How to Prepare for Engagement Photos
It’s about damn time! Your partner has proposed! Or maybe you’re like me and you just said eh lets get married - but now you want to get engagement photos taken! But why should you…?
WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS?
I’m a big proponent of encouraging couples that work with me to be comfortable. My entire world behind my business is client experience, so one thing that can help with that experience on wedding and elopement days is…
YOU’LL KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
When you show up to a photo session, you won’t know where to look or what to do with your hands, and having the engagement photo experience before your wedding can make ALL the difference. It allows you to show up on your wedding day knowing how it all works, so you can feel relaxed and not stressed.
YOU GET TO MEET YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER BEFORE YOUR WEDDING DAY
I love hopping on video calls with couples before they even book me because I think meeting is just that dang important. You don’t want a stranger showing up and spending your entire wedding day with you - and honestly I don’t know any photographers who want that either.
YOU GET PHOTOS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME
I mean, this one goes without saying but why wouldn’t you want to celebrate this moment in your relationship AND have these photos to look back on in a decade? I promise you’ll be so glad you have them, especially years down the line.
YOU CAN FIND AN ACTIVITY TO DO IF YOU’RE NERVOUS
You also don’t have to be stuffy and boring and think of engagement photos as traditional - instead wear costumes, find an activity you like to do like camping or climbing (more ideas below). Find a way to infuse you two and your relationship into your photos!
What do you wear for engagement photos?
I could spend hours talking about clothing and color theory but for a good starting point:
COMFORTABLE SHOES
My #1 requirement for sessions is shoes you can run around in, as I do a lot of movement based posing and honestly your photos will be so boring if you’re just standing in one place the whole time.
LAYERS
Colorado is notorious for various weather patterns in a single day so layers are always a good idea, especially as the sun sets and it gets colder.
OPTIONS
Having a few options is good as your photographer can give you some insight into what will look best with the current scenery. This also adds variety to your photos.
MIND THE WEATHER
Nothing kills the mood of engagement photos more than sweating through your clothes, or being so cold your entire face is red. Pay attention to the weather forecast and dress appropriately. For more info on how to stay warm during your photo session, check out this blog.
CHECK OUT THIS BLOG POST FOR MORE INFO ON WHAT TO WEAR FOR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS!
What type of activities can we do for our engagement photos?
Bring all the tasty food and drinks and have a picnic
Blankets to snuggle up
Bring your pets
Rent your dream car
Bring your motorcycle
Pop some champagne
Have a campfire and s’mores
Chug your favorite beer together
Snack on some Taco Bell
Set up your tent together and snuggle
Write a love letter to each other that you’ll read on your wedding day
Rent a cute camper, trailer, or Airbnb
Have a snowball fight
Go paddleboarding
Go on a short hike together
Go thrifting and bring cute old school props
Bring coffee or hot cocoa in a thermos
Watch sunset from the back of your car together
Swim in an alpine lake
Dress up goofy (Canadian tuxedos! 70’s style!)
Where do you get engagement photos taken?
IS THERE A LOCATION THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO THE TWO OF YOU?
I find that when couples revisit locations that have meaning to their relationship, it helps you feel that much more comfortable. And it reminds you of one of the many reasons you’re together.
ARE THERE ACTIVITIES YOU WANT TO DO?
Are you wanting to car camp and get some photos in your rooftop tent? (Heck yes, can we please camp together?). Or maybe you’re wanting to take some photos at the airport because you are kickass and know how to fly planes. Maybe you want to go climbing at the first spot you sent together! Finding an activity helps take the pressure of the “photo shoot” off of you two and allows you to refocus your attention onto doing something you enjoy together.
DO YOU WANT YOUR PUPS TO BE THERE?
Not all locations are dog friendly, think about whether you want them on leash (with a leash in every photo), or for them to be able to run around without care.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT 4WD ROADS?
The joys of Colorado are that there is so much access just down that bumpy, rocky, 4WD roads. Are you scared of heights? Worried about altitude sickness? Then lets make sure we avoid those!
HOW FAR DO YOU WANT TO WALK/HIKE?
Are you down for a short hike or are you wanting to be right next to your car for your next clothing change?
IS THERE A SPECIFIC SETTING YOU’D LIKE?
When you close your eyes and imagine your engagement photos, what scenery do you see? Is it a warm sunset in a glowing field? Or a lake with a breathtaking mountain backdrop? Are you snuggled up under a blanket together? Or jumping into an alpine lake together?
What time of year should you take engagement photos?
Winter
Winter is a popular time for engagement photos since it’s usually during proposal season! Lots of proposals happen during the holidays and engagement photos are a fun next step to share the news and celebrate. And photographers have a lot more availability! Winter photos vary across Colorado depending on weather but they are typically cooler feeling. Here are some examples of photos taken in the winter.
Spring
Spring is another great season for engagement photos are photographers aren’t quite busy with wedding season yet. Flowers begin to bloom at lower altitudes and everything starts to turn green - and it’s finally warm out again!Here are some examples of photos taken in the spring.
Summer
Summer in Colorado means monsoon season and wildflowers! While weather can be tricky to work around, the access to the mountains, the cascading trails of wildflowers, and the 12 hour days of sun make summer a great time. This is however when photographers are most busy. Here are some examples of photos taken in the summer.
Fall
The most popular time of year for engagement photos is the fall as the aspens begin changing. Places become a bit more busy but you’ll likely have a photographer that has a few favorite spots with more privacy. Fall is a good time of year if you want to snuggle up and be cozy with your partner too as it’s a great time of year to bust out those sweaters! Here are some examples of photos taken in the fall.
HOW DO I GET MY PARTNER EXCITED ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?
If one of you is more nervous about engagement photos, here are some tips to help loosen up!
Make it an all day activity
Spend the day together, sleep in and cuddle, make breakfast together, spend the day doing things you enjoy to do together. This extra time before your photo session will remind you of what you love about each other!
Grab dinner before
Going to a nice romantic candlelit dinner can really help set the mood for loving on your partner later. And on that note…
Take a shot beforehand
Sometimes it can be helpful to take a shot (as long as you aren’t driving!), drink a beer, or enjoy a nice glass of wine. If it helps you loosen up then why not!
Smoke beforehand
If partaking in the good ol’ legal marijuana that Colorado offers helps you feel more at ease, all the better!
