What is an Engagement Shoot?
An engagement shoot is a photoshoot for an engaged couple. It’s a great way to do dry run for the big day and allows us to get to know each other a little better and it helps you feel more comfortable in front of a camera. You’ll also get some lovely, relaxed photos of the two of you that you can add to your wedding album or use for ‘save the date’ cards and invitations. The engagement session can happen anytime, up to a month before the wedding.
What to expect?
- A two hour photoshoot, where the focus is on getting you relaxed in front of the camera. We will absolutely get some beautiful photos.
- We’ll start by wandering around the shoot location you. I’ll position you in a place where the light is good and then I’ll give you some verbal cues to start interacting naturally with one another.
- Early in the engagement session I will usually stand far away and use a telephoto lens to give you some space between yourselves and a big camera. I might start with something like walk along the path holding hands, and every few seconds stop and look at one another, maybe kiss and then start walking again.
- The more affectionate you are with one another the more I will just allow you to do your thing and capture your interactions from a distance. If you need a little more direction, I will step in a give you a few tips.
- I’ll also you exercises to try to get you laughing and playing with one another to get a variety of photos for your session, some romantic and others more playful.
- As you get more confident, I’ll give you a few posing tips that will make your body look its best in front of the camera.
- In the end, its an opportunity for the two of you to get much more comfortable in front of the camera, and for me to understand the best way to interact with you to get the shots that I need.
- All in all, most couples have a lot of fun during the shoot, and then complete the evening by going out to dinner with one another.
Preparing for your Engagement Shoot
- Allow yourself extra time to perfect your wardrobe, style yourself, and travel. We recommend arriving for your session early and take the opportunity to enjoy a few moments of relaxation before we begin.
- It is not necessary to accessorize your session with props unless it has already been discussed as an integral part of your session. We create timeless portraits that are natural, relaxed and pure, and we find that keeping themes simple allows for real moments, expressions and interactions.
- We encourage you to embrace whatever mood you feel during your session. Feel free to relax, laugh and have a good time. Portraits are best when you are being yourself. It’s important to remember that just because there is a camera pointing at you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be looking at the camera. Sometimes the strongest images are created when you are interacting with one another and enjoying a moment as opposed to posing.
What to Wear
Check out our Engagement Style Guide for all the information you need to get ready for your engagement shoot.
Here a few other generic guidelines and suggestions to consider when selecting your wardrobe:
- Simplicity is always best, so when in doubt keep in mind that “less is more”.
- Avoid patterns and stripes in more than one piece of clothing, as they often will conflict with other elements in your portrait.
- Avoid logos, as they can be visually distracting. Avoid t-shirts, a collared polo shirt or button up shirt is usually better.
- Wear clothing that fits properly. A proper fit that allows you to move and feel comfortable will help you look more confident in your portrait.
- Always dress with full length in mind, including shoes and socks in your wardrobe consideration. Shoe styles should be simple and non distracting.
- If you wear glasses regularly, you should wear them for your session as we want you to look like you normally do. Don’t worry about shine or glare, as we know how to look for these things and photograph accordingly.
- We normally recommend wearing minimal jewellery for your portrait. Jewellery that you wear on a daily basis is fine, but we prefer to not have you accessorise and add extra jewellery that normally wouldn’t wear. If you do wear jewellery, it should be kept simple and it’s colour should be neutral and non-distracting.
- Apply makeup and style your hair as you normally would. Now is not the time to try out a new haircut or a new style of make-up that you aren’t comfortable with.
- A manicure using neutral or light coloured nail polish will make for some beautiful images that showcase your engagement ring.
- We don’t recommend going for a professional tan or intentionally tanning outdoors prior to your session. A fresh tan may look good in person but the camera is more sensitive to skin tones and you can appear an orange colour instead. A natural colour is always more flattering in photographs.
