4 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Engagement Session
First off, congrats on getting engaged!! This is such an exciting time in your life, I’m so glad you’ve decided to capture it! Engagement sessions are one of my favorite things to photograph for a multitude of reasons. But mainly it’s just the fact that they’re so fun and allow both myself and the couple I’m working with to be creative together!
Your engagement session should be ALL about you and your partner celebrating your love! Personally, my goal with any engagement session is to tell the couple’s story as authentically as possible. However, along with this, things like outfits, locations, props, and mindset all play a huge role in how much fun you and your partner will have at your engagement session. But the most important ingredient for an amazing engagement session is simple: be yourselves!
Keep reading to learn more about how to prepare for your photoshoot!
1. WHAT TO WEAR
Engagement sessions are the perfect time for you and your partner to look nice while also expressing yourselves! I would suggest that you each wear something that you’re comfortable in. Really, something that’s already in your closet is perfect, but if you have a certain vision and want to buy something new, go for it!! Just don’t wear anything that you wouldn’t normally wear–it’ll make you feel self-conscious, and in turn make you look uncomfortable in your photos!
What I recommend to my couples:
Wear earth-tones or neutral colors! Colors like white, cream, green, terracotta, and brown all look great in-camera and with most photographer’s editing styles! Bold/neon colors can really distract and take away from the image; viewers would be more focused on your bright pink shirt than your beautiful faces!
Wear clothes that you can move in! Tight clothes make it hard to do a lot of the fun movement poses that most photographers love to use! Tight clothes can also make you look stiff and therefore awkward in your photos. Wearing loose dresses/skirts make it a lot easier for you to move, are more comfortable, and can be fun to use as a prop!
Some examples of what to wear:
For the people who prefer pants: You can never go wrong with khakis, dress pants, or jeans paired with either a neutral sweater, white button-down, or a plain white or neutral-colored top (just stay away from large graphics)! Jackets/coats and neutral colored hats are also fun to wear in the fall/winter for some added texture!
For the people who prefer dresses: Flowy dresses tend to look best! They allow you to feel comfortable and provide lots of movement that look great in your photos! Go for either something either plain or with a neutral pattern.
Couples who book with me have the option of wearing two outfits, so I always recommend one nice and one casual outfit! Always ask your photographer for advice / what they prefer. This can really help you in the decision making process!
No matter what, make sure you're wearing something you're comfortable in! All your photographer wants is for you both to be yourselves and have fun!
2. PROPS / WHAT TO BRING
I always ask my couples if they have any “props” in mind for their session! Some examples of props include picnic blankets, flowers, food, champagne, books, skateboards, guitars, paint and an easel, etc. The point of bringing props is to showcase the thing(s) that you love to do with your partner! (And if you’re wondering if you should bring your dog(s), the answer is always YES!)
For example, for my husband and I’s engagement photos, we brought books with us because we both love to read, and our shared love of books is actually how we met! This added a personal touch to our photos and made them feel even more special.
Bringing something with you that has sentimental value is going to make your engagement photos that much more meaningful! Using props can also help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera because you have something else to focus on, and they just make the session more dynamic and fun!
3. LOCATION
Location is probably the biggest thing that brings your inspiration to life! Be sure to communicate with your photographer what type of vibes you’d like for your session.
Do you want to be in nature? If so, be more specific than just “outside.” Do you want mountain views? To be by water? Do you want rolling green hills or do you care more about fall foliage? Or perhaps you want to be in the mountains while it’s snowing? All of these things are going to help your photographer narrow down which location (and season!) would be best for you!
Would you prefer city vibes? If so, communicate if there’s a specific area you want to be in. Would any part of the city work, or do you wanna spend some time taking photos in your favorite local bar or coffee shop?
Or, are you thinking about a studio or in-home session? A studio session can be fun because it tends to give the photos more of an editorial vibe. On the other hand, in-home sessions are always super sweet and meaningful! Being in your home—the place where you’re most comfortable—will help if one of you is extremely camera-shy!
Picking a location that means something to you both is a great way to personalize your photos even further. But if you really don’t care, there’s nothing wrong with letting your photographer pick! As long as you two are together, your love will shine through, no matter the location!
4. MINDSET
When it comes to preparing yourself before your engagement session, there’s more to think about than just the physical aspects. Your mindset is equally as important to ensuring that you and your partner have the best experience possible!
Some things that can help if you’re nervous before your session:
Play your favorite music while getting ready and on your way there! This will help to get yourselves pumped up and excited!
Make sure you’ve eaten/had a snack before your shoot! Nothing can ruin the mood faster than being hangry!
Bring a beer or take a shot! This one might sound a little out-there, but trust me, it can be such a fun way to start your session! I had a couple drink their favorite beer at the beginning of their session and it made for such cute photos that were personalized to them, and had the added benefit of helping them relax in front of the camera!
Love on your partner! Something that can help if you’re feeling nervous is just listing reasons why you love each other. Get in that lovey-dovey headspace, hold each other for a moment, take deep breaths with each other. This will all help you to feel connected with your partner throughout the shoot!
Just think of your photoshoot as a fun date! Don’t put pressure on yourself to make it “perfect,” you being relaxed and enjoying your time with your partner is all that your photographer needs to help you create beautiful memories that will last you a lifetime!
Wanna know a secret? Literally EVERY couple that I have ever worked with has been nervous before their shoot! And afterwards, every single one of them has said something like, “I had so much fun!” or “You made me feel so comfortable,” or “That went so much better than I expected!” You are not alone in feeling nervous, but just know that your photographer is a professional! They’ve worked with couples feeling the exact same way before, and have strategies that ensure that their couples have a ton of fun during their shoot!
If you got anything from this blog, I hope it’s that you and your partner are allowed to (and SHOULD) just be yourselves during your engagement session. This is a time to freaking celebrate!! If you’re still feeling anxious, just remember to take a deep breath, stay calm, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s your photographer’s job to help prepare you as best as they can and make you feel comfortable throughout your time with them! You got this!!
ABOUT BELLA GENOVESI
Bella Genovesi is a documentary wedding photographer based in Denver, CO, but she loves to travel and will gladly go anywhere you take her! She will help you plan and document your dream day with the intention of making your memories feel like stills from a romance movie.
Interested in working together? Click the button below and let’s chat!