say kissing photos are cringe, especially the selfie kind, however, in this instance, some of the best moments come from kissing, especially when it starts on the forehead! Affection and playing with each other's love language can lead to some of the most playful and sweet photos. So going into this, just be aware that, if there was ever a time and place to kiss in public its to get the shot!

   
   

   

   5. Get to know your Photographer

I know this one sounds silly and redundant, but the more you get to know us, the more we know how to pull the magic out of you. We also love to know the ins and outs to your love story because we are all romantics at heart. I want to know about your first date, and your favorite thing about each other, I want to know what makes you feel loved, and how good a forehead kiss feels, then I want to know what the equivalent of a forehead kiss is to your partner. The more I get to know my couple, the more rapport we will have for your wedding day and the more ways we can make you laugh or help you create those authentic sweet moments we all know and love. Share your love!

I hope this has helped ease your mind about the idea of your photoshoot. Ultimately, we as photographers want you to have fun and leave looking forward to seeing the photos from the day you've just experienced!

On the last note, lean on your photographer if you need ideas for brainstorming. Like I said we are mostly all romantics and can lead you to a location, symbolism, and fun ideas if you need them!