A Quick Guide to Enduring and Exceptional Engagement Photos

You’re engaged! This is a time filled with anticipation, joy, and love. With everything that’s going on in your lives, capturing and celebrating this special moment in your lives often gets overlooked.

Some couples may feel it’s a waste of time or isn’t necessary, but there are many valuable reasons why you should have engagement photos taken. Despite the naysayers, we’re pro-engagement shoot, and champions of preserving this chapter of your life forever. These photos aren’t for today, but for the rest of your lives and beyond. Imagine being able to open up an album many years down the road, and have those memories and feelings come rushing back. And to be able to say to generations to come, “This is us at the beginning of our love.”

Beyond capturing the memories of engagement, your engagement shoot is an opportunity for you to get to know your wedding photographer before your big day. Most of us don’t take professional photos on a regular basis. Your engagement session can be a time for you to build a relationship with the photographer and learn more about what to expect when it comes to photography on your big day.

When preparing for your engagement photos, consider your style as a couple. You want these pictures to capture the genuine love you have, so hold the shoot in a location where you’re comfortable, bring meaningful props or beloved pets (if the location allows it, of course), and dress in a way that’s natural to you. Coordinate your wardrobe, but don’t match each other. Try to avoid bright colors and patterns, and wear clothes that you’ll be able to move and be comfortable in. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look your best, so get your makeup and hair professionally done if that would make you happy. Finally, consider whether you want your photos to be posed or natural, and communicate specific poses or tastes to your photographer.

During the session, your photographer will have an opportunity to learn more about you — how you and your fiancé met, your proposal story, more about you as individuals. You and your fiancé will get to learn more about your photographer and their style. You’ll also get an idea of poses you’ll be doing on your wedding day, and most importantly, how to be comfortable in front of the camera. Plus, you’ll get some amazing photos of you and your fiancé! You can use these photos for save-the-dates if you’re sending them, or for your engagement announcement in a local newspaper. You can even have them printed and hang them on the wall in your house.

And this doesn’t just apply to engagement shoots. Bridal portraits and even boudoir shoots serve a similar purpose. They capture a moment in time that will be gone before you know it. However, we don’t recommend using your boudoir photos for your save-the-dates!

Some photographers include an engagement shoot as part of their wedding packages. If your photographer doesn’t, consider the long-term benefits of adding one.