5 Golden Rules to Follow During Your Engagement Session

It’s totally normal to have a thousand questions about your engagement session before it happens; you’ve probably never been a part of one before! There’s no need to stress over it—it’s supposed to be a fun and exciting time for you and your fiancé(e). I’ve put together a couple of golden rules to abide by during your shoot. As long as you follow these, your pictures will be stunning, guaranteed.

Relax and Get Comfortable

Unless you’re a celebrity, it may feel strange to be having a photographer follow you around. Some poses may feel unnatural from how you and your S.O. behave towards each other in real life, but I promise they will make for some spectacular photos if you just relax and enjoy yourself. Think about it as a practice photo shoot for your wedding day! It’s a good opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera, since you’ll have double the amount of pictures taken of you on the big day. Take this time to really enjoy the moment with your fiancé(e). Use it as a break from wedding planning and think of it as a great way to spend a few hours together. Keep in mind that this photo shoot will result in some amazing and frame-worthy pictures.

Think About Your Wardrobe

Think about where your photo shoot is happening and what kind of outfit you want to wear. If you’re getting your photos taken in PNC park, a ball gown is probably not the best choice. If your backdrop is a cityscape however, that might be a bit more appropriate. I also suggest you avoid wearing clothes with busy or distracting patterns so they don’t clash with your environment. I recommend items of clothing that are either neutral or bold, and solid colors so you and your S.O. really stand out from your background.Bring a few options with you so I can get shots of you and your S.O. in a couple of different looks. Consider bringing one casual look and something closer to cocktail attire (or black tie if you really want to go big!). You should also make sure that you and your S.O. wear outfits that go well together. No need to get super matchy, but you want to look good standing next to each other! Ladies, when it comes to jewelry, try not to wear anything too flashy that might distract from the real subject of the picture—you two.

Listen to your photographer

An engagement session is not only an opportunity for you and your S.O. to produce some stunning pictures, it’s a time to get to know me, your wedding photographer! I’m going to be right by your side throughout your big day, so it’s important we get comfortable with each other before then. I’ll work with you to find the most flattering angles and poses for both of you. Some of the poses I ask you to do may feel a bit odd, but trust me! I know what I’m doing and I’m only trying to get the best shots for both of you.

Pittsburgh engagement photographer, Listen to the photographer

Location(s) matter

Choosing a location that is important to you will make the whole vibe of the shoot feel more casual and normal. If you have a favorite spot, let’s shoot there! Check out last week’s post for choosing the best spot for you. The point is, if you’re in an environment that is special to you two as a couple, the whole concept will feel more natural and fun, resulting in better images. If you have a few spaces that you want to use as a background, I can also make that work. Need help deciding between a few spots? I’m here to help.

Act Natural

Let me know prior to the shoot the kind of overall vibe and look you are going for. You want to make sure you’re staying true to yourselves as a couple. If you’re not a super PDA couple, you may not want every single picture to be of you two kissing. Let me know what kinds of images and poses don’t feel right for you so I can avoid them. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy yourself! Have fun with this experience and really enjoy these moments I’m capturing. Remember that this is about you two showing off your love for one another, so relax and have fun!