I LOVE Engagement Sessions!
It goes without saying that engagement sessions are a HUGE part of the Wedding Experience with me! I cannot emphasize enough how critical an engagement session is to your overall photography experience as a couple. Engagement sessions offer you a chance to get dolled up, practice wedding day hair and make-up and get comfortable in front of the camera. Consider it a dress rehearsal for the grand production that will be your wedding day! You'll have the chance to get to know your photographer, practice poses and learn what you like or don't without the pressure of a ton of eyes looking at you on one of the biggest days of your life. Not only will you now be prepared and remember signature poses from your session on your wedding day, you'll also be walking away with AMAZING images to document this unique time on the journey to "I do." You can use these images for your save the dates, wedding guest book and as Wall art in your future home together! So read below for my top tips to make your engagement experience one you'll remember and enjoy!
One- Sending Save the Dates? Keep this is mind!
The industry standard for sending save the dates for a local wedding is about 6 months prior to your wedding date. If you're having a destination wedding, sending a save the date even a year in advance is recommended. For either scenario, your guests will need to make travel accommodations, childcare accommodations and possibly request time off of work to attend your big day. So what does this have to do with your engagement session? If you're sending save the dates you'll want to schedule your session at least two months prior to when you'd like to send them out. This will give you time to receive the final images from your photographer, design and print your save the date, and send them in a good window of time for your guests.
Two- Schedule your session around beautiful light
Now that you've set the time of year you'll be having your session, time of day is probably the detail that will determine the final outcome and look of your images more than anything else. The sun sits in different places above us throughout the day which means the light can be more harsh and direct at lunch time than at other times. If you're like me and love beautiful soft and even light that glows, scheduling your session about two hours before sunset will provide the dreamiest and most beautiful light. Sunrise sessions can also bring their own beautiful light before the sun is up high in the sky but will require an early wake-up time from you! Avoid scheduling your sessions in the middle of the day when the sun is at its strongest and highest if you can! Trust me, you'll be glad you did.
Three- LOCATION MATTERS
I love when my couples choose a location for their session that compliments their wedding. For example if you’re planning a chic, elegant wedding, it may be fitting to take your engagement portraits in downtown Philadelphia along cobblestone streets and historic homes; while a local park might be more fitting for a couple planning a more rustic affair. The best locations for engagement sessions tend to be ones that are meaningful to you as a couple- it can be a place you often like to spend time together, the location of your first date, or even where the "will your marry me?" question was popped! So put some thought into it and think of what could make your session even more meaningful and start from there! Still not sure where to have your session? I have a list of some of my FAVORITE locations in the area and I'll be happy to send some recommendations your way!
Four- Dress to Impress
The hardest part for so many couples when setting up an engagement session is deciding what to wear. This deserves it's own blog post and I may write one soon, but keep in mind these basic rules and you'll be sure to look like a million bucks.
- Complement rather than match- when deciding on a color scheme try not to completely match and mirror each other's colors. If the groom is wearing a navy suit and pastel colored shirt, the bride may wear a long dress with light blue/pastel colors and neutral colored accessories.
- Choose softer, muted colors versus vibrant ones. Muted tones allow the focus of the images to be YOU! Bold and vibrant colors can be distracting to the eye and create unflattering color casts on your skin.
- Choose two looks- a more casual outfit for a more playful feel to your images and then a more formal outfit for more romantic and epic images.
- Most importantly- pick outfits you feel completely comfortable in! You should never wear something you'll regret seeing yourself in pictures later or feel self conscious about. Make sure you like the way you look and feel in your outfit- if an outfit makes you feel self conscious or uncomfortable, choose a different one.
Five- Shoes and Accessories
I always recommend a beautiful pair of heels to my brides. Heels elongate the legs and also shape them in a way that a flat shoe cannot. If you cannot wear heels or find them too uncomfortable, consider a pair a wedges that provide more support while still providing the same benefits and look of a heel. For the fellas, closed toe shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine look. Leave sandals and sneakers at home for this one. Brown leather dress shoes complement almost every look and can be used for both of your outfits if you're doing two different looks during your session. For both the bride and groom, be sure to wear your shoes and break them in a little prior to your session, your feet will thank you later. BONUS TIP: Bring a pair of flip flops or flats with you to walk in between locations.
Six - Go Pro with Hair, Make-Up and Nails
Professional hair and makeup is on the top of most of my brides’ engagement session checklist because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. You’ll have these photos forever, so this is the time to pamper yourself! Whether it’s lash extensions or blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. Also schedule a fresh manicure as it's likely your ring will be photographed and focused on throughout the session. Keep in mind to schedule hair and make-up early enough in the day not to push your session behind. Remember, you want to take advantage of the beautiful light so a late running session means less beautiful light to work with.
Seven- clean the bling
Your ring hand will be featured a lot in your photos so prior to your session, try to have your ring cleaned and polished for a piece that will shine! Paired with a fresh manicure, your ring is sure to one of the highlights of your images.
eight - Props
While each session is unique, you can personalize your session even more by adding props that are meaningful to you. Some items my couples have brought in the past include blankets for seated shots or shots on the ground, champagne flutes and their favorite bottle, "Future Mrs." sign, ring boxes and other small personal items. Remember the focus should be the two of you so try to keep it simple if you decide to bring props. Less is more with this type of thing.
Nine- choose a photogRAPHER YOU LOVE
. It goes without saying that there are tons of photographers today, probably more than ever before. One statistic estimates that there are over 34,000 professional photographers in the US as of 2022. This means you can be picky and find the right person for you! Your photographer should be more than someone whose work is appealing to you. While yes, that is important, especially in the wedding industry it is equally important to find someone you connect with and who truly understands what you're looking for in your experience. Remember, your photographer is one of the vendors who you will work with the most leading up to your wedding day- they will be the ones planning your timeline, learning about family relationships you want captured, and of course the one capturing your engagement. Try to have more than just an exchange over email with your photographer of choice. Hop on a call, chat over coffee and see if you value the same things and if your personalities vibe well together. This can truly make or break your photo experience regardless of how beautiful their work might be. Make this connection and relationship count. (This is a regret I have from my own experience as a bride).
ten- relax, have fun and plan a date night
Once you've prepped your outfits, cleaned your ring and chosen a beautiful location- it's time to let the magic happen. Show up to your session ready to have fun and experience a moment with your fiancé that will preserve a short but special moment in your relationship. Relish every minute of this time together! To top it all off, plan a date night for after your session. You're both dressed to the nines so why not make a night out of it? Choose a restaurant you haven't been to yet so that it's unique to your engagement experience and bring bottle of your favorite bubbly along!
I hope you found this useful and that it can aid in having an amazing engagement session. If you have any questions about having an engagement experience with us, shoot us an email at vanessa@impressionsbyvanessa.com
I'd love to chat with you and be a part of your journey to "I do."
Xoxo,
Vanessa
