So you popped the big question, or you said YES to spending the rest of your life with your person. You’re only engaged once, so you should of course have photos to remember this special time by! A little prep goes a long way into making your engagement photos session relaxed, memorable, and most of all fun! Here are some engagement session tips to help make the most of your upcoming shoot.

1. Choose a meaningful location

Maybe it’s where you went for your first date or your favorite spot you like to frequent together. Keep in mind that lighting and the season will also affect how your photos turn out. If you are worried about the weather, I highly recommend an indoor location or booking a photo studio. Talk to your photographer about any location suggestions they may have. There is no shortage of incredible locations in the west coast!

2. Wear a comfortable outfit

First and foremost, wear something that looks and feels like you. Your photographer might ask you to move around during your session, so aim to wear clothes that allow for movement. As for colors, you can never go wrong with neutrals! Avoid wearing fabrics containing distracting and bold patterns, or ones that wrinkle easily. If you are planning for an outfit change, try to find clothes that are quick to change in and out of. Lastly, while you don’t need to match outfits, it’s always a good idea to coordinate outfits.

3. Arrive early

Arriving early to a location provides peace of mind for both you and your photographer. Give yourself plenty of wiggle room, anticipating any traffic or delays. This is especially important for timed studio sessions or sunset sessions when you are on limited lighting.

4. Bring emergency items and props

Another part of preparation is bringing items in case of emergency. This could be objects such as extra makeup for touchups, comfy shoes, a water bottle, compact mirror, or a jacket for those colder sessions. Along with this, bring any props that are meaningful to you or that you want to feature in your shoot!

5. Pretend like the camera’s not there

As much as your photographer can guide and direct, there is a lot you can do to help them capture the most authentic candids of you and your partner. One of the things I tell my couples is to “Always be moving”. Pretend like I’m shooting a movie. Focus on each other. The more movement, the better and more candid your photos will turn out!

I hope you find these tips helpful for your upcoming engagement session. Engagement photo shoots are truly worth investing time and money into. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you are interested in booking an engagement session with me!