PREPARING FOR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
Picture this. My hubby and I are traveling to Paris, France. The most romantic city on Earth. And I found the perfect photographer to take our anniversary photos in front of the Eiffel Tower. Cue all of the heart emojis. (Please check out @rachaellaportephotography in Paris, France.) I was dreaming of hanging those photos everywhere in our house until I panicked. Like totally froze in my tracks because WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE SUPPOSED TO WEAR?!?!
Traveling to Paris for our 10 year anniversary was a once in a lifetime trip. So for me, it wasn’t even a question of IF we would get our photos taken, but as soon as I booked the session, alllll of the questions that every client has ever asked about engagement sessions came rushing in and I could not stop thinking about them until I had the details ironed out in my own head.
So if you have a million questions, you’re not alone. Your engagement photos are a once in a lifetime moment just as much as our 10th anniversary photos in Paris were for us!
Here are the answers to some of the most FAQs clients have while preparing for engagement photos:
1. WHERE should we have the session?
Even though we don’t live in Paris, we do have some incredible locations near Rochester, Syracuse, and the Finger Lakes areas to choose from. The first thing we need to decide is what kind of MOOD do you want for your session? Do you want to be fancy? Cozy? Natural? Engagement sessions should reflect WHO you are as a couple. Maybe you have a favorite date night location. Maybe we can go back to the place you met. Or got engaged. But first, let’s talk about what best represents you as a couple!
Thankfully for us, Western, NY is beautiful! We can go for a more urban feel in Downtown Rochester, a more relaxed vibe by Canandaigua Lake, or a more rustic feel at the farmer’s market. How about to the beach front by the bluffs of Lake Ontario, in the woods at Cummings Nature Center, to a winery along Seneca Lake, a coffee shop in the village, or even the Memorial Art Gallery. I love to think outside the box and do fun, new locations. The possibilities are endless.
2. WHAT are we supposed to WEAR?!
The answer to this question also varies and depends a lot upon your answers to the first question about where you want the photos taken and the overall mood you’re going for.
First off, this is a great excuse to go shopping and find something new that you love! For BOTH of you. A great rule of thumb is to find outfits that coordinate, but don’t match. We’re not going for a 90s jeans and matching tshirt vibe for those romantic engagement photos. Right?
You also want to be comfortable. In order for you to truly be yourselves, comfort is important! So pick something that looks good, but you feel great in too!
You want to think of outfits from head to toe. Don’t forget to think about jewelry and footwear. Lay out your outfits side by side and check to see if everything goes together. I love helping couples style, so many couples send photos as they’re shopping or planning outfits.
3. WHAT do we need to PREPARE for the session?
The week before your session you can do a few things that will take your session to the next level:
Treat yourself to a nice manicure and ring clean up. There will be lots of ring shots, so you want to make sure your hands are ready for it! Schedule a manicure for a day or two before the session. Consider how you want your hair and makeup done. This is often a great opportunity for you to get to know your other vendors and ask them to help you get ready!
The night before the session, lay out your clothes and have everything ready to go! Plan to arrive to the session about 15 minutes before the scheduled start time so you have a few moments to breathe before we get started. And don’t forget–make reservations for dinner so you can enjoy a date night together afterwards. After all, you will both look smashing for a night out on the town!
As we’re planning for your session, if you have any questions or need any help, please reach out so I can help you! We are going to have a fantastic time together celebrating your engagement and looking forward to your wedding day!
And if you want to travel to Paris for your engagement session, I’ll come with you!!! I would probably fit in your suitcase.
(Photo courtesy of the amazing Rachael Laporte Photography)
