An engagement session is a chance to document and celebrate this exciting time in your life! They are laid back, allowing you to relax, have fun and get to know me before the wedding day.

Because your engagement session will likely be your first time in front of my camera, I want to help you feel relaxed and as prepared as possible. As a result, I’ve created this little guide to help you get ready for our time together.

I’ll be providing you with tips for nailing your engagement photos and giving you an overview of what to expect! I’m always here to help with recommendations or ideas if you need them, too.

Comfort is key!

While shopping for a brand new outfit is something fun and exciting my clients love to do for their engagement sessions, I always emphasize how important it is for their outfits to be comfortable. If you do decide to get everything brand new (and really, who can blame you!?), make sure you wear it at least once before your shoot to make sure it fits and feels great. This is especially important for things like shoes, which can cause all kinds of problems if they aren’t broken in properly!

2 is better than 1

Create more variety in your engagement photos by bringing two outfits to the session. Most couples opt for one casual outfit and one dressier option. Before we begin the session, I’ll have you show me both outfits so I can help plan which one would go best with which backdrops. We’ll pause halfway through the session to give you time to change.

Prepare the day before

Take some time the day before your shoot to get everything together, cleaned, ironed, and steamed! Make sure your accessories are in one place, any wrinkles in your clothing are history, and any stains/spots are busted well before the shoot. I’ll remind you that your session is coming up a few days beforehand, so you’ll have plenty of time and no excuses to be well prepared. Being relaxed before your session is key to beautiful, natural images.

Don’t skip on the hair and makeup

Ladies, this is a big one! I always tell my clients to think very seriously about having hair and makeup professionally styled for their engagement photos. This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for you. Hiring a professional will ensure you look your absolute best on camera.

Wear complementary outfits

I recommend that my couples wear outfits that complement each other rather than match. What does that mean? Well, try not to wear the exact same colors (you aren’t twins!), but do pick colors that go well together. Match each other’s outfits in terms of formality rather than literal colors and patterns. If one person is wearing a bright, bold pattern, it might be a good idea for the other to wear something a little more toned down and neutral!

Patterns are everything

Big, bold patterns (like florals, checkers, or polka-dots) are a no-fail way to ensure your clothing looks amazing on camera. For patterns, the bigger the better, so keep that in mind when choosing what to wear!

Accessorize!

Accessorizing is fun, looks amazing on camera, and is highly encouraged. Ladies – go for it! Hats, belts, scarves, necklaces, hair scarves, earrings, rings – bring it on! For the guys, try to avoid technology accessories (I can’t tell you how many times a smartwatch has ruined a beautiful image) but don’t be afraid to try some fun socks or fun shoes.

Long and Flowy for Romance

Ladies – if you’re looking for a dreamy, romantic look in your images, I highly suggest choosing an outfit that’s long and flowy. Look for long, romantic dresses or flowy skirts in the gauzy fabric that catch the breeze and the light. High heels and delicate, sparkly jewelry add a finishing touch!

Just be you

Everyone has their own unique style, and it’s OK to choose an outfit that expresses who you are! You don’t have to try to look a certain way or match what your friends did for their engagement sessions or what you’ve seen on Pinterest. Just be yourself!

Relax!

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yet so many of my clients get worried about whether they need to know how to pose, find the right backdrop, turn into the light a certain way. Well, I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, RELAX! Those things are all my job! All you have to do is show up looking fabulous, and I’ll take care of the rest. Promise!

Looking for more advice on what to wear? Check out this post about what to wear for your engagement session!