Your engagement session is such a special way to capture all the love and excitement you and your partner are feeling leading up to your big day!
As you start preparing for your engagement session, there are a few essential things to keep in mind. Below, I’m sharing with you my best tips to help guide you.
Keep reading for everything you need to know!
How to Prepare for Your Engagement Photos
Location
There are no hard and fast rules that you have to follow when choosing your engagement location. You can select a location simply because you love it, because you adore the vibe of the spot or the beautiful scenery, because of its significance to your relationship, or simply because it’s a fun spot to explore and wander around.
From the perspective of a wedding photographer, something I want to add to this is that when you choose a location that is meaningful to your relationship, it is a beautiful way to tell your love story in a deeper, more intentional way.
I personally recommend that my couples choose a location that aligns well with their personalities and holds significance for both of them. This could mean going back to the spot where your proposal happened, the location where you had your first date, where you celebrated your first anniversary, etc.
You can also always lean on your photographer and get their suggestions as well if you don’t have a preference when it comes to location.
Lighting and time of day
Something else that’s important to think about when choosing any location is lighting and time of day – especially if you’re in New York City. Sunset/ golden hour is the most ideal time for photos in the city, but it often brings with it high foot traffic.
The truth is, high foot traffic in NYC is just a part of what having an engagement session here entails, especially if you want to have your session at one of the city’s iconic landmarks. However, if you know that you want to escape the crowds, you can also always try to find a spot off the beaten path.
Also, lighting is very important to think about when you choose your location, as it can be affected by surrounding buildings, trees, etc, and vary drastically depending on the time of the day you choose. My favorite time to plan sessions is 1-2 hours before sunset, as the lighting at this time of day adds a romantic, warm glow to your photos.
If we work together as your photographer, I can help you choose the best time of day for your session so that you’ll have optimal lighting and also do not have to worry about too many people being in the background of your images.
Outfits
The best advice I can give you when it comes to choosing what to wear is to pick an outfit that makes you feel confident and comfortable. If you or your partner is uncomfortable in your chosen outfit, it will be noticeable in your images.
Also, when choosing what to wear, make sure that your outfit fits properly and that it’s something you can comfortably move around in. Another thing to consider is the weather – if it’s going to be colder, make sure to bring some layers along with you. On the other hand, if you are planning your session during a warmer time of the year, stick to lighter, more breathable fabrics.
I personally recommend to my couples when choosing outfits to make sure your outfit complements your partner’s, so be sure to coordinate with each other. Clothes that complement each other add great composition and dynamics to your images. Matching clothes doesn’t have the same impact.
Pro tip – Ask your photographer prior to your session, too, if you’ll have extra time for an outfit change! This way, you and your partner can have some variety in your photos. You can plan to bring along one more formal outfit and one more casual outfit.
And, when in doubt, if we work together, you can send me any outfit questions you may have. I always tell my couples that they can take a picture of their outfits and email them to me, and I am more than happy to provide some guidance.
Grooming timelines
For the ladies:
Hair cut/color – if you are planning on cutting your hair or coloring your hair, I recommend doing it around 7-10 days prior to your session. This will give everything time to set and will give you some time to work out how to style your hair!
Get your ring cleaned
Pop into a jewelry store and get your ring cleaned so it’s EXTRA sparkly before your session! Speaking of rings, don’t forget the manicure too!
Consider hiring a professional hair and makeup artist
I always like to suggest to my couples to hire a professional makeup artist for their engagement session because it’s a great trial run before their wedding. You’ll not only look your absolute best for your session, but you’ll also have one less thing to worry about leading up to your session, knowing that hair and makeup will be taken care of for you.
On the other hand, if you are planning on doing your own hair and makeup, I highly recommend doing a trial run prior to your session so you can make sure that you’re happy with your final look!
What to bring to your engagement session
- Props – If there are any props you want to incorporate into the shoot, please bring those: blankets, pets (I LOVE DOGS!), or anything that holds significance to you both
- Bring along an essentials kit (first aid items, makeup, hair pins, sweat rag, mini hairspray, etc.)
- Possibly a friend/assistant who can help carry your outfit change or someone who can watch your pet/dog if you need some relief.
Ready to Take Your Engagement Photos?
I hope you found all this info on how to prepare for your engagement session helpful. While it’s important to start thinking about the wedding plans ahead, don’t forget to enjoy this chapter. Soak it all up – because this is truly one of the most special periods of your life.
And…if you are still looking for a NYC wedding photographer to photograph your engagement session, I’d love to connect. Capturing an engagement session is such a perfect way to freeze this chapter in your love story. The laughter, the tender moments, and the excitement of what’s to come make these sessions just as memorable as the big day. Let’s create something magical together!
You can click the link here to check out my wedding photography services or get in touch here!
Read these next:
Best NYC Engagement Photo Locations
How to Pick a Wedding Photographer: Finding the Right Fit for You and Your Day
