So your fiancé finally proposed and you’re ready to kick-start this new chapter in your relationship with an engagement session! Well CONGRATS babe, I am so stoked for you!! This is one of the most amazing and important times in your lives. 

In the midst of wedding planning you deserve to take some time for you and your partner. That’s why your engagement session should be relaxing and fun!

I get to know each of my couples so that I can help you personalize your engagement session experience. I want you to walk away with photos you love. And of course, I want to make this process as stress-free as possible. 

Helping my couples every step of the way is important to me. I know prepping for your engagement session can feel overwhelming – so let me make it easy for you. This blog goes over all the deets on how to slay your engagement session.

In this post you will find info on:

• What to Expect During your Session
• What to Wear
• Prepping for your Session

What you can Expect During your Session

During your session with me you can expect to get moving and have a lot of fun!! I love adding movement into my photography to get those natural and candid moments.

I generally like to start off sessions by giving you some easy prompts to get into the flow of things. This will hopefully get you comfortable in front of the camera as well. 

**Pro-Tip: Interact with your partner the way you would on a date night or snuggled up on the couch at home – let your emotions and love flow how it normally would and I promise your photos will turn out even more incredible! 

As we move forward in the session I will have you do some more active and fun poses that have you interacting with your partner to get those awesome action shots! I strive to make my couples as comfortable as possible, so if you aren’t feelin’ a certain pose we will move on to something else. 

How to Choose the Right Outfits

1. Choose Solids + Neutrals

Generally solids photograph better than busy patterns, so sticking to solids is a safe bet when trying to pick out an outfit for your engagement session. Busy patterns tend to get distorted in camera. However, if you absolutely want to wear something with a pattern, I recommend choosing something with a larger design on it.  

Neutral colors are also a safe choice when picking out your attire. Neutral colors help keep your photos looking timeless. Neutrals match everything too, so if you want to change up your look during your session without changing  – you can add different accessories or props with pops of color since neutrals match with everything. 

2. Wear what makes you comfortable 

You definitely want to make sure you choose an outfit you are comfortable and confident in. If you  are uncomfortable with what you are wearing it will come across in your photos. 

Engagement sessions are all about representing who you are as a couple and your personal identity within your relationship. So don’t wear something that is completely different from your own personal style. 

Additionally, I always recommend trying on your outfit a few weeks in advance to make sure that everything still fits properly and that you don’t need to go shopping. Although wearing something new can be exciting! 

3. Don’t Match Complement Each Other

One of the most important pieces of advice is not to match your partner completely. Instead you want to wear something that complements what they are wearing. This helps to add dimension and separate your body from your partners – you don’t want to look like just a blob of color.

If you are still struggling to figure something out, check out the color-wheel and look at the different complementary colors. This can help you visualize what colors you might want to wear. 

4. Accessorize

Accessories can really help pull an outfit together. And if you are wearing something neutral, accessories can be a really great way to showcase your personality. This is where pops of color are best used. Additionally, if your fiancé gifted you a piece of jewelry you can use that to accessorize with too and it will make your photos extra special. Bringing a pair of fun sunglasses and a boho flat-brim hat can be fun to accessorize with as well! 

Some of my Favorite Places to Shop

1. Altar’d State
2. Free People
3. Urban Outfitters
4. Anthropologie
5. Zara

Prepping for your Engagement Session

Everyone tends to be nervous when it comes to getting their photo taken, but like I mentioned before my goal is to create a relaxing and stress-free experience. Prepping for your session in advance can help alleviate any anxieties you may have about forgetting something or feeling like you just didn’t know what to do for your engagement session. And that is exactly why this guide is so important! 

1. Pack a Bag the Night Before! 

You want to make sure that you lay everything out and double-check that you have all of your clothing and accessories before stuffing them away. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen guys who forget their dress shoes or button down!

I always recommend bringing extra clothing in case you spill something on yourself or you sit in something wet (trust me it happens!). Bringing extra layers, snacks, water and makeup is always a good idea too – it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.  

Here is a small list of things not to forget: 

• Extra outfits 
• Comfy shoes for walking between locations
• Makeup 
• Water / Snacks
• Sweater or Jacket 
• Cash for parking
• Props (champagne, blanket, signs,etc.)

2. Eat, Drink and Sleep!

I love when my couples have fun during their session, and I love using movement in my photography. Getting enough rest the night before and eating before your session is a must! We don’t want to rush your engagement session because you didn’t eat. 

Although, it could also be a really fun idea to bring a pizza along to your shoot for some fun candids and picnic photos! 

And of course, you want to drink plenty of water leading up to your session. It is easy to get dehydrated especially if it’s peak summer. Make sure to bring some with you as well. 

3. Get your Nails Done and Clean your Ring

During your engagement session you can expect many close-up shots of your hands to show off that new sparkling engagement ring! So it’s usually recommended to get a manicure so that your nails look neat and clean for your photos. And while you’re at it, you my’s well treat yourself to a pedicure too! 

In addition to getting your nails done, I highly recommend cleaning your ring so that you get a nice clear photo. If you don’t want to clean yourself and go the extra mile, most jewelers offer free ring cleanings. 

4. Use this as a Trial for your Wedding Hair and Makeup

If you are planning to get your hair and makeup done for your wedding your engagement session can be a great time to do your trail hair and makeup session. This will be a good test to see if it holds-up, that way you can make adjustments to your final wedding look in advance! 

5. Men: Your appearance matters too! 

I know that many men have been told the engagement session is mostly for the women, but that isn’t true! This session is just important for you too. Definitely make the most of it! 

You want to make sure that you get your haircut at least a week in advance, so that if it doesn’t look quite like how you imagined it has some time to grow out. However, if you have been going to the same barber and know they are going to do a great job, you might want to wait 3-days before your session, so that you have a fresh look – don’t wait until the last minute!  

If you like a clean shaven look, make sure to shave the morning of the session so there isn’t any noticeable stubble. You want to make sure to trim your nose-hairs and eyebrows as well, again there are going to be several up-close photos.

Additionally, make sure you trim your fingernails and put some lotion on. There are going to be several up close shots of your hands as well. If you don’t think you can do a good job, consider going to get a manicure, they will make sure to get all your hang-nails off. 

A Closer Look at Tess + Adam’s Engagement Session

Tess & Adam were extremely open to all my ideas even if it seemed out of their comfort zone. They took all my suggestions and rolled with it, without hesitation. I get the absolute best photos when my couples trust the process and allow me to help guide them with ideas. Their session was so much fun and I was so excited to get started editing their photos right away because I knew they were going to be amazing! 

We started off their session at a local coffee shop which I thought was super cute. It was warm and cozy inside and definitely had a moody atmosphere. After that we found this amazing roof-top to shoot some golden hour portraits on. While we were there, we found an old bell-hop cart which made for some fun action shots. We wrapped-up our  session with some intimate elevator photos, which was a total vibe. It was super unique and made for some edgy photos to add to their gallery. It was super fun to get creative and think outside the box for this shoot! 

Final Thoughts

Phew! You made it to the end! And I am so glad you’re still here because this post was jam packed with all of my favorite tips for your upcoming  engagement session. 

The key takeaways here are: remember to choose solids + neutrals, wear what makes you comfortable, complement your partner’s attire and accessories. 

Additionally, make sure to pack a bag the night before, stay hydrated, eat, get some sleep, get a mani-pedi, treat yourself to hair, makeup, and nails, and men don’t forget your haircut, nail trim, and to shave!

Are you ready to plan your Engagement Session? 

I would absolutely love to help you create an engagement session experience that represents your relationship. Let’s chat about all the amazing things we can do for your session. Reach out here to get started. 

Want to check out Adam and Tess’s full gallery click here.