As you may have realized by now, I fully research almost anything I do - especially when it comes to our wedding. When it came to engagement photos, it was no different. I looked up how you coordinate outfits, what colors & patterns you shouldn’t wear, poses that produced the best photos and I even searched at length for a full description of what happens during the session so I could plan it all out. It helped ease my mind a little before, but to be honest, I forgot all of it the minute I got in front of the camera. There were some things I learned that I wish I could go back and tell myself:
- RELAX. Don’t worry about standing perfect, smiling right or reenacting a pose you saw on Pinterest. It will likely all come out looking forced and unnatural. So just relax and enjoy the moment!
- BE YOURSELF. This applies to so many things about engagement photos. Be yourself in picking your outfits! Wear something that is you. Also, be yourself during the session. This is the first and only significant amount of time your photographer will spend with you before your wedding. Getting to know the true you will help them do their best work!
- DON'T GO CRAZY COORDINATING OUTFITS. As I mentioned—wear something you love and feel great in! Otherwise you may constantly be worrying about adjusting it. Don’t worry if it’s timeless, looks a certain way or whether it's brand new. Don’t stress about outfit coordination either. I found there were very few things Drew and I had that really didn’t work together. The best thing to think about is that the style works together (i.e., don’t wear your best fancy dress and have him in jeans and casual shirt).
- DON'T OVERDO IT WITH PROPS. Really these photos are meant to capture you and your fiancé’s relationship. They are meant to be a reflection of a special time in your life. Props can be a great addition, but only if they don’t take away from the overall purpose of the engagement photos. I made a sign because we wanted to use it for our website, but really we took about 5 pictures with it and moved on.
- HAVE FUN. Just have fun with your groom and your photographer. Try to let go of the worries of how you look or whether your hair is perfect or that you did it right. There is no right or wrong. When you let loose and have some fun, the pictures will show a beautiful side of you!
I’ve shared one photo from our session that I love. It may not be something great to others, but I remember it was a moment where I finally relaxed, had fun and we were just our goofy selves!
