5 Reasons Why Every Couple Should Do an Engagement Shoot
After the question is popped and celebrations have been had, the next thing you should think about is getting your engagement photos taken! Engagement photos have so many benefits - check out a few of them below.
5 Reasons Why Every Couple Should Do an Engagement Shoot
After the question is popped and celebrations have been had, the next thing you should think about is getting your engagement photos taken! Engagement photos have so many benefits - check out a few of them below.
It helps your photographer get to you know you
Your wedding photographer is going to be capturing one of the most exciting days of your life, so I believe it is important to get to know them beforehand. Think about it; you’re going to have a hair and makeup trial, you’re going to try on your wedding attire, and have a rehearsal for the ceremony - so why wouldn’t you do a test run with your photographer too? Having time to hang out together before your wedding gives me a sense of who you two are as a couple and the kind of chemistry you have. I’ll be able to pick out your personality quirks, how you flirt with each other, and be able to showcase that through the images
You’ll have professional photos to use pre-wedding
Try to get your engagement photos scheduled earlier rather than later so you can put them to good use throughout your engagement! You can include the shots on your wedding website for all of your guests to enjoy. You can also incorporate the shots on your save-the-date cards or in your guest book for your wedding day (Which I can create for you! Give me a call to see how). It’ll make things a lot easier than having to dig through years’ worth of pictures, trying to figure out which ones to use.
Reconnect with each other and capture this special part of your life
As you have probably figured out, wedding planning can be stressful. Trying to organize an event with hundreds of guests is definitely not a relaxing experience. This is supposed to be a magical time in your life! Your engagement period should be full of romance and reconnecting with one another. Allow me to help! We can have an afternoon of fun doing whatever it is you like to do as a couple. You’ll be able to look back at these images years from now and remember what a lovely afternoon you had together at the park or strolling down town. Plus, it’s an excuse to get all dolled up and take some gorgeous pictures with your significant other!
Practice for the big day
Chances are you haven’t had a professional photographer follow you around for hours snapping pictures of you doing everyday things. So it’s totally natural to feel a little nervous or uncomfortable. Let’s try to get those nerves and feelings of discomfort out of your system before your wedding day. You don’t want any awkward shots of you and your significant other on the big day, so take this time to practice a few poses and get relaxed in front of the camera! Once you see how great you both look in professional shots, you’ll be even more excited for the big day. You’ll also be used to my direction and feel much more comfortable when we’re shooting on your wedding day (and under a time crunch!).
Documenting your relationship
Use this as an opportunity to express yourselves as a couple. We can shoot at your favorite hiking spot, at the café where you had your first date, or any other meaningful location. Use this as an opportunity to show who you are as a couple and let me capture your connection. I want to be able to highlight your personalities through my pictures, so feel free to include anything that reflects who you two are. Have a picnic, play with your dog, or cook breakfast at home. No matter what, I’ll be there to capture it all.
How to Decide Where to Do an Engagement Shoot
After all the initial excitement of your engagement starts to die down (or, at least, the initial shock has worn off) it’s time to start thinking about engagement photos. These pictures signify the start of the rest of your lives together, so it’s important to consider a few things when picking a location for the shoot.
How to Decide Where to Do an Engagement Photo Shoot
After all the initial excitement of your engagement starts to die down (or, at least, the initial shock has worn off) it’s time to start thinking about engagement photos. These pictures signify the start of the rest of your lives together, so it’s important to consider a few things when picking a location for the shoot.
Time of year
The season will play a big part in the overall outcome of your engagement photos. If you’re taking them during the winter, consider asking your photographer to snap pics of you and your fiancé(e) having a snowball fight or sledding at the local park. If you’re more of an indoor couple, stay at home and document a cozy night by the fire. A fall engagement shoot is the perfect opportunity for shots at a pumpkin patch, apple orchard or simply taking advantage of the beautiful fall leaves. Summer calls for romantic beach snaps (or, since we’re in Pittsburgh, maybe stopping by a creek or waterfall), while the spring lends itself to a beautiful photo op in a public garden or park. Whatever season you choose, take advantage of what they each represent! If you’re not sure which season is best for you, I’m here to help.
Time of day
The time of day can totally change the vibe of the shoot. That’s why, for the most part, I only shoot at sunrise or sunset. Those are the times when the sun is at the perfect height in the sky for those dreamy golden shots. If you want to add a little more drama, continuing to shoot after the sun has set can make for some epic portraits as well!
Meaningful place
Think about the location you and your fiancé(e) first met, got engaged, or frequently vacation. Are any of these ideal spots for a photo shoot? Sit down for a cup of coffee at the café you had your first date, or let me snap photos of you both on the street corner where you had your first kiss. Did you first exchange “I love yous” at the beach? I’d be happy to capture you reliving that moment together. If your grandparents' camp is a special place where you two spent a lot of time, perhaps that would be an ideal place to capture your love. Maybe you want to have a cozy in-home photo shoot, where I document the simple moments that make up the fabric of your relationship. I am happy to go anywhere and shoot wherever it is brings you two the most joy. You’re also not locked into just one location. I’m happy to follow you around town, taking photos of the college or high school where you met. If the location you want to take pictures at isn’t feasible to get to, find somewhere close by that resembles the place that holds a special place in your heart.
Favorite hobby or activity
Do you two love walking your dog? What about golfing together or picnicking at the local park? Whatever it is you two enjoy doing together, why not let it serve as the theme for your engagement shoot? If you love going to the theater, I can snap pics of you outside your favorite local playhouse or at the cinema downtown. If you’re both huge baseball fans, take pictures at the stadium of the team you both root for. If you love horseback riding, I’m ready to document you out at the ranch. Not only will these make for pretty unique shots, but your shared hobbies will be well-documented too. If you have lots of hobbies but not sure which one is best suited for an engagement shoot? I’m here to help.
Think about the vibe of your wedding
Think about it: a shoot at sunset near the water is going to have a totally different feel than a downtown city shoot. Think about the vibe of your wedding and consider going for the same aesthetic in your engagement shots. Getting hitched at a fancy hotel in the heart of the city? Take your photo shoot to the streets and let me capture you hand in hand as you stroll down the sidewalk or through the local park. If a destination wedding is in the cards for you, a photo shoot by the lake or on an overlook may be the perfect complement. The setting of your wedding and engagement shoot don’t have to be identical by any means, but it’s a great way to set the overall tone of your big day.
How do you want to dress?
Do you want to get all glammed up for the pictures or would you rather go all natural? If you’re using these pictures as an excuse to rent a gorgeous gown and get your hair done, by all means, go for it! If you want a more relaxed and casual atmosphere for the shoot, that’s totally OK too, just think about it before you pick a location. Getting all gussied up and donning a floor-length gown might not be the best idea if your shoot is on a sailboat. However, shots on a hotel rooftop could be the way to go if that’s how you want to look. As I said before, think about the vibe of the shoot and how you want that to be reflected in your pictures.
Still need help deciding on a location? Feel free to reach out to me, I am happy to assist in any way I can!
Maggie & Nate | A North Park Engagement
Maggie and Nate wanted a nature-inspired shoot, and there is no better place to go for that than North Park. We had a perfect day, and managed to incorporate the lake, a waterfall, a field, woods, and more into their session. Pretty impressive for being out for only two hours! They hiked all over the park (and may have driven a little too) to get to the perfect spots. I'm so happy with how the session turned out!
Maggie & Nate | A North Park Engagement
Maggie and Nate wanted a nature-inspired shoot, and there is no better place to go for that than North Park. We had a perfect day, and managed to incorporate the lake, a waterfall, a field, woods, and more into their session. Pretty impressive for being out for only two hours! They hiked all over the park (and may have driven a little too) to get to the perfect spots, and I'm so happy with how the session turned out!
Laura & Ryan | A Hartwood Acres Engagement | Pittsburgh
Laura & Ryan | A Hartwood Acres Engagement | Pittsburgh
Laura and Ryan wanted a more formal look to their engagement session. She rented an AMAZING dress from Rent the Runway, and rocked it! Hartwood Acres was the perfect setting for this fashion forward shoot. I'm so excited to shoot their wedding next year!!!
Casey & Fred | A McConnells Mill Engagement Session | Pittsburgh
Casey & Fred | A McConnells Mill Engagement Session | Pittsburgh
Casey and Fred had a gorgeous day at McConnells Mills for their shoot. It was a nice change from the cold and rainy session I had there just a week prior. We explored the area and ended up with some amazing images! You can just see the love between these two.
Shelby & Anthony | A North Park Engagement | Pittsburgh
Shelby & ANthony | A north shore engagement | pittsburgh, PA
I met Shelby through one of my brides this year, Christina. So I had the pleasure of photographing her as part of the bridal party this summer! I like to think it made the engagement session a little more comfortable, since we already had worked together before!
No matter what the reason, Shelby & Anthony both came ready to have fun (even though it was 5 minutes after sunrise when we started!). They enthusiastically agreed to all my crazy ideas, including climbing onto a tree over the lake, and jumping down next to a creek (that I had almost fallen into moments before). It was all worth it for these amazing images. You just can't beat a foggy fall morning!
Lauren & Matt | A Kennywood Engagement Session | Pittsburgh Photographer
Lauren and Matt wanted to do something very Pittsburgh-ish for their engagement shoot. We tossed around ideas like the Strip District or the North Shore, but nothing clicked. I have been dying to shoot at Kennywood, so I suggested it. Lauren jumped at the chance (without even asking Matt first...ooops!).
Kennywood was kind enough to let us shoot in the evening on their last day of the summer season. The weatherman called for rain, but in true Pittsburgh fashion, they were wrong! We ended up with a cloudy, but rain-free evening at the park. On the last day of the season, Kennywood puts on a firework display - so we lucked out with some firework pictures too! Check them out!
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Bianca and Peter | A Schenley Park Engagement Session | Pittsburgh Photographer
Bianca and Peter chose a beautiful spot in Schenley Park for their engagement pictures. We met up by the Schenley Oval, overlooking the city. It was a gorgeous day, and the park was crowded with people. We walked a little bit away from the crowds for some privacy, and made some beautiful pictures!
It took a few minutes for them to warm up to the camera (one of the reasons why it's important to do engagement pictures!), but once they did, magic happened. They are so sweet, and I cannot wait to photograph their wedding next month!
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