Planning Your Engagement Shoot: The Who, What, When & Where

Getting engaged is the perfect excuse to hire a professional photographer. Plus, you get to use the images on your save the dates as well as your wedding invitations. As an added bonus, an engagement session gives you the opportunity to get comfortable in front of a camera.

***Photo stolen from North Story Weddings

Many couples who didn’t arrange an engagement shoot end up regretting it, but this doesn’t have to be the case for you.

So, when is the right time to schedule your session, who should take your photos, where should the shoot be, and what should you wear?

The When

When to schedule your shoot depends on what you want to do with your photos. If you want to use one of your photos as a save the date, your shoot should be scheduled at least 9 months ahead of your wedding date. This gives your photographer enough editing time and you enough time to design, print, and send your save the dates. If you’re planning a destination wedding, you may want to do it even sooner. If you’re not in a rush to plan your wedding, you can book your shoot whenever you want to. However, it’s always nice to book it soon after getting engaged to really capture the excitement of this life-changing moment.

The Who

Ideally, you want your engagement photographer to also be your wedding photographer. When you take the time to get to know a photographer and feel comfortable with them, you don’t necessarily want to repeat the process. Top wedding photographers are booked months in advance though, so you may want to start your search sooner rather than later. You will also find that many wedding photographers include an engagement session in their wedding packages, so it only makes sense to use the same person.

The Where

Next, you need to decide on a location for your session. Your engagement photos should tell your unique story, so choose a location that’s important to you. Your location should also speak to your personalities and style as a couple. Perhaps your first date was in a park or maybe you feel the most comfortable at home, choose a location that works for you. Keeping your wedding theme, or potential theme, in mind is also important if you’re planning to use the images on your invites.

The What

Lastly, plan what you want to wear and if you want to take any props along with you. Props are not essential, it’s more about personal preference. In terms of what to wear, keep your wedding theme in mind, but make sure your outfits reflect your personal styles. Try and avoid anything that will take the focus off your faces though. It’s also highly recommended that you have your hair and makeup done by a professional if you want really eye-catching results.

Your engagement session is the first step in planning and getting excited about your wedding day – enjoy the process…and yourselves!

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