How to Prepare for Engagement Pictures

You’re engaged! Cue the confetti! You have probably picked out a date, narrowed down a venue, and very likely a photographer. As a retired wedding photographer (but I can 100% take your engagement pictures), one of the questions I used to get asked most was,

“Do we even need engagement pictures?

How do we prepare for it?”

My answer is YES! I feel so strongly about engagement photos. So, for the second part of that question, here are some tips on preparing for your engagement session.

Outfits for Engagement Pictures

HOW MANY? 

For the engagement session, I recommend my couples pick two outfits. A casual date night outfit and a dressier, fancy one. Doing so will give your session two different “looks” and a wider variety.

COLORS

When choosing colors for your outfits, I suggest selecting lighter tones. Avoiding bold colors will help bring the focus to your face and let the viewer focus on your emotions. Instead, think soft pinks, muted blues, and light neutrals like heather gray, creams, and white.

NOT TOO CASUAL

Living in Arizona, it’s easy to wear sandals and shorts every day. Trust me. You do not want your guy wearing cargo shorts and flip-flops for this! Long pants and closed-toe shoes look a lot more masculine and photograph beautifully. I get that it’s hot, but it’s just for one hour! Ok, fine, one hour and a half. 🙂

DRESS IT UP

You know that sequin dress you’ve been eying? Or that long flowy maxi dress you’ve been looking for an excuse to wear? Maybe you’ve dreamed of wearing a floral crown or a tulle skirt. Girl, THIS is your chance! Especially for your fancy outfit, I recommend a long, flowy A-line dress that cinches at the waist. This is flattering on most body types. Guys, opt for a suit or nice pants and a suit jacket with a button-down for your fancy outfit.

FLATTER YOUR FEATURES

We all have that one body part that we try to hide. Your engagement session is no exception. Avoid the spaghetti straps if you don’t like your arms, and wear a cute top or dress with sleeves. Also, I recommend wearing a compression garment, like Skims, to smoothen out your beautiful figure.

SHOES

Heels, heels, and more heels! They elongate your legs and are very flattering. Also, pack a pair of comfy, easy-to-walk shoes for when we’re walking to a different location.

Hair and Makeup

HAIR

Loose waves are my personal favorite, but if you prefer a particular hairstyle, go for it! Make sure you aren’t showing any roots, and now is NOT the time to try out a new hair color!

MAKEUP

MAKEUP TRIAL! Unless you’re good at applying your makeup, I 100% recommend you hire a professional makeup artist. I always recommend using your makeup trial for your engagement session. It is one less thing to worry about, and you’ll also get to see how it will look on your big day AND in photos!

BONUS!

Check out this journal entry for 6 tips that will enhance your engagement session.

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Ready to book your photo session? Let’s chat!