welcome
I’m so excited to be working with you, and I can’t wait for your engagement session! It’s totally normal to be a little nervous about your session. I always tell people that I still get freaked out before having my photos taken - and I do this for a living!
I'm a big fan of engagement sessions for a few reasons. First, they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed and understand how I pose. Timelines can be pretty tight on weddings days and 30 minutes may be all we have for portraits - which is why I've found that wedding day portraits turn out so much better when couples do engagement sessions ahead of time.
Second, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you, and you get photos that are a celebration of your love for each other.
I think engagement sessions are such an important part of wedding photography, and I’ve written this guide that walks you through everything you need to know to ensure you have the perfect session with your love!
locations
When you think of your engagement session, what do you visualize? An open field? Downtown? A hike to the top of a mountain? Your own home? What is it that suits the two of you? Are there any meaningful locations that might be ideal for your engagement shoot? If not, don’t fret! It’s not about where you are but who you are with and how you two fit into that location. The way I shoot, the focus is on the two of you and your beautiful faces, not the background. However, if there is a place that’s uniquely special to the two of you, I am here to help you incorporate it into your images! I’m also happy to make recommendations! I also created a Pinterest board of some of my favorite Seattle locations for you to explore.
timing
Timing is everything! As a natural light photographer, I plan my engagement sessions around the best lighting of the day. I usually begin them two hours before sunset, so we get the most flattering light possible. Once we schedule your session, I will set an exact start time based on the location and light.
Once that sun goes down, we can’t get it back, which means that it’s super important to be on time! If you’re late to a session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting.
what to wear
The most important thing is to wear something that makes you feel confident! I want you to be comfortable - I want you to connect with your images - so if you are a jeans and tee kinda gal, then rock it! Many couples bring an outfit change to their session. Most choose for a dressier option (read: romantic flowy maxi dress for the ladies and blazer with a fun tie for the guys) and a casual option (read: jeans and a fun shirt). I made a little Pinterest board for inspiration for you, but I am always open to chat wardrobe. Don’t feel like you have to go for plain classics the entire time. Have fun with color, texture, and prints! This is to remember this special time in your lives, so don’t limit yourself!
A few more things to remember: Think of 'complimenting' each other and not 'matching.' It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones. Dressing in layers would be a very quick way to change the look of an outfit without doing a full outfit change. I also recommend saving your favorite outfit for later in the session, when couples usually feel more comfortable in front of the camera. And don’t forget to bring a few accessories! Bring your fancy shoes, but also pack an extra pair of shoes to slip into in between shooting locations.
hair & makeup
Professional hair and makeup can make a world of a difference! It allows you to relax, feel beautiful, and confident! Consider using this time as a test run with your makeup artist and use your session as a time to evaluate your wedding day look and how it photographs. They will know exactly how to prep your skin and eyes for natural light photography. If you can swing it, please consider getting your hair & makeup done for your session! You will look and feel amazing. Let me know if you need any recommendations!
There will probably be times during your session when we’re shooting your hands holding or the engagement ring on your hand - which means it’s a good idea to clean up your nails before your session (this applies to the guys too!).
pets
I love when couples choose to incorporate pets into their session! Keep in mind that bringing a pet along means that we’ll need to choose a pet-friendly location.
I recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and then having a friend take them home. We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have someone available to hold them in between shots.
If you’re going to bring a pet, I recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing their favorite toy or treats! It might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
weather
If the weather is awful, we’ll reschedule! You only get to do this once, so ensuring the environment is perfect will give you beautifully lit images! I’ll check in with you the week of your engagement session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. I know it takes a lot of time to get ready for engagement session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it the weather be miserable. Let me know what works best for the two of you - but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, I typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance. On your wedding day, we have to continue no matter the weather, but for your engagement, we’re in control. I want you to have an amazing (and warm/dry) engagement session.
posing
When it comes to posing for your engagement session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I'm not expecting you to show up and model for me...I'll help you out! I’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. Engagement sessions are the perfect time to hang out with your photographer, get comfortable in front of the camera, and flirt with your soon-to-be spouse!
This is actually going to be a totally different shooting experience than you've ever had before. I am going to ask you questions, give you fun prompts, and have you play some games - the point is to take your mind off the camera, to have fun, and to love on each other.
The more trust you place in me, the more free I will be to create the types of images that you’ll love the most. You’re going to feel uncomfortable, awkward, and alllllll the things! But in-between those little moments of awkwardness come total gems of authentic interactions that can only happen when two people are in love. Relinquish the control, give trust out freely, and let go of your expectations! So just trust me, and go with it - it might feel silly at first, but it turns out rad!
Scroll through for some of my favorite engagement session suggestions!
a few more tips...
If we are planning on shooting outdoors, bring a blanket that you guys can sit on so we can create more variety of poses!
bring a blanket
Consider changing into your outfits once we get to the shooting location so your wardrobe stays free of wrinkles.
stay wrinkle-free
Don’t worry about all the extra stuff you think you might need. I can carry around your small items like car keys, phones, and lip gloss in my bag. I want you to be light on your feet and your hands to be free during the session so that we can capture all of those little in-between moments.
leave the big bags
This is such an exciting time in your lives. I know that engagement sessions can seem nerve-racking but it’s important to go in with an open mind and the ability to laugh. I want you two to flirt like crazy, love each other, and just have fun. We will laugh a lot, I will help pose you. Your only job: snuggle in close, bat your eyelashes, and laugh until your belly aches.
just have fun!
If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t get dressed up all that often. Which means that the day of your engagement session is the perfect occasion for a date night. The engagement session is another part of celebrating your love and heading o to dinner is a great way to end the session!
date night
Hopefully this guide covers everything you need to know to prep for your engagement session! If there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email me at cameron@cameronzegersphotography.com
