7 Tips to Having an Awesome Engagement Session
all photos taken by Daniela Buvat Wedding Photography
Congratulations, you’re engaged! How exciting! Often, couples like to schedule engagement sessions to use for save the dates, invites, photos for their website, and even their reception later!
It’s also a great way to get comfortable being in front of a camera and an easy way to meet your photographer and form a relationship.
Fun fact! I offer engagement sessions with many of my wedding day packages anyway!
But for many, the thought of an engagement session sounds terrifying or anxiety inducing! Thats okay!! Getting photos taken together can be scary. Below are some tips and ideas to use to consider how you can make your engagement session be painless, fun, and authentic to you and your partner’s relationship!
Wear something you feel cozy and yourself in
Whether that’s your fanciest dress, or jeans and some hiking boots, make sure you guys look like the real versions of yourselves. No need to go shopping if that’s not usually something you do! Take the stress out by opting for neutrals, and simple, comfy outfits you wear often. Sweaters, jeans, boots, dresses, fun coats- anything practical and authentic to you! Avoid anything uncomfortable like heels, super tight clothing, and loud patterns!
2. Bring Your Pet!
If your dog is something that you think is a big part of your relationship, why not bring them to your session! Having pets at your engagement session makes for great photo ops, tends to break the ice a little bit more and often helps couples relax and focus on something else. Since they are something you both love, the photos turn out exuding a joyful playfulness to them! There are also many options for locations for pets. Breweries, picnics, state parks or even in-home sessions are a great time to include your pets.
3. Bring a prop
Don’t know what to do with your hands? Holding flowers is a great prop to lean on and makes for unique photos. Another great thing to bring is a blanket, or a fun drink to cheers with.
4. Plan an activity
Similar to bringing something, plan on focusing on an activity or hobby! This is great if you have something you and your partner like to do together, or if you have any weekend rituals together. It’s a great way to capture you in your natural state being yourselves. Here are some ideas for the kinds of activities to do during your sessions:
cooking a meal
listening to records
making coffee together or going to a coffee shop
walking your dog together
canoeing
having a picnic
brewery hopping
exploring a new city
going to the library together
making a craft or doing pottery
hiking or swimming
biking together
5. Do it somewhere you love!
Not sure where you want to do the session? Do it somewhere that means something to you and your relationship. Maybe you guys are regulars at a brewery, or maybe you walk around a certain park in town. Is the place you met somewhere you two find special? Go back to where your first date was, or your favorite spot in the early days of your relationship and have it there. Maybe you love plants and want to do it somewhere super lush and green! Those are great ideas for locations and a great way to commemorate this time in your life.
6. Have it somewhere epic
Love to travel? Make your engagement session an excuse to have a fun couples getaway trip. I love when couples choose to lean in to the adventurous side of getting engaged. The options are endless when you start thinking about locations. I’ve had couples have their session with ocean views at Big Sur, in the canyons in Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Denver, and in the mountains of Colorado! Spend the whole day exploring together and I’ll fade into the background while I capture some awesome shots.
6. Focus on each other
Speaking of fading into the background, I always love to tell couples to focus on eachother! Think of it as a date than I’m capturing. If PDA isn’t your thing, I’ll be there to help you relax! If being goofy is more your speed, feel free to make your silly faces and do endless piggy back rides. Whatever floats your boat. Do your thing! Just focus on each other, and don’t worry about your good side or what you look like. That’s my job!
7. Have fun!
Most of all, I want your engagement session to feel fun! I want it to be something you look back at fondly, with photos that reflect you and your fiancé’s unique love for each other and this special phase in your relationship.
Want to chat about booking your engagement session? Fill out the form below and let’s start planning! :)