So many people (me included) get caught up in the what and where of the engagement session, but there is SO much more to a photo session than just what the photos look like in the end! I live for a final gallery that feels. A set of photos that shows who you and your love are, uniquely. If all we’re worried about is what you will wear and what the backdrop will be, the emotions you feel for each other will become a little invisible. So put the wardrobe and location list away for just a few minutes so we can give your engagement session all the feels!

Talk With Your Fiancé

Do not forget to talk to your lover about your photos! If you feel uncomfortable and awkward and anything but photogenic when you’re having your picture taken, chances are that your significant other is feeling all those things x1000 (then again, who doesn’t feel a little weird in front of a camera?). If you both know how each other feels about your photo session, it’ll be so much better for cheering each other on when the time comes.

Even though I said to forget about the clothes and the location, I’m going to touch on it very lightly. Choose something you can both agree on. Tensions coming from wearing something either of you don’t love or being somewhere that has been a frustration to settle on will show in your photos. Personally, I think that focusing on being present with your love will produce images that mean something to you, rather than being worried about making it to another location or fitting in one more outfit. Keep it simple, keep it comfortable.

Talk about what your expectations are so that you can be on the same page when it comes time for your pictures. Talk about your commitments on the day of your session so that you can keep them to a minimum to avoid stress day-of. If you’ve planned for your mom or best friend to come along to lend a helping hand, please please be sure you are both okay with having them there. Oftentimes having too many people around in a close proximity will make one or both of you clam up, making for a less-than authentic gallery. Discuss what you aren’t (or are) comfortable doing in front of someone else with a camera, especially when it comes to PDA. Talk about literally anything you want so that your engagements can go as smoothly as possible!

Gather Your Vision

To produce those images that mean something to you, considering how you want your photos to feel is an important step in your preparation. Are you and your fiancé fun-loving and free-spirited? Then let’s focus on those belly-laugh candid shots! Do you have a love that is deeply rooted in the small intimate moments? I’d love to pull more of the quiet touches into your photos.

Keep Me In The Loop

After you two have discussed your overall vision, tell me about them, too! It will allow me to tailor a session to exactly who you and your fiancé are without making you guys uncomfortable in the process. If you don’t want to kiss in front of the camera, that is VITAL for me to know before an engagement shoot! If you want specific shots, such as inspiration that you love on Pinterest, send them to me so that I can make sure you get them. My biggest priority is giving you a final gallery that will tell your unique story that you will want to pour over again and again.

Relax!

Most importantly, remember to RELAX. Having your photos done can be mentally taxing, so free up some of that mental space by planning ahead to have everything ready to go the day before your session. Leave earlier than you think you might need to so that you can avoid the stress of being late.

I’m not trying to tell you to not think about the particulars, like what to wear and how to do your hair. Those are important things as well! I just want you to remember to love each other. Your engagement pictures are a time set aside for you and your fiancé to spend with one another, so let’s make the most of it. :)