Engagement Photography – The photos you share with your loved ones are a glimpse into the moments of true love. A time when all that matters is being together and having fun. This blog post will explore why engagement photography is important on your wedding day, how to take great pictures for an engagement session, and what to avoid during this special occasion.
Table of Contents
1. Why Engagement Photography?
Your engagement photos are the first glimpse of your wedding day. It sets the mood and tone, so it’s important to have a great session. You may think that you don’t need any more pictures since you already have professional-grade family photos, but this is different. These are just for you!
It can be hard if not impossible to capture certain moments during your big day because there are too many people or distractions around. This is where an engagement photo session comes in handy; it allows both of you to get used to having your picture taken — something that will become second nature on your wedding day (but hopefully less awkward!). It also lets you try out poses and outfit combinations in advance, helping make things easier come your first anniversary.
2. How to Take Engagement Photos
Make sure that everyone knows that you’re having your picture taken, especially if it’s in a public area like a park or garden. This will save you the awkward stares and finger-pointing (and possibly the odd catcall) as you pose for pictures. You may decide to do this before or after hours; just make sure no one bothers you while you shoot!
Take photos of each other doing what makes you happy. If she loves baking, take cute pictures of her making cookies with flour dusted on her nose, even if he hates it (he can always lick off the flour later). Or maybe she loves running have her dress up as if she’s sprinting. You can even have fun with props! Since the focus is on her, have him wear a fake mustache and let her spray whipped cream into his face.
If you’re having your shoot in a public place, take note of its rules — most don’t allow people posing for photographs or taking wedding photos. If you accidentally violate that rule, it’s best to just explain your situation and ask if it won’t mess up any future plans (like weddings). They should understand and be willing to accommodate you if they’re reasonable.
Finally, leave yourself enough time to take plenty of shots while there are still good lighting conditions outside (if that means staying until nightfall then do so!). It’s too difficult to pose yourselves convincingly at night, especially if you’ll be trying out different outfits.
3. What to Avoid During an Engagement Session
Don’t spend too much time on taking your shots (you still have your wedding day after all!), but make sure you take enough photos to choose from for the album. The more photos you take, the greater the chances of there being one or two good ones!
Avoid awkward poses that are painful or uncomfortable — this means no standing on his shoulders while she’s kicking her legs in the air, climbing trees to get a better shot, balancing precariously on top of each other’s heads/shoulders, etc. Your photographer should have some expertise here so just follow their lead and don’t attempt anything too dangerous.
Don’t try to upstage the other by taking more attention-grabbing photos (e.g., posing as if you’re kissing passionately, striking a sexy pose, etc.). It’s fine if you want to take those kinds of shots separately but not during your engagement session as it will be distracting and may ruin all your other photos! Better yet, save those for later; your wedding day is about celebrating and strengthening the love between you and your fiancé, not trying to make each other jealous.
Do stay relaxed and calm — don’t worry about any wardrobe malfunctions or smudged makeup (you’ll have plenty of time on your wedding day to clean up). Just enjoy yourselves and don’t let any uncertainty get in the way of your photo shoot! The only thing you need to worry about is getting lost.
Remember, both of you are still strangers to the camera so there’s nothing wrong if it takes a few shots for you to feel comfortable in front of it. Fortunately, an engagement session doesn’t last long — just ten or fifteen minutes at most — so don’t let initial stage fright stop you from trying out different poses and having fun while doing so!
4. What Happens after Your Engagement Photo Shoot?
After your engagement photography session, put the photos into an album (or ask someone else to do it). You can even get other people to help by sending them through Facebook or Instagram if they’re not part of your immediate social circle. Make sure you focus on the good ones and choose those with complementary poses, facial expressions, etc.
Once your album is ready, show it to your fiancé or a few trusted friends who will be able to give an objective opinion on which photos are best for a wedding invitation card, website header image, social media cover photos, etc. If you’re having trouble deciding on the final selections then bring in a third party if possible — it will be difficult for your closest friends/family members to avoid showing favoritism!
Be sure not to omit any important photos from the album. A lot of people make this mistake so don’t let it happen! It’s also bad etiquette to have an engagement photo shoot without making any prints for the person who is supporting you the most during this time. If you have a tight budget then consider asking your fiancé to contribute so you have enough money for both of you!
In conclusion, an engagement photo shoot is a simple way to capture memories that will last a lifetime and they don’t have to be expensive or difficult if you just remember these four steps: Choose your photographer wisely Make sure there’s plenty of time for photos Pick outfits that are comfortable Don’t stress yourselves out with awkward stunts
