9 Wedding Photographer Tips to Looking Amazing in Your Engagement Photos
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Spring is around the corner - and that means engagement photo sessions are coming up! Spring is the perfect time for engagement photos. You’re out of the thick of winter, which means you can step outdoors, get some natural lighting, and capture timeless moments in a beautiful dress (if that’s your vibe), without having to worry about being bundled up in arctic weather or sweating profusely in the dead of a hot summer’s day.
I polled some amazing wedding photographers to get their top tips on looking and feeling your best during the shoot leading up to your big day. Some of these tips can also double as great ways to also make your wedding photos pop and make your wedding album all the more memorable.
If you’ve been wondering what extra things you can do to prepare for your shoot with the professional wedding photographer you chose, here’s a compilation of the best of the best wedding photography tips for the bride and groom leading up to the wedding ceremonies.
9 Wedding Photographer Tips to Looking Amazing in Your Engagement Photos
The question I asked was:
What is your #1 tip for brides-to-be for their engagement photo shoot?
Here’s what they said!
“Show up early, coordinate outfits but don’t match, have your hair & makeup trial that morning/ afternoon, have a shot of whiskey if it helps calm your nerves, have fun.”
- Seattle wedding photographer Kyle Goldie lumaweddings.com
“Meeting with the photographer before the shoot is vital for a relaxed, creative shoot. Grab a coffee with them, share your vision for your photos, and get to know each other a bit! It’s the key to beautiful and natural photos on the day of the shoot.”
- George Chris Photography from @georgechrisphotography
“I find the brides who do their homework on poses and know what they want have the best time and end up with the best photos. It becomes a collaborative effort. I can try to pose people, but it can sometimes come across as forced if they’re not feeling it. But when a bride comes confident in what she wants, that confidence projects and you can see it in the photos.”
- Stephan Miller from DaddicusPhotography.com and @daddicusphotography
“Forget Pinterest perfection. Be natural and real, interact with intention and your photos will be amazing! And, pick an outfit you feel good in. If you are pulling and tugging in the mirror, it will be a thousand times worse at the session. And finally, find a photographer you trust and ask their opinion on times, locations, and outcomes and take their advice! They are the professional for a reason!”
- LeAnna Theresa from LeAnnaTheresa.com
“Make sure you book the same photographer for both your engagement and wedding. This will help you get an idea how this person directs, is behind camera and how the final images look and allow you to tweak or focus on images/ poses/ lighting you prefer and then can focus on during your wedding day. This also helps your photographer focus on what you like or don't like.”
- Makeen Osman from Makeen Osman Photography
“I tell my couples to be themselves. If they are affectionate with each other, be affectionate! If they are funny, be funny. I tell them to not worry about me that I’ll just follow them around and document their love for each other.”
- Melody Cook from Melody Cook Photography
“Simply have fun and trust the photographer. Many times they feel pressure on not knowing how to pose but that’s what the photographer is there for. Enjoy the moment!”
- Jose Hoyos from Photo Harp Weddings
“Trust that your photographer knows how to make you look good! Relax and feel the love for your partner.”
- Brittny Hart from lovebrittny.com
“Don’t be afraid to let loose and be yourselves! The best photos come out of the whimsical, silly, sweet, naturally unfolding ‘in between’ moments!”
- Lindsay Murphy from lindsaymurphyphotography.com
Overall, you’ll want to go in feeling relaxed and comfortable, confident in the way you look, and with the intention of having fun! Some extra tips you may also want to consider for your big day, would be to:
Have a shot list
A shot list is a checklist of the top photos or moments you’d like to capture. For example, do you know if you’re leaning towards photos of just the bride and groom, or if there will also be group shots like a family photo (especially if there are pets, children or a blended family). If group photos or family shots are on your list of must-haves, consider what moments you’d like to capture as well. Don’t forget detail shots too! Besides the obvious shot of rings on your finger, make a list of other detail shots you’d like to have captured as well. Think other accessories, props, holding hands, the bride walks, or a kiss to name a few.
Open up the notes in your photo and make a checklist of what you’d like captured, whether that’s a more relaxed vibe of the bride-to-be resting her head on the groom, being held by the groom, laying down, or with any significant props, allow room for the photographer to do what they do best, but also mention your shot list to make sure your shoot is everything you want and more.
Pick the location
Whether you are the one coming up with the location selections or just picking from a list of options your photographer knows and loves, make sure you decide on a location that fits with you and your fiancé's vibe. The location can make or break photos and really sets the tone for the overall vibe of the pictures. Some locations help make the engagement photos feel timeless and classic, while others can date it depending on how simple or busy the background is… So when you’re picking a location, if you’re more southern and country, consider an engagement session at a more rustic or farm-like location. A big quirky or colorful? Maybe a shoot at an artsy museum or on a dance floor.
Set expectations
While you’ll want to set expectations with your photographer stating what you’re looking for, you’ll also want to set expectations with your partner or other members involved (like children), especially if they have the tendency to not do well in photos. Take a moment to find inspiration on Instagram or Pinterest and show everyone (your photographer included) an idea of what you’re going for. The hardest part of the day when shooting engagement photos is the prep work. So take the extra time to prep your partner and photographer with the vision you have in your head. And then make it a date!
The best part is when everything is all said and done and photos you end up with are everything you imagined and more.
Leave the tech stuff to the pros
Let the pros handle making sure they have the preferred camera settings, extra memory cards, camera bag, and other techy concerns. If it eases your mind, it’s okay to double check that they didn’t forget anything, but also learn to lean back and allow them to do their job, respectfully. You focus on looking and feeling your best, and also enjoying everything leading up to your big day!
AND!
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