Whether you love them, or hate them, you probably have an opinion about engagement photos. You know the ones I’m talking about – where you and your future spouse are strolling through a field? Or staring off into space on a bridge? Or having a picnic? Yep. Those engagement photos.
Look, I know that they are a little cheesy, but in all honesty, engagement photos tend to come out really cool. They definitely have their place when it comes to wedding planning, no matter how formal or informal they may be for you. For many couples, planning the engagement photo session may be a major milestone towards their actual wedding. These photo shoots, between the couple and a photographer, can often become the launching pad towards planning an engagement party, sending invitations, or making announcements online.
Though some people feel that engagement photos are unnecessary, they really do have a purpose. By having engagement photos taken, you’ll get an opportunity to feel comfortable in front of the camera, have fun with your partner, and get used to your wedding photographer (if they are the ones taking the photos). You can even find many uses for the photos after the shoot by putting them on invitations, save the dates, your wedding website, and for décor around your wedding.
Engagement Photos: All Your Questions, Answered!
If you’d like to have engagement photos taken, you may have some questions about where to start. Questions like how to plan for your photo shoot? Or like who the photographer should be, where to take them, what you’ll wear, and what to do with the photos afterwards. The good news is this post has answers to all these questions for you and more.
Here we go!
WHO ACTUALLY TAKES ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS?
When it comes to choosing a photographer for your engagement photos, you have some flexibility. For some couples you may find that a close friend with a good camera is a great option. For others, you may want to hire a professional. Let’s go over some of the benefits and disadvantages of each option to help you pick the best photographer for you.
A FRIENDLY PHOTOGRAPHER
One of the benefits of having a friend take your engagement photos is that the costs tend to be very low. You may even have a friend who offers to take the photos for free, which is super generous and sweet of them to do.
If you have a friend taking your photos, keep in mind their experience and quality of their work before you get into it. They may not be the best at photography. They may also not be the best at getting photos back to you when they are taken. If either of these things are important to you, talk to your friend ahead of time to make sure they are the right photographer for you.
YOUR ACTUAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
If you have already booked a wedding photographer, and you are able to meet with them in person for an engagement shoot, they may be the best option to take these photos for you.
The benefit of using your own wedding photographer for your engagement photos is that you can get used to them and their style. This will help you feel more relaxed on your wedding day. And, cost wise, there are benefits as well. Many photographers will include engagement photos in their overall wedding rates, or provide them at a discount for you.
A HIRED PROFESSIONAL (WHO WON’T BE AT YOUR WEDDING)
If you’re having a destination wedding, or you’re unable to meet with your actual wedding photographer for engagement photos, you may need to hire an alternate professional.
This option is great for couples who can’t meet their wedding photographer for the engagement photos ahead of time, due to schedules or distance. If you go this route, you may have some inconsistencies between the style of your engagement and wedding photos, though. So, if you have to hire a professional to take engagement photos, who won’t be at your actual wedding, try to find someone with a similar style to the photographer at your wedding.
The other disadvantage to this is that you’ll have extra costs for photography, which may or may not be worth it to you.
WHERE TO TAKE ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS?
When it comes to where you take your engagement photos, it’s totally up to you. You and your partner may have a place in mind that is meaningful for you, or your photographer might have a suggestion.
The beautiful thing about a photo shoot is it can be anywhere. Perhaps you like to go on walks in your neighborhood. Or, you have a winery that you love. Maybe a beach or scenic location would be special. I’ve even seen engagement photos that were taken in very urban settings, complete with graffiti and even garbage in them. And they turned out gorgeous.
So, if a place is calling to you, have your engagement photos taken there. And if you’re totally stuck, see what your photographer suggests. Experienced professionals often know of places that make amazing photos, and all you have to do is show up and be ready.
WHAT TO WEAR IN YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS?
You may be putting a lot of thought about what you are going to wear for your engagement photos. And depending on your personality, this can be a lot of stress, or a lot of fun.
There are a few questions that you can answer to help you decide what to wear:
- What colors do you both look the best in?
- Do you want to stick with one look, or have different options?
- Would you like to be more casual, trendy, or formal?
- Are you having your photos taken out in nature, where fancy footwear will be a concern?
- What colors are you having in your wedding?
- Where are your engagement photos going to be taken? Would you like to match the setting?
Using the answers to these questions, you may be able to form a plan on what to wear. For example, our engagement photos were taken in a very rural, hilly park. We both wore jeans, and close-toed shoes. I wore a lacy white top to nod to my wedding dress. My fiancé wore one of our wedding colors, a deep burgundy sweater.
For your own situation, you may want to dress to match your location, or completely contrast it. It can be really cool to wear a fancy dress in the middle of the forest. Or, you could be completely casual in a ballroom. Your colors should match your partner, but they don’t have to be identical. Some variation is fun for photos. Also, if you’re torn between two looks, you should come prepared to change so you can have photos of both looks later.
WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTO SHOOT?
Props in engagement photos can be really fun!
These can range from a lot of different options. For example, you could make a sign for your wedding date and use that in the photos. Or, if either of you play an instrument, bring those. You could also bring a picnic, a bottle of wine, or anything else that could be interesting in the photos. Many photographers encourage the use of props because it helps them keep the photos engaging and allows them to be creative.
ADDITIONAL PLANNING
On another note, when you think about how to prepare and plan for your engagement photos, do a little prep for your hands and ring ahead of time. Know that there may be close-up shots of both. So, treat yourself to a manicure, or at least give your hands a little love. If possible, have your ring cleaned so it’s nice for the photos.
HOW DO YOU USE YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS?
Okay, so after you have your engagement photos taken, and you’ve received them back from your photographer, what do you do with them?
Well, other than posting them to social media (hey, why not?), there are lots of options. You can use your photos for save the dates, invitations, on your wedding website, on thank you cards, and as décor for your actual wedding. Or, frame them and put them around your home or office as a reminder of what’s to come. You can even turn them into different items for favors, if you’re giving away something physical.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Hopefully by now you’re sold on having engagement photos taken. They can be a great way to get excited about your wedding, and a launching step towards other fun wedding planning tasks. When it comes to your engagement photos, just have fun with them. Make them feel right to you and your partner, and don’t take them too seriously. Enjoy!
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:
Do I Need An Engagement Party?
12 Fun Wedding Planning Tasks To Share With Your Partner
How To Set Up A Wedding Registry
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