Hi, friends! Spring is upon us and with that comes the start of Spring Engagement season! I, for one, am so glad that winter is almost over and that the flowers are out on the trees! This is one of my favorite times of the year!!

With that in mind, I thought it’s about time I blogged about preparing for your Engagement session! I hope these suggestions will be helpful & as always, please reach out if have any specific questions! I love helping my couples plan! Now, on to the tips!

1. Be prepared to have Fun! One of the biggest tips I can give is to approach your Engagement session the same way you would a date. More than simply another task on your Wedding Checklist, your Engagement session can be a great way to reconnect and spend some quality time with your love, if you approach it that way! And bonus, the more relaxed and at ease you can be in your photographs, the better they turn out!

2. Keeping in mind the idea that your Engagement Session is like a date, think about locations and activities that are unique to your relationship. I love mixing a combination of traditional portraits with more interactive, candid moments during an Engagement session. Passionate about cooking together? Let’s end the session in the kitchen! Love sipping wine on the patio in the summer? Let’s head to the patio of a local restaurant! Where did you go on your first date? Or, where were you engaged? Locations unique to your relationship can add another element of meaning to your engagement photos!

3. Next, when thinking about locations, think through your family & friends – does someone you know have access to a unique location that’s not typically open to the public? A family lake house, a boat, or beachside property? Picking a location not available to the public is a great way to insure that your engagement session is unique!

4. Tips on What to Wear – For me, this is the hardest part! And, I know I’m not alone! Choosing what outfits will photograph well can be tough! Before we get into specific ideas, I encourage you to think about what each of you will be comfortable in! When you feel comfortable, you look and feel confident. And confidence, my friends, always photographs well!

When thinking about how you & your partner’s outfits will photograph together, avoid being too “matchy matchy,” instead, choose colors and patterns that work well together. I also suggest picking outfits with colors that compliment the location. For example, if your session is taking place in a natural environment (like a park or garden), I suggest going with shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, blue, etc. which will really pop in a natural setting. For more urban settings with a lot of neutral colors, I suggest picking bolder colors (instead of neutrals) that really pop! Stripes, polka dots and patterns are lovely as well! When thinking about patterns, stick with medium to large prints (tiny prints and stripes are hard for the camera to pick up on!).

5. I usually recommend an outfit change mid-way through the session to spice things up! Usually couples will choose one more relaxed/casual outfit and then change to something a little more dressy (examples: girl in a dress, guy in a button-up).

Also, this is a random tip, but lately, I have loved how a simple blue button-up photographs on guys! It’s an effortless classic!

6. Also, you are welcome to bring props if you’d like but please keep them meaningful! I will be focusing on the relationship & interaction between you! Some couples have incorporated a sign with the wedding date, or an item that was part of the proposal story, for example.

7. The Ring – I will also be taking close-up photos of the engagement ring by itself, so it’s a great idea to have the ring cleaned right before the session! I love seeing that rock really sparkle 😉

8. I will be taking some photos that showcase the ring on your hand, so this is also a great time for a new manicure!

9. Timing – I suggest starting your Engagement session about 2.5 hours before sunset! This insures that we have plenty of pretty natural light to work with! And, this time at the end of the day (or around sunrise) is when the quality of light is most flattering! With that in mind, please be on time! Unfortunately, I cannot delay the sun going down & a late start can cut into your photo time!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips & I’m excited for all the Engagement sessions to come!