13 Things You Need to Know Before Booking Your Engagement Photos!

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Getting engaged is such an exciting time! One of the first things newly engaged couples do is plan a special engagement photoshoot to mark the occasion. “Your engagement session is the beginning of their life together, which is why I think it is SO important to plan for it accordingly,” says Jessica Q Photography.

We couldn’t agree more, so we’ve put together this list of the 13 most common mistakes couples make when planning their engagement photoshoots, and what to do instead!

13 Things Not To Do At Your Engagement Shoot

(Above: Travel themed engagement shoot by JenEvents and Bowtie & Bloom Photography )

Don’t forget to have a plan B for bad weather. Of course we’re holding thumbs that the skies are beautiful and blue, the wind has taken the day off, and rain is nowhere in sight. But, just in case things don’t work out, Rochelle Cheever of A Romantic Journey, Italy Weddings, advises having a location your love in mind for plan B.
Don’t try to pose during your shoot! Trying too hard to pose instead of just being natural often looks contrived. “If you’re not a high fashion model don’t try and be one,” says Abigail of Grace Studios Photography. “Relax, be comfortable in your own skin and just have fun.”
Don’t wait until the night before to pick your outfits. If you have to rush to the store in the morning, you’ll probably end up wearing clothes with tags or crease folds from the shop. “Take some time to plan your outfits thoughtfully, ” suggests Emily of The Ganeys Photography. “You’ll integrate the images from the engagement session into your life more than you would expect!”
Don’t bring the cheesy props along. Don’t get us wrong – there is absolutely always a time and place a little bit of cheese – but your engagement shoot is usually not it. Instead of silly ‘I’m with stupid” cutouts, you can opt to incorporate something meaningful such as love letters or items which represent shared hobbies instead. Often a meaningful location is a great way to add a personal touch to your shoot. We love how this couple used their shared love for Wes Anderson’s films to inspire their engagement photoshoot in a fun way!

(Above: Quirky Wes Anderson-inspired engagement shoot captured by Tesar Photography.)
Don’t forget to mentally prepare your partner for your photoshoot – show him your photographers work so that he knows what to expect. Typically throughout the process the photographer is communicating with the bride. “It’s the bride follows our work on instagram, and she is the one that selects the outfits for the session,” explains Emily of The Ganeys Photography. “When the groom has never looked at our work, he can be thrown into a situation he is unfamiliar with. He has no idea what to expect at the shoot. ” Emily recommenda sitting down together before the engagement session and looking through your photographers most recent blog posts or instagram feed. This will help him get a little more comfortable with what to expect. It may also inspire your outfit selection, which is an added bonus!
Don’t be afraid to go glam! Jeans, unless set in a urban environment and styled to perfection, do not always make for beautiful photos, explains Samantha of Samantha Clifton Photography. “I always encourage couples to dress up regardless of wether we are shooting in a natural environment like a forest, field , park or the beach.”
Jessica Q Wong of Jessica Q Photography agrees: “I often see is couples being too afraid to go all the way! Your engagement session and your wedding day are the only two days where you are allowed to dress up and be fancy and feel great! Go as fancy as you like.” These photos might be on your Save the Dates or your wedding invitations, so don’t come dressed in something super casual and then regret it later, says Jessica. “You don’t have to break the bank to dress up, but I think it’s always a good idea to put your best foot forward.” Remember, depending on where you live, you could also rent a totes glam designer gown from Rent the Runway for around $40 – $100!
(Above: Elegant Engagement Pictures at The Cloisters by Forever Photography)
Don’t forget your second outfits. Samantha Clifton suggest bringing two outfits to a shoot – one casual and one more formal. That way you have a range of looks and images which better your story as a whole.

BONUS: READ 18 Engagement Photoshoot Tips for Couples
Don’t book a photographer until you know what your own photography style preference is. Do you want pics that are cute but quirky? Or dark and moody? Or ethereal and airy? “Sometimes couples request images that don’t represent the work they’ve seen on our website,” explains Emily of The Ganeys. This puts photographers in a tricky situation. They want you to love your images but if your request doesn’t fit with the style you hired them for, you might not be happy with the results. Get familiar with the most recent work on a photographers blog and Instagram feed to make sure you like what you see. If you don’t, keep searching until you find a better fit.

(Above: Romantic couple shoot with fun balloons and interesting local backdrops by Kirsten Booth.)
Don’t forget to have a basic plan for the shoot. Both logistically and stylistically. It helps to have a basic idea in mind in terms of the location you’re after, and the kind of look at feel you want suggests Lucia of D’amor Photography. Your photographer will be able to guide you as to when the best light can be found where, so you can plan around it. “Natural looking photos still require thought and purpose – remember you want these photos to last a lifetime! Plan accordingly,” says Abigail.
Don’t overlook the beauty of the city or area you live in. For example, in Arizona, there are unlimited desert locations filled with the most beautiful light and sunsets, explains Jessica Q Wong. When couples fight the fact that they live in the desert and ask for hard to come by locations with greenery in it, they not only limit the locations they can shoot in, but also restricts the time of year: “The old adage of “work with what you’ve got” is really meaningful here. So go on and embrace what your state/location is known for!”
Don’t forget to book a hair and make up stylist. The more effort you make with your outfit, hair, make-up and styling, the better your photos will come out, explains Abigail of Grace Studios.

(Above: Romantic beach couple shoot in iconic Cape Town by The Ganeys.)
Don’t overlook travel time between multiple locations. If you’re planning on shooting at both the beach and your fave coffee house but they’re 20 minutes apart, you might have increase the number of hours you’ve booked for your session. Work with your photographer to create a realistic timeline which is practical not only in terms of travel time between locations, but that factors in time to change your outfits, finding parking and locating crowd-free spots.
Don’t fall victim to the Pinterest Let Down. Pinterest can be extremely helpful in terms of visual organization and getting inspiration for your engagement session, but there is a downside to pinning endless romantic poses, clothing, and locations explains Jessica Q Wong. “If you are going to Pinterest, do so with flexibility. Don’t expect your session to be EXACTLY like the photo and manage your expectations clearly. As photographers, we want your engagement photos to be representative of YOU as a couple, and not as a carbon copy others have seen on Pinterest a hundred times.”