Engagement Photography Tips: What Do I Do?

I want to share some great suggestions for portrait and engagement sessions that Philadelphia Photographer Lorraine Daley wrote about in her blog (combined with some of my experiences). If you have an engagement session coming up (or a portrait session) these are some guidelines you’ll want to consider.

R&R. Make sure you get plenty of rest the night before (i.e., no late night partying!). If you are hung-over and tired the day of your shoot then it will show in the photos and you won’t smile and look happy as much.

Patterns & Logos. Clothing patterns usually are not advised, especially loud ones or those that clash with your partners. Also, get rid of the clothing that has big logos. The shirt that has the “Tommy” logo on it may look trendy now, but just wait 5 years and you’ll wish you never wore it.

Colors. Try not to wear identical colors with your partner. If you do, you may be at risk of being mistaken for a Sears Christmas Card.

Casual or Dressy? Casual clothing looks great and is popular, such as jeans. But you can’t go wrong with dressing up either. Just keep in mind that you may be doing a little hiking for the photo session, so avoid heels and uncomfortable/restrictive clothing.

 Styles. Make sure your style matches that of your partners. If one person is dressed up then make sure the other person follows suit and doesn’t dress casually.

Makeup & Hair. Try to stick to the normal hair and makeup routine. You definitely don’t want to come off like you’re doing a Glamour Shots commercial with over done hair and makeup. Also, bring lipstick and lip balm for you and your sweetie.

Accessories. Minimize the accessories and the bag or purse you bring. Remember, you’ll be doing some walking so you don’t want to be dragging around a sack with the kitchen sink in it.

Scheduling. Be sure to schedule your engagement session at least 2-3 weeks prior to wedding day in order to allow editing/processing time on the part of your photographer. You’ll also need time to get the prints completed and find a frame for your beautiful photo.

Locations. Don’t be afraid of trying a new location. I have a list of about 15 popular outdoor locations here in the Austin area that I share with my clients. If you need some ideas just ask! J

Fun. Have fun on during your engagement session! It’s your time to spend with your partner – so just sit back, relax and let the romantic juices flow as I work extra hard behind the camera to make you and your sweetie look great!

 I would like to say a special thanks to Lorraine for providing such great inspiration in her blog on the subject. Don’t forget to visit Lorraine’s blog: http://sweetenlo.blogspot.com and if you are in the Philadelphia area and you’re searching for a photographer be sure to contact her!

Martin Whitton is a wedding photojournalist who makes Austin, Texas his home.

If you’d like to see some of Martin’s engagement session work, visit his website at www.mwwphoto.com. Just click on “Weddings”.