Engagement sessions are a great way to capture the love and excitement of your upcoming wedding day and to document this special time in your life! To make sure your session is a success, preparation is key. Below are a few things you can do to prepare for your engagement session and ensure you have an amazing experience and gorgeous portraits!
Selecting your Outfits
Start by selecting your outfits! Leading up to your engagement session, you will want to narrow down your outfit selection. ALWAYS try your outfits on beforehand to make sure you feel comfortable and confident! Your outfits should also reflect your style and personality, while fitting the vibe of your session. I highly suggest trying your outfit on for someone and asking them to take a video of you moving around in your outfit so you can see how it looks from all angles! For more styling tips, view my recent blog on What to Wear to your Engagement Session.
When selecting your perfect outfit, here are a few pointers:
Ladies, be aware of bra lines and bra straps when making your final outfit selections. If you are wearing a gorgeous sundress with a low back, you want to have a plan ahead of time so that the back of your bra isn’t showing! Also, be aware of any suntan lines. This is often overlooked, but you don’t want an apple watch outline on your arm in photos! When your engagement session day arrives, be sure your outfits are ironed and wrinkle free.
Professional Hair and makeup
Next, I highly recommend booking a professional hair and makeup artist to give you a boost of confidence and to ensure that you look your best in the photos. If there is a specific look you’re going for, bring photos and inspiration. Another perk to having your hair and makeup professionally done is LESS STRESS! I am all about reducing the stress of my brides and future brides. Instead of stressing about whether you will have a good hair day, relax and get pampered!
Tips to Prepare for your Engagement Session
Eyelash Extensions – YES!
If you can, get eyelash extensions before your engagement photos. Long, gorgeous eyelash extensions provide the most natural looking lashes and photograph beautifully!
Spray Tans – NO!
However, avoid spray tans, as they do not photograph well and have a tendency to make people look orange in photos. Yikes! You definitely do not want that!
Tips for the Day of your Engagement Session
Your engagement portraits should celebrate your love story and reflect you and your partner! A wonderful way to personalize your engagement sessions and add meaning to your photos is to bring props to use in your photos. Items such as champagne and glasses can create a lovely photo opportunity and the photos in turn can be used in celebratory thank yous, or on your wedding website.
Bring a Bag
Always bring a bag to hold your phones, wallets, watches, props, etc. You don’t want to stuff items in your pockets or leave them on the ground and risk losing them. Bringing a bag will keep everything together and make it easier to keep track of throughout the day.
Ladies, Bring Flats!
If you plan on wearing heels with your outfits, bring flats to wear in between shots and as we walk to and from various locations. We will likely cover a lot of ground and you’ll be standing for a while, and I want you to be comfortable. Trust me, you will thank me later!
Arrive on Time
This is very important! Arriving on time will ensure you aren’t rushing and stressed when you arrive. This also guarantees we get the most time together and the best shots. Oftentimes, engagement sessions are focused around sunrise and sunset times. Being late could result in missing the best lighting, which we absolutely do not want! The day of your session, give yourself plenty of time to get ready and travel so that your engagement session goes smoothly.
Engagement sessions are such a wonderful way to start a budding marriage! They provide an opportunity to capture this season of life and moment of your engagement with your fiancé. With these simple preparation steps, you’ll be ready for an engagement session that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Amber Dawn Photography specializes in light and airy, natural, and romantic wedding photography. With a penchant for estate weddings, Amber strives to create timeless images that reflect the romanticism in soft hues, capturing for posterity the many facets of the love that is the reason for the celebration. To view more of Amber’s work, click here to view her wedding portfolio. If you are interested in learning more about working with Amber, please inquire with her today!
Here are more resources and tips to prepare for your engagement session!
9 Styling Tips for Engagement Photos | What to Wear to your Engagement Session
Reasons to Capture your Engagement Session at your Wedding Venue
5 Reasons To Do An Engagement Session With Your Wedding Photographer
The Amber Dawn Wedding Photography Experience | What To Expect
