Now that you have picked a date, a photographer and probably a venue as well, you can celebrate! Those are some of the toughest decisions in wedding planning and you can cross them off your list! Hooray!! Now on to the fun stuff you’ve been dreaming about…. like your engagement session!
We love providing all of our couples with a complimentary engagement session, because we truly believe it is a vital part of the wedding experience.
Breaking the ice with you and getting to work with one another in advance helps us get our couples comfortable with a camera between us, learn our style for prompting and posing and most importantly, we learn if you think we’re funny or not. (kidding…not kidding).
But we do know that laughter plays a part in breaking down those walls and helps the two of you feel safe to be authentic.
Jeremy and I cherish our time during our engagement sessions because that’s when we truly get to interact with our couples and form real friendships with them!! We want you to walk through that part of the wedding experience!! You deserve it!!
Here are some of our favorite tips to ensure you and your fiance’ have an amazing engagement session:
WHAT STYLE OF CLOTHES DO WE WEAR?
Guess what? There’s no right or wrong when it comes to this. Just a few general “rules of thumb” when it comes to styling, that in my experience can provide you with some direction. Remember the goal is coordinating… not matching.
CONFIDENCE TIP: We recommend that you wear something that flatters the parts of you that you love the most and also allows you to be extremely confident! If you are uncomfortable when you look in the mirror (having to suck in and only like the way you look from one angle), then that probably isn’t the best outfit choice for you. And be sure to wear the appropriate undergarments or you’ll be yanking and pulling things up the whole time.
HOW MANY OUTFITS SHOULD WE PLAN ON?
Our couples like to bring one casual outfit and one dressier outfit. But try to avoid one of you wearing a dressy outfit, while the other is dressed more casual. This can look a bit odd in your images.
WHAT COLORS WORK BEST TOGETHER?
Neutral Colors like blushes, tans, light pinks, faint blues and light minty teals, creams and grays will always result in a light and romantic look in your images.
Alternate Heaviness in your outfits. What this means is if one of you is wearing dark jeans, the other might want to wear lighter pants. Or if one of you is wearing a bold colored top or dress, the other might consider a light colored top.
PRO TIP: Once you have an outfit or dress you love, go into an app like Colors and play around with palettes based on that color. This app is also great for picking wedding colors.
CLEAR YOUR POCKETS
Don’t forget to empty your pockets. Literally. It might seem like no one will notice, but I promise you, your keys and cell phones show through. We are always happy to stash your stuff in our bags.
ON THAT NOTE: Also ladies… make sure you wear the right undergarments with your outfits. Straps are not easy to edit out 😉
CLEAN YOUR RING
We love to shoot that beautiful diamond while you’re changing outfits. And the cleaner it is the better it will shine. So swing by your jeweler and have them put the sparkle and pop back in your rock.
PRO TIP: You might also consider getting your nails done. We often take photos close-up on your hands and having chipped paint, might drive you crazy in photos later.
LIPS
This tip is for guys and gals alike. You may need to apply chapstick or lip color after an outfit change and a few kisses. Dry cracked lips believe it or not, do show in photographs. And ladies if you plan to wear a bold lip color, try to have a matte finish or smudge proof brand that won’t transfer to your groom.
WILL YOU SEE MY SHOES?
The short answer is yes. But if you’re debating on comfort vs. fashion, much of what shoes you decide on depends on the adventure you’re going on. We often shoot up in the Colorado mountains and so a short hike is not uncommon for engagements. Rocking those cute heels or dress shoes the whole time can prove to be challenging on the trails, so we suggest throwing some flip flops or sneakers in your bag that you can put on and off quickly between locations.
WHAT THINGS SHOULD WE AVOID?
Tennis shoes, Graphic tees, Bold logos on shirts, Sunglasses, transition lenses, and baseball hats.
*We also typically suggest avoiding reds, neons and bright oranges in many cases, as they can reflect color onto skin making it challenging to edit.
WHICH IS BETTER, SUNRISE OR SUNSET?
This is typically based on location. For instance, if you’re hoping to have your session at a super crowded location like a national park, or urban environment, a sunrise session will give you more privacy and location options.
SHOULD I GET MY HAIR AND MAKEUP DONE?
Splurge a little! If you were considering getting your hair and makeup done, this is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself! You will cherish these images forever and so investing in professional hair and makeup can be an extra fun way to celebrate the occasion and allow you to be extra confident during your shoot! Check with your HMU for your wedding day and see if you can book your consultation the same day.
PRO TIP: Getting false lashes will make the most impact in your portraits! There are all types of lashes that range from looking completely natural to looking like Beyonce! I would lean towards the natural end of the spectrum! 🙂
I WANT SOMETHING NEW
Ultimately, the choice is yours and this session is about celebrating you as a couple. So if you have a favorite outfit, chances are that’s the one you’ll be the most comfortable in. But if you’re looking for something new, here’s a list of places we love to shop for engagement outfits and dresses:
PRO TIP – Look at Boutiques that sell bridesmaids dresses. There are some stunning choices, and like every bride says about bridesmaids dresses… “And look, you can wear this again and again after the wedding. 😉 … but in this case, it’s true.
BALTIC BORN (My personal fav)
MORNING LAVENDER (Flowy Skirts)
SAVED BY THE DRESS (Everything)
JOY FOLIE (Think Boho and Beachy)
WANT TO SEE MORE OF OUR ENGAGEMENTS?
Check out some of our featured couples on the BG BLOG , capturing engagement sessions all over the country.
DO YOU NEED ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS?
We’d love to celebrate with you and kick off this AMAZING season in your lives. We’re available for travel nation wide LEARN MORE HERE
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