How to prepare for your Engagement Shoot
Boston, Massachusetts
So you're engaged. They popped the question, you have the ring and now it's time to start planning the day you’ve always thought about. You want to document this time with an Engagement Session. Where do you start? Read along to find out how to prepare so you get the photos you can’t stop looking at cause you love them so much.
HOW TO CHOOSE A PHOTOGRAPHER
This is perhaps the most important piece of your journey in not just your Engagement Session but also your Wedding itself. The advice is simple. Get to know what your style is. There are different types of photographic styles that you will want to make sure you can recognize so as to understand what it is you’re liking and not liking. Start with reading about what these styles are. Vogue has done the work for you and created a great guide on “Everything you need to know about Wedding Photography Styles” . Make this your first step. Evaluate what you think your style is. You may like a combined approach. It’s not always black and white.
Night time session/ Lindsay & Marcus / North End, Boston
NEXT UP TO CONSIDER..
Now that you’ve chosen your photographer you will want to figure out where to do your session. I’ve photographed in a lot of different locations. My advice is to try and pick something that is sentimental to you and your partner. The beach you go to every weekend in the summer, your favorite trail you take your dogs on, or even the restaurant you went to on your first date. Have fun with it. Don’t be afraid to do something different and add in personal touches. When you look back at these photos they should feel like a great memory of a place that you loved in a time that felt special.
Pizza to end the night
THE DETAILS
The hard part actually is what to wear. Always, always be authentic. You want to feel comfortable and confident and to do this you must stick with the style that feels like its you. Don’t be someone else and don’t make your partner be somebody else. This can totally be a time where you dress up for a night on the town or to dress down and keep it relaxed and casual. Remember your setting and remember that being in front of a camera can bring up some uncomfortable feelings. What to wear is very important to the mood you will be in on the shoot as well. You don’t want to be fidgeting with a loose fit or bra straps that keep popping out. Make sure to lay outfit choices next to each other to see that they pair well and always try on your outfits before hand to make sure they fit and it’s something you love. Lastly, accessorize with little touches of jewelry, hats and/or jackets. It adds so much depth to photos to have these little details. Your photographer should be happy to help you with tips and tricks on wardrobe do’s and dont’s.
ANDDD ACTION
The day has arrived and it’s time to shoot. Take a deep breath and remember that your photographer is a professional. They are invested in these photos just as much as you are. So the advice here is to simply trust. Trust that your photographer is getting the shots. Have fun and focus on why you're doing it and be completely in the moment with your partner.
LOOKING BACK
When you get those photos back make it special. Crack a bottle of wine at dinner and review them together. Mirror the album onto your tv as a slideshow and relax on the couch. Looking at them as a whole is an important piece of the experience. Lastly, get these babies printed. Whether you order prints or make an album just make sure to do it. These photos will be heirloom pieces that sit in your homes and memory boxes for the rest of your lives. Don’t let them gather dust inside a computer.
X Cory