I really enjoy meeting couples for their engagement shoot but most of them admit to being pretty nervous before hand. It is quite different from being photographed on the day of the wedding, as the sole focus is you, rather than there being the hustle and bustle of a wedding going on around you. While that might sound a little intense, it actually gives me an opportunity to ease you into the engagement photo shoot really gently.
If you’ve booked in for a Couples/Love Shoot session with me, here are a few hints and tips to consider…
This is a chance for us to hang out together and capture some beautiful shots of the two of you, as a reminder of your love. We’ll probably grab a quick coffee first and I’ll run through what’s going to happen but it’s all really simple and super relaxed, promise! I look for beautiful light or a backdrop that interests me.
I love to capture those little interactions between you and encourage you to bring your ‘-isms’ …whoever you are as a couple, so we play a lot with a few little things that will help with that. I might ask you to have a cuddle during the shoot and sometimes a kiss but I’ll make sure you don’t feel at all self-conscious.
Don’t worry if you’re not the slushy kind of couple, you can (jokingly!) exchange insults and tease each other if that’s’ more your thing. It’s all about the two of you being yourselves.
That’s it. It’s a simple as that…relaxed and fun with beautiful images!
Add more personality to your photos by choosing the location of your session! Whether it’s your favourite cake shop, the beach you spend your summers at, a local park where you first met your soon-to-be or simply somewhere you love to wander around, let me know if there is a place that is sentimental to you! I can help you come up with some suggestions if you are stuck for ideas. It’s always great if it’s somewhere that means something to you though, as it will make your pictures even more memorable.
Perhaps there are activities that you can do at your chosen shoot location. Maybe you can hire a boat to row on the lake, have an ice-cream on the beach, perfect your crazy golf stance or get those bowling alley shoes on! That said, none of this is compulsory. If you would like it to be just the two of you being together, that is absolutely fine too!
Sessions are usually scheduled 3-4 months in advance. Spring through to autumn is usually the best time to have this due to the weather. A little note on what time of day to have your shoot – if it is sunny, the light gets nicer as you go later into the afternoon, so if the diary permits, try to schedule your shoot for afternoon or later. I absolutely love the ‘golden light’ you get as the sun starts to set, so if you’d like to do a sunset shoot, I’m definitely up for that!
More often than not, my weddings schedule normally means that weekend sessions might not be possible but a week day is often quieter out and about which means we can have more fun! Cancellations and reschedules must be made via email or phone at least 48 hours prior to your session.
Wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident! Patterns, bold colours and accessories photography really well. Feel free to get creative with your wardrobe! You’re more than welcome to bring a change of clothes to get a variety of looks. I wholly advocate dressing up – think casual day date.
While it is great to complement your partner/family in photos, by no means do you need to wear matching outfits!
If your other half is more comfortable in solid colours, try choosing something with a little texture. Patterns are a great way to add contrast to your images.
There’s nothing like making your session even more personal to you and you can do this by including things that have meaning to you, so feel free to bring along anything that is relevant to you both, maybe your favourite books if you like reading, a hamper of yummy goodies and a gorgeous blanket for that picnic feel (although I might eat your cakes!), a giant balloon, your surfboards if you’re sporty, your dog, your cat, or your VW camper. It’s great to share creative ideas, so let’s talk more about them!
