Engagement Photo Shoot 101
Woohoo! Congratulations! YOU ARE ENGAGED! We could not be any more excited for you! This is such an amazing, and huge step in your relationship together. Your partner has been planning the proposal for a while now, and we are confident it was beyond special. It was everything you could have dreamed of, and more! Maybe you dropped some hints for what you wanted your engagement ring to look like, maybe you helped design it, or maybe you put your trust all in and was completely surprised! No matter how your engagement story was written, this is a moment that should be cherished. After all, why not capture this chapter before leading into the next? Engagement photo shoots have always been highly popular, and for good reason! It is like a test drive before buying the new car.
Aside from showing off your new bling (and hello... fiance!), with an engagement shoot you have the perfect opportunity to iron out any wrinkles which can be avoided on your wedding day. Engagement shoots are meant to be a celebratory occasion, but there is also some method behind that madness of organizing yet another date in your planning process.
First of all, you get to test drive your photographer! Yes, chances are you already put down a deposit for your photographer, and yes, you already know you like their style from the hours of research (or stalking) you did on their work and social media accounts, but now it is time to test out those poses, build and strengthen your relationship, and even begin to create a shot list for the big day. Trust us when we say the relationship you build with your photographer is everlasting and oh so important. They could potentially shoot not only your engagement and wedding photos, but also maternity and family photos for years to come. If you find something good, build on it!
Secondly, these photos will help you (yes, help you!) in your wedding planning. These photos are the perfect mix of content to add onto your wedding website, Save the Date and RSVP cards! Make your whole wedding planning process personal by including your most recent professional photos, and have all of your friends and family get giddy over how good the newly engaged couple looks!
What is a photoshoot without professional hair and make up? Get out of our head... yes we are talking about testing out your hair and makeup stylists! Go ahead and name a better opportunity to have your photographer, hair and makeup stylist work together - we’ll wait. An engagement shoot is the optimal time to try a hairstyle you aren’t sold on yet, or to test out the fake eyelashes, red lips, and winged eyeliner that is totally different than your everyday makeup routine.
Location, location location! Have fun with this one! Since most weddings are more structured and “rule following”, this is your opportunity to do something crazy. Have a photoshoot at your family's lake house while you are jumping off the dock into the water. Wanting your photoshoot in the winter? Go skating on your local pond, or even have a fun, soft hearted snowball fight! Bring your relationship personalities out in these photos, and allow the emotion to be felt by anyone viewing them. Enjoy these moments, they’re so special.
Make sure you dress appropriately for whatever you have planned for your engagement photos (thanks, Mom!) and be sure to hand your photographer a photo list of some angles that you were hoping to capture. Try not to stress too much, just by you and your partner smiling the photos will turn out beautifully. Have fun with this! This is the beginning of the next chapter, and it goes by quicker than you will believe.