I love engagement shoots, they are such a happy occasion and so much fun! You might be wondering what an engagement shoot is or why on earth you should have one. Here I talk about why I think they are a great idea and what to expect on the day. Plus I give my engagement shoot tips and advice for getting the best out of the shoot.
Why should we consider an engagement shoot?
You have just got engaged and you are super excited for your big day. Rightly so, it’s going to be amazing! It is a magical time for all couples and you have so much to look forward to in the months ahead. You now have lots of exciting things to plan, wedding venues to visit, flowers to choose, cakes to (try out first of course) order and wedding guest lists to compose.
Let’s not forget the main reason that you got engaged in the first place. You want to spend the rest of your lives with each other, your best friend. You want to grow old together and make lots of happy memories along the way. This happy time should be celebrated and documented. What better way to do so than with an engagement shoot? It is a great opportunity for you to celebrate such a happy milestone in your relationship. Plus you will get some wonderful shots of the two of you for you to treasure forever!
An engagement shoot fills me with dread
A lot of couples I work with tell me they are not comfortable in front of the camera. This is where I come in! It is my job to make you feel more at ease so that we can get the best from the engagement shoot. During an engagement shoot, I endeavour to make my couples feel as comfortable as they possibly can. I want you to try and forget that you are even in front of the camera. It’s important to me to capture the natural interaction between the two of you. The laughter and the smiles and the special tender moments.
Whilst we are walking around I will be looking for the best backdrops with the most flattering light. I want you to look your best in every shot. If you are unsure what to do, how to stand, or where to put your hands, I will help you out and give you a bit of direction. Most importantly though, I want to capture you guys just being you, and looking awesome with it. By the end of the photoshoot, I guarantee that you will have enjoyed it and you will be ready for your wedding photos on your special day.
What should we wear for our engagement shoot?
A very important one! Wear something comfortable for your engagement shoot! There is nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable in your clothes, it will certainly show in your images. Have a think about it before the session and try and co-ordinate your outfits to a certain extent. If you decide on smart you should both be smart, casual then both casual. Try and choose clothes that suit you, your style and also the location that you choose for the shoot. Remember that this is a really special occasion and you want to look your best in your images. If it were me I would wear something a bit special.
I also advise on nothing too patterned. No big logo’s as they can be distracting and nothing that will date too much over time. You want your images to be timeless. Personally, I love neutral colours as I feel they look best in photographs.
Where should we have our engagement shoot?
This is quite an important one and it can make the difference between a good engagement shoot and a great shoot. Try and choose somewhere that has some emotional meaning to the two of you. Maybe the city where you both met, the park that you took your first stroll in or had a picnic in on your first date. If you don’t have a special place then that’s fine, just pick somewhere that you like the look of or somewhere that you enjoy going to as a couple. A city centre can make a great location as can a pretty park or national trust property. Wherever we do the engagement shoot we will get a real range of engagement photos in different locations. Don’t worry if you get really stuck, we will find somewhere together.
What should we expect at our engagement shoot
I like to keep engagement shoots as relaxed as possible and I want you to have a great experience, and have fun. When we first meet up we will go for a wander around and have a chat. I like to get to know you a bit better and plus, I love an engagement story. When I spot a good location where the backdrop is good and so is the lighting, we will stop and take a few pictures there, then we will move on. The session will be really informal so that we can get the best from it. I want to try and make it as relaxed and as fun as possible.
Afterwards, I like to get your images to you as soon as possible. I know you will be excited to see them, just give me a couple of weeks max!
I hope you have enjoyed reading my engagement shoot tips and advice blog. If you would like to book an engagement shoot then I would love to hear from you. Please contact me here if you would like to discuss your wedding photography. I would love to hear all about your exciting wedding day.
