Engagement Session Tips
I am so excited to work with you soon, and I'm glad you're here. I look forward to documenting the journey you and your loved one have set out on together! Take a few minutes to read through some tips and tricks regarding how to prepare for your upcoming engagement shoot. Over the years, we have put so much time and energy into making sure that our couples have more than just photos. We want them to have an experience they will get to look back on. We want you to have laughs, hugs, tears, and more than anything an afternoon away from the daily grind together during this hectic time.
So let’s begin here, perfect isn’t pretty. If you’re feeling the need to jump on Pinterest and dream of fake laughs and photoshopped sunsets… don’t. We want you guys in this together focused on each other, totally present. Your engagement photos shouldn’t be like headshots for work. They should be an expression of your relationship together. Authentic, genuine, intimate, beautiful , and fun!
1. Be Willing
Be willing to get into the right field or beach, with the right light and the right backdrop. We may have to walk around the side of a falling-down building or about 40 yards into the woods where the grass keeps getting taller as you go. If you've spent much time in New Jersey you'll know that our summers bring with it some allergies, some unfriendly little bugs, and who knows what else. So how do you get beautiful shots in a pretty forest or field or beach with gorgeous light? You suck it up. After you push through it - you get some fantastic photos! Any full-time photographer will be able to help you overcome these obstacles. Even though this is our job, nothing spoils it more than a couple who wants the perfect product but isn’t willing. SO - make it fun! Laugh about the walk, make him give you a piggyback ride, or relax and enjoy a shoot that ideally comes around once in a lifetime
“The best shoots come when the willingness to love each other shines through. Cuddle close, laugh loud, and touch gentle!”
2. Back Him Up
Back him up. This tip is for our brides because whether you know it or not this whole process is likely really uncomfortable for your guy. Photos are odd things for a lot of men and you’d be surprised how far it’ll go for you to tell him that he looks good too. Encourage him to just be present with you and ignore the camera and you’ll like the guy next to you in the photos.
Do’s:
- Make this an experience
- Enjoy a day to shop for you
Do Not’s:
- Try to be others, be you!
3. Be Active
What makes a gorgeous engagement shoot is for you to feel free to have fun and hang out! That said, there are a few rules. Keep your back arched, keep your eyes either into each other or low, keep your hands busy, keep your feet deliberate, etc. While I give you a million little rules that might cloud your mind on a shoot, the goal remains the same. Give you things to HELP you look good, and the flexibility to look natural together!
Do’s:
- Keep your hands busy
- Eyes on each other
- Move with each other
4. Outfits
Outfits matter but fit matters more. We're not the kind of company to tell you what to wear. In fact if you step out of the car and you feel confident in what you’re wearing, that confidence will shine through in your images. This will further enhance your flirty energy with each other in a really photogenic way. That being said, keep it simple. Wild textures and patterns and bright colors can have a tendency to take away from the emotion in an image. Some of the most stunning images we’ve ever seen from an engagement session were in basic earth tones and simple outfits. We want you to feel cute, but we want your connection to do most of the talking.
“Intertwine with each other the way your lives have”
5. Connection
Mood: Find a spot to slow down
Always Be Touching: You cannot be too lovey on this shoot
Connection is everything. You’ll likely feel a tiny bit awkward at first and there’s usually a lot of talking for the first few minutes because you’re trying to get comfortable. That is all totally fine, but sooner rather than later, we want you guys to just be calm together. Find a mood, a place emotionally where you guys can be very true to yourselves and not clutter up a moment with chatter. Stillness and simplicity are absolutely beautiful things in an image. The more calm you can find in each other the more connection we’ll be able to find in the photos.
“Nothing tells your story more than the way you touch, smile, love, and look at each other. Connect with each other as if no one is judging or watching.”
6. Make A Day Of It
Make a day of it. If you have to work half a day before your meeting, try to sneak out early enough to grab lunch together. Grab a rose or a beer and just laugh together, rather than rushing to finish your hair and makeup and running five minutes behind. Show up early, listen to some good music in the car, hold hands and flirt. We want your photos to be of two people wildly in love. We understand that life can be busy so sometimes you have to be intentional about carving out time for each other before the camera even shows up
7. Light Trumps Location
Light trumps location. We look for places for your shoot that will be beautiful backdrops and environments for you. This can be a waterfall or a walking trail, city streets or a roof top. But what matters most is light. We actually want you guys to start to feel and see what we look for with the light. This will help you guys to kind of know what we’re looking at during moments that we don’t want to interrupt to reposition you.
8. Go Easy
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Photos have a tendency of bringing out some insecurities sometimes. Keep in mind we aren’t trying to make you look perfect individually, we’re trying to capture you as a couple. He isn’t marrying the photoshopped version of you, he loves YOU. So when you see these photos, don’t nitpick yourself but instead look for your relationship in the photos. We aren’t shooting for likes or comments here. We’re shooting for that moment when your grandkids see you two and swoon over how in love and young you once were.
9. Party Of Three
Don’t bring backup. There's nothing more awkward than a third wheel during an engagement session. (We don’t count and neither does your pup). Bringing a mom, friend, random aunt, stylist or really anybody else is an absolute recipe for making the whole thing awkward. We promise - we’ll help make sure your makeup looks nice, that your hair’s in place, and that you feel pretty but our goals will almost never align with their goals and the shoots end up not looking natural at all with another person watching.
10. PDA
This isn’t PDA. We’re not going to ask you guys to make out in public, in fact we don’t typically ask our couples to kiss at all. But being really close, really intimate, and really engaged with each other is so important. Hold hands, laugh, flirt, snuggle, find ways to show love without saying a word.
11. Purpose
Unless you’ve booked an adventure session with us (3-4 hours including video) most engagement sessions are about 90 minutes long. Bring two outfits (a third if you just can’t make up your mind) and don’t you dare argue on your way there. Jump out, snuggle up, and just be present. There is something so beautiful and simple about a couple who can simply BE TOGETHER. We are looking forward to this as much as you are. In fact these sessions tell us so much about how you guys are going to interact on the big day so try as hard as you can to give us full access to you guys as a couple. This will enable us to be even better for you on the wedding day.
So there you have it!. My perspective on what matters and what doesn’t. We don’t want you to be placed in your own memories. Ultimately our photography should be about weddings, not about photography. So put away pinterest. Stop picturing your memories in pictures and allow the moments that are real to be real. Allow this session to be a fun afternoon wandering and enjoying time together and be intentional with each other about the stuff that matters. The one photo that ends up on your guest’s refrigerator won’t change the way they see you. However, if you take the time to be real, you’ll cherish this little photoshoot for years to come.
