Tips for a Successful Engagement Session.

Are you a Bride-To-Be?
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Are you a photographer?
I would love to hear what you think makes for great engagement photos.  Please comment below.

Making my clients happy, makes me happy.  And, one of my first opportunities to give my clients beautiful pictures, and an experience they’ll remember forever, comes during the engagement session.  It’s my first opportunity to get to know my clients, and to exploit their personalities, in a good way of course.  And, it gives my clients an opportunity to get comfortable in front of the lens without the stress, and fast-paced nature of the wedding day.

I get a lot of questions about engagement sessions, and thought I would share my thoughts on how you can help make your engagement photos look great.

1. Location
The most common question is always about location.  There’s no doubt that location plays an important role when it comes to engagement photos.  But, it’s not the most important factor when it comes to the aesthetics of the final product.  The most important thing is that you choose a location that is important to you.  It could be the place you first met, or any other place that is significant to the both of you.  Choosing a location that you both care about will allow you to relax a little more, and will give you those warm fuzzies that I’m looking for.

2. What to Wear
Simply, look hot.  Don’t be afraid to dress up.  The more personality
you put into your attire, the more personality will show up in your
photos.  Exploit who you are to the extreme.  Simply put, don’t be a
Schlumpadinka, as Oprah would say (yes, I watch Oprah). 

And no matter what you decide to wear, put on some great shoes.  Pimpin’ shoes make the outfit.  Don’t overlook this key detail.

3. Props
No, I’m not talking about props like, “you gotta give that girl props for her shoes.”  I mean props like stage props, without the stage of course.  In addition to pimpin’ your clothes, bringing something along that express who you are as a couple never hurts.  Your dog, funky cars, hats, skateboards, or whatever you share with your honey are all things that will add to your photos. 

4. Time of Day
A lot of people also ask me when the best time to shoot is.  Although I can shoot any time of day, the best time is late in the day when the sun gets lower in the sky.  The light gets softer and more golden.  Besides aren’t evenings more romantic?

5. Get Comfy
One of the most important things you can do is get comfortable in front of the camera.  A lot of people have never been photographed before, and the thought of someone firing away with a big camera in their face is terrifying.  Although I’ll do everything I can to put you at ease, the simplest way to relax is to focus on your loved one, not me.  Forget me.

I guarantee if you do the things above, and immerse yourself in the moment with your loved one, you’ll end up with some beautiful pictures, and an experience that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.