Last month, I posted about why every bride should have an engagement session. So this month, it only seems appropriate to post how to prepare for your engagement session. A lot of Brides stress over this session, and I’ll be the first to admit that I totally did. I starred in the mirror for far too many hours, trying on far too many outfits, attempting to find the perfect jewelry!

In an attempt to help my Brides have a better pre-engagement session experience then my stressed out Bride-to-be self had, I have compiled a list of how prepare for your engagement session.

Outfits

First and foremost, you want to dress for the season. If it’s winter, layers are always best. And of course, bust out those beautiful summer dresses for the warmer days of spring and fall, and the hot days of summer. A nice pair of dark washed jeans are always a safe bet. There’s something about a pair of clean jeans that photograph so well!

Don’t be matchy-match with your Fiancé; it’s best if you coordinate! Stay away from the tiny patterns because they don’t photograph. Overall, busy patterns distract from the photo, and more importantly, from YOU! Simple and solid is the way to go!

We’ll do a lot of walking during your session, so it’s important to have on shoes that are comfortable. If you want to wear heels, but you don’t normally wear them, it’s probably best to stick with flats. If you’re heart is dead set on heels, I would stick with a smaller heel. Make sure your shoes also go with the rest of your outfit. My best advice on shoes for the ladies, a cute pair of flats. I wore a dressier pair of flip-flops for my photos, and looking back on it, I wish I wouldn’t have. My feet look WEIRD! Now that’s just me, I’m sure there’s ladies out there who can TOTALLY rock flip flops.

Pair up your outfit with some jewelry or a scarf. It breaks up your outfit, and can give you a beautiful pop of color! You don’t want to go too crazy with your jewelry, however (earrings that touch your shoulders, necklaces as wide as your shoulders).

For the guys, stay away from shirts that have any kind of writing on them. You’re easiest go to is a button up dress shirt with a nice pair of jeans or khakis.

All in all, you want to make sure you’re comfortable. Not too cold, not too hot. Not too tight, not too loose. For some people, this is the hardest part about an engagement session. I love to shop though, so as long as the engagement session is scheduled far enough out, let’s plan a day and go outfit shopping!

Hair, Makeup, Engagement Ring

This is the perfect time to have a test run with your makeup, and at the same time, have your hair styled. With makeup, it’s always best to stick with more natural colors. You want to stay away from bright orange eyeshadow, blue lipstick, and purple blush. If you don’t typically wear makeup, it’s best to still apply some concealer and put on some mascara. The concealer covers any blemishes the camera will pick up, and the mascara helps your eyes pop!

One piece of advice for your ring that I think is so important – have your ring CLEANED before your session. Most photographers will spend a couple minutes just photographing your ring, so you want to make sure it’s sparkling beautifully!

Location

Often times Brides aren’t real sure where they want their engagement session to take place, so I start with the easiest two questions, urban or green. Urban equals cities, lots of brick buildings, cars and sometimes people in the background, while green equals parks with lots of trees, open fields, and flowers. From there, I have plenty of suggestions to give!

(P.S. I had the pleasure of traveling to Pittsburgh for Taylor and Patrick’s Engagement Session last September. It’s the City they fell in love in, and it only made sense to shoot there!!)

I also ask where the Groom proposed and if they would like to shoot at that location. Maybe there’s a family farm that has been in the family for generations that has super sentimental value, or maybe the couple met at a summer camp. These are all places that have significant importance to my couples, which makes their photos that much more unique and personable.

Time

ALL my sessions, with only a FEW exceptions happen two hours before sunset, or upto two hours after sunrise. This is when the sun is in the most perfect spot for those beautiful glowy photos. Keep this in mind for your session. Some couples work afternoons which means someone may have to take a day off from work if they’re on the afternoon shift.

Since there’s a constraint on time, it’s so vital that you show up for your session on time. We’ll get started right away, and have no time to spare.

Relax and Have FUN

Photographers know and understand, and even expect, that their couples have never had professional photos taken. That being said, we don’t expect you to be a pro at posing, and the very best photographers will put you beautiful poses that are natural, comfortable, and authentic. Don’t stress out too much about this part of the day. I would even bet that you’re more of an expert at it then you even realize!

I hope this post was helpful in answering your questions on how to prepare for an engagement session. Just remember to smile, laugh when your photographer says to, and have FUN!! Go out on a hot date afterwards, after all, you’re all dressed up! Take advantage of this time together!