What is engagement photography?
Engagement photography, sometimes called an engagement session, pre wedding session, E – session or even engagement shoot.
It’s basically a portrait session of you and your fiancé that is photographed in a location that preferably has a special meaning to you both. An example would be somewhere you both like to hang out or where he proposed.
There are many benefits to having an engagement session and should be considered by anyone getting married.
Especially if you haven’t been photographed by a professional photographer. Feeling comfortable in front of the camera can help your photos on your wedding day.
It’s also a great way to get to know your photographer. Building rapport with your photographer, will help you gain trust in them, considering how much time you’re going to spend together on your wedding day, that’s a big bonus.
If you do decide and add an engagement photography session to your wedding package. Do something with the photos and enjoy them and don’t just let them sit on a USB in a draw.
Some ideas are:
- Save the date cards
- Wedding invitation
- Photos for the wedding day
- Thank you cards or Christmas cards
- Guest signing book for your wedding day
- Framed desk photo for work or a wall print for home
So what are the advantages?
No body likes having their photo taken. So taking advantage of this time to get used to being in front of the camera is one.
Other than the bridle party your photographer will be with you the most on your wedding day.
Get used to having them taking your photo. Ask questions and let your photographer know what you do and don’t like.
Plus your wedding photographer knows your not a model. They will help you to feel comfortable and make you look your best.
Also use this opportunity to start gaining trust in your wedding photographer.
Another benefit is that its away from the stress of your wedding day.
Just you and your fiancé enjoying each others company. Keep that in mind and try to relax and have fun with it, your photos will look so much better if you do.
Consider doing your hair or make up trial on the same day as your engagement session.
It will give you an idea how you will look in your wedding photos. It’s a chance to give feedback to your hair stylist and make up artist if they need to make adjustments for your wedding.
As a photographer, I enjoy these sessions, it gives my couples and myself a chance to get to know each other better.
My couples get to see how I work. It helps them to build trust in me, and on their wedding day they will feel more relaxed.
It’s also an opportunity for my couples to ask more, in depth questions they might of forgotten to ask during our first meeting.
I’ve booked an engagement session, now what?
Firstly have an end goal for your engagement photos. This will help you to plan your session and also help your photographer understand the type of photos you’re after.
Say you wanted to use some of the photos to create a guest signing book for your wedding. Your photographer would be taking a variety of photos during your session. But if you told them exactly how the photos will be used, it would them help to meet your expectations and setup the photos accordingly.
The same would apply if you wanted to create a save the date card or wedding invitation. The orientation of the card or invite would dictate the type of photo you could use.
As for the session it’s self. – Keep in mind that if you keep it simple, it will be less stressful.
Most couples I’ve photographed prefer to keep it casual. One outfit and one to two locations in their two hour engagement session.
Now on the other end of the spectrum,
If you have a theme you want to incorporate. Especially if you wanted to use the photos for display at your engagement party, that had the same theme.
An example would be – You’re in to black and white films. Dressing up to reflect that particular era. Acting out a scene from your favourite movie using props, and a location could be fun.
Choosing a location and time of day
A location will depend what type of session your after. I always ask my couples to first consider a locations that has special meaning.
- Where you went for the first date or had you your first kiss together.
- Where he proposed
- Maybe somewhere you both like to hang out, that sort of thing.
If you are looking for inspiration, Canberra is only two hours from the south coast. Plenty of beaches, that would be perfect for a beach engagement session. How about a valentines day engagement session at the beach?
Locally though, Canberra is beautiful with some of the best scenery. Yarralumla , lake Burley Griffin and Australian national botanic gardens are favourites and so is the National Arboretum.
The time of day can dramatically change the look of your photos.
Depending the time of year and the length of the session. I prefer to photograph one to three hours from sunset.
The sun is on it’s decent and we head in to what is known as golden hour. The closer the sun is to the horizon, the warmer the tone of light and flattering skin tones.
What to wear?
Ultimately you should pick a clothes style that is YOU.
Some couples like to start with casual and then move on to something a bit more dressy. The bonus is you get to different looks from the one session.
Also consider were the photos will be taken. If it’s say a beach then casual it will work best. Where if you decide on a park then you could get away with something more dressy.
- If you do decided casual. Don’t wear anything with big logos on your t-shirt or polo.
- Solid colours work best. If your clothes do have a bit of a pattern it’s fine. Just remember we don’t want to take away attention from your face.
- Match your style of clothes No, that doesn’t mean matching outfits as if you’re part of a opening ceremony. If your fiancé is wearing smart casual, do the same.
Final thoughts
Hopefully this information on engagement photography has been useful and answered some questions you might of had about an about including an engagement session with your wedding package.
One thing you should remember is that it’s about YOU and the love you have for each other.
This is the start of a exciting time in your lives together. RELAX and have FUN with it.
If you have any questions, send then using my contact form or call me on 0410 691 114.
If you are still looking for a wedding photographer. Consider booking Biblino Images. My standard wedding package includes an engagement photography session. The sessions I run, usually are 1 -2 hours in length and are casual and relaxed.