Peace of mind on how to plan for your engagement session.

Your engagement session is once in a lifetime, so let’s do it right! Yeah?

You might be asking yourself, How do you plan for your engagement session? Where do you start? I am here to provide you with tips you probably have not thought of and do not know yet.

I have tips for the Bride, Groom and tips for you as a Couple! My hope is for you to enjoy this engagement process. These tips for planning your engagement session will help you have peace of mind. You will walk into your session feeling confident and radiant as a couple! 

Tips for How Bride’s Plan for their Engagement Session

Brides, these tips are for you. How do you plan for your engagement session?

For the Bride to be, I have 3 tips for you! This will help you feel like a million bucks during your session! 

1.Wear a dress/outfit you feel confident in! 

An outfit can change how you feel. When you are planning on having photos taken, feeling confident is a must! This is the best way to create a wonderful atmosphere to start off your engagement session with your best friend. 

I highly recommend wearing a dress, however it is not required of course. If a dress is not your thing, no worries, but remember that this is your time to shine. Your engagement season is once in a lifetime so go ALL out! Wear the dress and buy the gown you’ve been dreaming of. Shop for the skirt you’ve been eyeing or the earrings you’ve been wanting. I do recommend avoiding shorts and jeans at all cost (;

 Whatever you wear is perfectly fine as long as you feel 100% confident in it. If you feel like you could walk a red carpet or model in a fashion show you’re doing it right! 

2. Use your engagement session as your Makeup Trial

This can make planning for your engagement session a breeze. If you’re having a makeup trial, your engagement session is the perfect time to have your trial done! Your makeup will look fabulous so what better way to show it off than your engagement photos? 

However, If you are not having a makeup trial, worry not. My biggest advice to you, if you are doing your own make up, is to put on heavier makeup than usual. This will allow your makeup to stand out well in your photos. The images that will be used for your save the dates, Wedding Website and hanging wall pictures will look fabulous. You will be so grateful how they turned out! 

3. It’s all in the details

It is incredibly important to remember the small details. For example; Your ring. Make sure your ring is sparkly clean, you will want good photos of your new jewelry! Your shoes can change the way an outfit looks. Make sure to choose a shoe that compliments your outfit. It also needs to pair well with the location you are going to for your engagement session. Make sure to bring Hairspray or a Brush. If your hair is in an updo or curly, hairspray is key. Let’s make sure your hairstyle stays picture perfect throughout your session. A brush if you are wearing your hair straight or have a ponytail. These things will make a world of a difference during your session!

Tips for How Groom‘s Plan for their Engagement Session

Grooms, these tips are for you. How do you plan for your engagement session?

The thought of an engagement session might sound boring or stressful to you. However, I can guarantee these tips will make it seem a lot easier. And who knows you may actually end up enjoying the process!

1. What you wear is important too

It may seem like it is all about the bride. But when it comes to the engagement session or season in general, YOU play a huge role too. Your outfit for your engagement pictures can change the way you feel and how the photos will turn out! 

My biggest advice to you when it comes to your attire is to wear solids. Your bride might be wearing lace, a pattern or something unique. In order to create a cohesive look together, wearing solid colors is key! 

The second biggest advice is to please wear an undershirt! This might be news to you or it could be second nature. Either way, I cannot stress enough how important it is to wear an undershirt. It makes you feel more comfortable and the photos will turn out smoother. 

Shoes can throw off an entire outfit. Be sure to consider the type of outfit you are wearing, and the location when it comes to shoes. Let’s make sure everything blends well and nothing stands out.

Avoid logos and neon colors. I know this might be tough, but I promise you have something in your closet that will work. Consider something you would wear to a work meeting or a nice date for your engagement photos. A few colors that always look good: White, Black, Blue, Cream/Tan, Grey. If you’re indecisive you cannot go wrong with these colors!

2. Eat Before You Arrive

You like this one right? It is not only enjoyable but essential for a seamless experience taking photos! If you are hungry or even a little hungry it is not going to be a fun experience with you. You will most likely end up disliking everything that we do and just want to go home. So please eat something, even if it’s a protein shake, protein bar or a sandwich. It can be something light on your stomach so you do not feel stuffed. You definitely need to be satisfied when you arrive. Then, when you leave the session you can still go out on a cute or fancy date together. By then you’ll start to feel a little hungry after all the walking we will do haha 

3. Your hair matters too

Bring a brush If you have long hair, or a certain style you want your hair to be in. Consider putting gel or mouse in it. We will be outside for 1-2 hours so it is bound to shift a bit. You may even get sweaty from all the fun we are having!

When you get your photos back, I want your first impression to be how happy you felt with your fianceé. Not looking back thinking, “man I wish I had done something to my hair”. This will allow you to have a smoother experience on session day. Knowing your hair is in place wont have you worrying about it at all. Feel free to let your photographer know the look you’re going for when you arrive. They will be more than happy to help you remember if anything shifts.

4. Have a Trial Run

Now I know this may not be the most fun idea, however it might make you feel more at ease. Putting everything together the week of your session or the day before can make a difference. Try on the shoes, make sure you have a solid shirt, and coordinating pants. Figure out what hair style you want to have. Decide how you will style it so it lasts the full session time.

Once you do this, I guarantee you, you will feel more comfortable. You will have peace of mind for your session that week. No more rushing around or nervous energy because you have everything planned out and ready to go!

Tips for How a Couple Plans for their Engagement Session Together

Couples, how do you plan for your engagement session together?

We have identified things you will work on individually, now let’s dive into how you should prepare as a couple! Because that’s why we’re here right?

Let’s make this session the best it can be! 

1.Coordinate instead of Match

When it comes to your outfits we have to make sure they flow well together. If the Bride is wearing white, I do NOT recommend the Groom to wear white as well. You will want to add contrast to your attire by adding in a Blue or Black Suit Jacket to go with your white shirt. The key is to make sure that you are balancing the lights and blacks. 

For example: If the Bride is wearing a Blue Dress, The Groom could wear a White button down with dark blue or black pants. Or if the Bride is wearing a White dress, the Groom could wear a Blue shirt with Khaki or Stone color pants. 

Does it make sense?

I will be sure to share examples with you visually as well! 

2. Be 15 minutes early

Being early is always a great idea, right? But this will also allow for any nerves to settle in as well. There is nothing worse than having an argument in the car about being late before you get to your session. This will create a bad tone for your relationship and then your session will feel forced and not genuine. Arrive as early as you can. Plan for traffic and take 15 minutes to just breathe together in the car and relax before your session begins! 

Example if your session starts at 5:30pm plan to arrive at 5:10pm or 5:15pm

3. Treat your Session like a date!

Forget the photographer is there. Sink into the moment and focus on each other. It is just the two of you enjoying each other’s company. You have a beautiful relationship and that is what we are here to capture, the real, raw, authentic moments. Don’t worry, you will have direction when needed. Overall be in tune with one another and share as many real moments as possible. This will create the genuine feel you know and love.

4. Always be touching 

This idea might sound weird to you. I promise it is even weirder if on your “date” you are not holding hands or hugging each other. Lean in and be present with one another with your emotions. Hold her hand, kiss her hand, lean on his shoulder, spin her around, give him a kiss on the cheek. The best thing to do when you do not know what to do is to be affectionate at all times.

It is the most awkward thing when a couple is just standing there separated. Do no stare at the camera as if you do not know each other. Look at each other at all times, unless otherwise directed. We are there to capture your love story so let’s show some love!

5. Be 100% yourselves 

This goes hand and hand with the last two tips. You might automatically do this while you are on your “date”. However, never be afraid to laugh with each other. Shed a tear when your partner says something sweet, or be silly and make a joke if that’s your thing. Whatever you do on the norm is what your photographer wants to see! This is about you and your partner’s love story. We cannot capture the realness unless the real thing is in front of us. So never be afraid to show your true personality, it will shine through!

6. Trust your photographer 

You chose your photographer for a reason right? So I would assume you love their work and you are excited to work with them! When there is direction and time for a prompt or pose, trust them, and go with it!

When it comes to angles or how the photos are turning out throughout the session, try to relax. Have peace of mind that your photographer knows exactly what to do. They are making sure they are getting all the right angles and photos for you. Your photographer is going to make sure you look good and direct you as needed. You are in good hands with a professional! We are just as much about your photos as you do, maybe more!

After the session is complete and it is waiting time, trust that your photographer is working on the gallery diligently. They will get the photos to you in the time they promised. Before the session is over, feel free to double check with them so you are all on the same page. Any professional should update you with the turnaround time, making sure you are fully aware of the gallery delivery.

7. Have fun!

Last but not least, remember to have fun and enjoy your time together! Your session is meant to be fun and to capture the love and joy you two have for each other! It is not a chore or a task that is boring, I promise! It will be enjoyable as long as you make the most of it and stay in tune with your partner throughout the entire session.

This will be a great way for you to bond with one another. Get to know each other on a deeper level.

If your engagement session is with your wedding photographer, this is a great time to get to know them! Spend quality time learning about them. Learn their style and how they will shoot on the wedding day! This process is a blast! and I am so excited for the two of you to go through this process together! Create fun memories and lasting moments as a new couple! 

Congratulations to you both and I hope this has brought you peace of mind through your engagement season!

For more Resources like this one, Click Here to view my top post on Steps Engaged Couple Should Take in the Engagement Season.

If you’re looking for a Photographer,  I serve couples in Tampa Florida and Destination. I give them a personalized, genuine experience with timeless imagery that tells a story! It will be an honor to work with you wherever your love story is!

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