How to Prepare for Your Engagement Session

We love getting to know you before your wedding! We also want you to get to know us. Besides getting great pictures, these are the main reasons to do an engagement shoot! 

Need more convincing? See our post on why it’s totally worth doing an engagement shoot here.

We know it’s always a little intimidating to have your picture taken – even if it’s a photo on an iPhone taken by a friend.  We still want to look nice, make sure nothing is in our teeth and that our hair is behaving! We can help with all that! Our shots will always make you look your best.

We realize that preparing for your engagement session can be a little overwhelming.  What do we wear? What do we do when we get there? Should we already feel relaxed in front of the camera? (Hint: no!).

Here are some tips to take the stress out of the shoot for you and let you enjoy the day! Read on for outfits and accessories to wear and what to do to make the engagement shoot preparation a little more manageable! 

We want this to be a day you look back on with joy!

Ease Those Engagement Shoot Jitters

If you are a little anxious about how you will react to this whole “picture” thing, you’re not alone.  

We receive so many emails from couples who are worried that they won’t be into it. But- we have great news for you- you both are more photogenic than you think!  

We constantly surprise couples by discovering their hidden modeling skills. The most common response from our couples is, “That wasn’t as bad as I thought! It was actually fun.”  

Mission accomplished! 

When you wind up saying that taking pictures was FUN, we’ve done our job well!  

Your engagement session is supposed to be fun and relaxed, not forced or awkward. We will make sure this is how you feel during the shoot!  

As you prepare for your shoot, there are a few things that you can do to help yourselves know what to expect.  

First, we highly recommend sitting down with your partner and viewing 2-3 of your favorite engagement sessions that we have photographed.  

Spend some time together, scrolling through a few blog posts. This will allow you to gauge what your expectations should be.  

We also recommend that you allow for plenty of time to get to your shoot! Don’t let getting lost or a small tiff in the car ruin the whole rest of the day. We want you on time and feeling lovey-dovey when we start your engagement shoot!

Last but not least, remember to have patience with each other. This day is about why you fell in love after all! You’ll be surprised how much you will both enjoy your session with us! 

What to Wear

You Don’t Want to Match

Instead, try to pick outfits and accessories that coordinate. 

Is the bride wearing a white sundress dress with blue flowers? Cool! Guys, wear a blue shirt that plays off the blue in the flowers. Ladies, pick a piece of blue jewelry to accent the blue in the flowers. 

Your look will be cohesive and not matchy-matchy. 

If everyone wore the same exact color at their engagement shoot, how boring would those images be? Stand out by following our tips to coordinate instead! 

Don’t be afraid to be Bold

Accessorize and make your outfits your own! 

This is a fun option because you can have several different looks with the same outfit. Start with a great base and add scarves, bold necklaces, or fun shoes. They are always welcome! 

Patterns are welcome too! Make sure it isn’t too overwhelming or distracting, but you’ll be pleased to know most patterns are just fine and photograph well!

While you shouldn’t fear being bold, you don’t want graphics on your clothing. They are not the best option for portraits, and you should avoid them for your engagement session.

Check out J&R Photography’s Pinterest Boards 

Still have no idea what to wear? Something every millennial wants to hear- head over to Pinterest (link to your boards here)!

We have boards with recent engagement sessions that will help you channel your inner fashionista.

Most often, couples like to have one casual, everyday outfit and then one dressier outfit!  

This will give your shoot two completely different looks.  We recommend beginning with the casual outfit first, especially if you are photographing in a city environment.

Once you have decided on a look or two, try the outfits on before the day. Make sure you are comfortable in what you are wearing and that you love the way it looks!

At the Engagement Shoot

BE ON TIME!  

This is the most important piece of advice in this whole post! The sun is only out for so long! The later you arrive, the less time we have to shoot! And nobody wants that!

When you arrive on time, we have time to chat and see what you are looking to get out of your engagement shoot. 

Typically, we photograph engagement sessions on weekday evenings because our weekends are dedicated to photographing weddings! Yours will be one of them! The only exception would be during the winter months when our schedule is lighter. 

While not as typical, we can do sunrise sessions if necessary!  We actually require sunrise shoots for those who want to take portraits in a very crowded location like The Highline or Brooklyn Bridge. So, if you want your engagement photos in one of these prime locations, be sure to plan accordingly!

You can also tell us if there are any meaningful spots where you were hoping to have your picture taken! We love traveling and shooting at gorgeous locations. But, if we have never been to your desired location, we may need some advice on where to park!  

We recommend two locations max for engagements.  

A general rule of thumb is the more locations and outfits, the more variety you’ll have! 

Empty your pockets! 

No, really. Literally. Take everything out.

You don’t want to have key chains or phones showing through your pockets. (This is for the guys especially!)

Relax! 

You don’t have to be a pro at this! 

Today is all about YOU! Your wedding day will be wonderful but also chaotic at times, and this is the shoot where you get to focus on being the cutest couple! 

Take advantage of the time and slow pace of the engagement shoot day.

We’re going to help you along the way. It’s going to be a blast! 

Your engagement shoot is going to make a wonderful memory. Enjoy this time together. Make a date out of it! Plan dinner afterward and celebrate! Comment below and let us know where you went to celebrate after your engagement session!