5 Tips For Planning The Perfect Engagement Photo Shoot

by EmilyanMarch 23, 2012 2

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Image courtesy of Theary Meak

An engagement photo shoot is the prime opportunity to get those perfect couple snapshots you’ve always wanted! If you plan to use your engagement photos for save-the-dates, these photos will serve as an introduction for many of your wedding guests who haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting your spouse-to-be – so make it count!

Here are five tips for plotting it, nailing it, and looking as photogenic as is humanly possible during the process.

1. Choose the perfect location. Whether it’s a place from your past that’s particularly meaningful to you as a couple, or just an incredibly photogenic spot around town – you want to give your “e-sesh” a background that will really pop! (Check out this couple’s adorable Parisian engagement photography!) Think about the general theme you want your wedding to have, and use that as your inspiration – if it’s vintage, why not schedule your shoot at a drive-in movie theater or an old-timey soda shop? If it’s nature-inspired, a state or national park is always a safe bet!

Image courtesy of Bret Cole Photography

2. Wear something classic and timeless – and not too trendy. If your shoot is informal, a button-down shirt and jeans for him will work just fine. For ladies, pick a dress that really suits your shape, preferably in a bright color or vibrant pattern. Avoid fleeting trends that will definitely date your pictures in ten years time.

3. Get to know your photographer. Schedule a friendly meet-up before your engagement shoot. Atlanta-based wedding photographer Whitney Huynh says “Getting to know your clients – where they met, what they like to do together, inside jokes, etc – will help you customize the perfect shoot!”

4. Don’t forget the props! Let the location of your shoot determine what props you bring. If you’re goofing around downtown, bring a vintage (or vintage style) camera or two. Giant balloons will make a fun statement in your engagement photos. Fooling around in the great outdoors? Don’t forget the picnic paraphernalia!

Image courtesy of Jennifer Callahan Photography

5. Keep it candid!  People can look so stiff and unnatural in formal portraits. Think of this “love session” as more of a magazine-style photo shoot that a portrait session you sit for (a la Olan Mills). Keep the tone light and carefree – and don’t forget to laugh! Asheville, NC wedding photographer Jennifer Callahan says – “I encourage couples to relax, flirt and be affectionate in a way that feels genuine to them.”  Your wedding guests want to see a happy couple on their save-the-date postcards.

Have you found your dream wedding photographer yet? If not, check out this handy list of tips for choosing your photographer. An engagement photo session is the perfect wedding photographer trial run, by the way!

Special thanks to Theary Meak Photography, Bret Cole Photography, and Jennifer Callahan Photography for the use of their fabulous images! 

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