Preparing FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION
WHERE?
DON'T PANIC!
WHAT TO WEAR
Where should you have your shoot? What sort of locations work best?
No one is expecting you to behave like a professional model...
One for the girls... It's all about the outfits!
So, what is an engagement session?
IT’S THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER; a great way of spending some quality time together before your big day; a chance to get some amazing photos of the two of you before you say ‘I do’; most importantly, it’s a chance for you to ‘practice’ in front of the camera before your wedding day which will help you combat nerves!
e r ’ e w But ! s l e d o m t no
Don’t panic! No one is expecting you to behave like a professional in front of the camera. It’s important to remember these shots are about you as a couple and not whether you could outdo the Kardashians in the pouting stakes! The main things to remember at your session are: 1. Relax! 2. Be yourselves and 3. Have fun! Leave the rest up to me.
SO, HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE? Think about what kind of couple you are and what your relationship is like. Are you silly and always laughing? Are you incredibly romantic? Or are you a more understated couple, not ones for public displays of affection? These are all fine, of course, but it’s important for me to know this about you as, if you hate kissing in public, the worst thing I could do is make you do this for me and my camera! Think about your outfits. Wear something you love and feel comfortable in and that you know you look great in. While you don’t need to be all “matchy-matchy” with your partner, a little bit of co-ordination looks fab. Avoid wearing any items with large, obvious logos or really busy, fussy prints as sometimes these can be distracting in images. Should I wear make-up?
This is entirely up to you but, in my experience, if you’re wearing make-up and have done your hair, it’ll make you feel more confident in front of the camera, which can only be a good thing! Where should we go? Anywhere that takes your fancy! Parks, fields, farms, the sea front, a town centre or village square are all good suggestions. I’ve done shoots in coffee shops and cafes, a comic book store and book shop, wandering through London, along Southend sea front and in the middle of a garden - literally anything goes! Think about places that hold meaning for the two of you - maybe the place you met, where the proposal took place… these are all great places to hold an engagement session! Just bear in mind that locations do need to be within an hour’s drive of Chelmsford, Essex.
GREAT! ANYTHING ELSE? Yes! Bear in mind a photographer’s best friend is light, which means our favourite times to photograph are early morning or just before sunset those famous ‘Golden Hours’ you’ve probably heard mentioned. Try to arrive on time for your session so we don’t have to rush. Also, props are fun, as are pets and children, so bring them along! If you are bringing little ones along, I highly recommend also bringing a family member or friend who can look after them when we concentrate on taking some photographs of just the two of you.
JUST REMEMBER... HAVE FUN!