Making the most of your engagement shoot..

 

If you’re feeling a little nervous about your engagement shoot, or you just want to make sure you’re getting the most out of it, you are absolutely in the right place! I absolutely LOVE doing engagement shoots. I love getting to know my couples a little better, chatting about wedding plans and trying out different ideas to get a feel for what you like and what suits you.

We tend to cover a bit of everything in the shoots; whether it’s super natural photos of you walking together, some close-up cuddly ones, or some daft ones thrown in for good measure (piggy backs are a personal favourite). Here’s why I think engagement shoots are such an important part of your overall wedding photography..

  • We can get rid of any awkwardness you might feel in front of the camera ahead of the big day
  • We’ll be seeing a lot of each other at the wedding, so it’s a great chance for us to get to know each other a little better
  • You get a whole set of photos that you can use for your wedding invitations, guest book, or even just to put on Instagram!
  • Think of it as the dress rehearsal. You can look through your engagement photos and see which angles you think suit you best, what you’d like to create more of at the wedding, or what you’d like to avoid

Here are some top tips I’ve put together to make sure you get the most out of your engagement shoot…

1 – Wear something you feel good in

The question I get asked the most ahead of an engagement shoot is “what should we wear?!”. The best answer I can give you is to wear something that makes you feel good!

Sure, a tracksuit would be pretty comfy, but you’re probably not going to feel your best when you look back at the photos. In the same way, if you wear a ballgown on top of Malham Cove in the height of winter, we’ll get some cracking photos but you’ll be freezing your bum off. So I would say smart/ casual is a good place to start.

In terms of colours, think ‘light and bright’. Blacks and browns can sometimes mean you blend in a bit with the landscape around you, but neutrals (whites, beiges etc) or a bold colour can look awesome. Just be careful not to clash with what your partner is wearing!

Branded clothing or logos can sometimes be a little distracting too, so try to keep those to a minimum if you can help it.

2 – Choose a location that means something to you

You’ll look back at these photos for years to come, so why not choose somewhere that’s a little bit special? Whether that’s where you had your first date, or even just where you like to walk the dog on a weekend. I’m always on hand for recommendations if you’re struggling for ideas.

Places that offer some variation tend to work really well for engagement shoots. A walk in the woods could mean some great photos, but after 10 minutes it gets a bit ‘samey’. Let’s find some nice red brick walls covered in ivy. Or a big blue door you can have a smooch in front of. Or an epic meadow you can run through like Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy. I want you to go away with a FULL set of photos!

If you’re struggling for inspiration, why not try something totally different for your engagement shoot..

A walk and a paddle at the beach
– Making pizzas from scratch at home
A picnic by the river
– Consuming as much candyfloss as possible at the fair
– A bike ride in the countryside

3 – Practise looking at your partner

Sounds daft right? But trust me, I will love you forever if you spend 10 minutes doing this before your shoot!

A lot of the time, my favourite photos are those ones where you guys are just smiling at each other. Having a chat, laughing together! Sometimes people can feel awkward just staring at their partner. Don’t get me wrong, it does feel weird at first! But if you can master it ahead of your shoot, it means I can just snap away, getting different angles, capturing those big smiley faces.

4 – Timing is everything

I usually recommend booking in your engagement shoot 6-12 months before the wedding, so have a think about which season you’d most like to have your photos in. Spring and autumn are my personal favourites – the colours are beautiful!

Timing is key not just in terms of the time of year, but also the time of day. A lot of my couples tend to find the idea of being in a crowded place a little overwhelming when having their photos taken which is totally understandable! So it tends to work well having the shoot either early in the morning, or later on in the afternoon. This way it won’t be as busy, and the lighting will be so much more beautiful as well.

5 – There’s no pressure

Your engagement shoot isn’t a test to see how proficient you are in front of the camera. It’s not an audition for Vogue magazine. It’s a chance to get some awesome photos of you and your other half at one of the most exciting times of your life! Oh, and feel free to bring the dog.

If there is anything you want to ask me ahead of the shoot then you can just drop me a message anytime.