Expert Engagement Shoot Tips
/EXPERT ENGAGMENT SHOOT TIPS
Engagement season is upon us once again! To help equip our brides-to-be, check out our Top 6 Picks to make your engagement shoot fun and enjoyable for everyone!
Engagement shoots have been around for several years now and they are so important for so many reasons in time leading up to your wedding.
They are a great way to spend some quality time together before the big day; they help you get to know us and enable getting to understand your vision, and talk about the final plans for your wedding. They allow you to get some stunning images of you both as a couple saying goodbye to one stage of your relationship. However, they most importantly, allow you to ‘practice’ in front of the camera before your big day, so we have a chance to know what you like and helps to get rid of any nerves!
So, how do you make it fun, personal and get the most out of it as a couple? Here are our top tips!
#1 Location
Think about your location, it is lovely to go somewhere that is meaningful to you as a couple but also has a variety of backdrops to make things more exciting and give you real variety in the images. City centers, towns, fields, beaches, farms, lakes, rivers all make fabulous backdrops so think of somewhere unique to you!
It is a good idea also to think seasonally. If your shoot is in the autumn, why not take advantage of the amazing yellow and orange trees? Winter could you do your shoot in the snow? Spring by the robust river runoff or forest of budding trees? In the summer, the wildflower fields or beach?
Villages and towns can provide some great quirky backgrounds, eclectic or antique shops, colorful doorways and old barn wood or brickwork look great! If you have an amazing home or perhaps are hiring a really special bridal suite, this can make a great place for some more intimate shots. Of course the beach is always fantastic especially if there is variety - sailboats, driftwood, etc. It is also a good idea to think about your history as a couple…if you met in Starbucks start the shoot there over a cup of coffee!
#2 Activities
Activities are fabulous in engagement shoots, they give you something fun and natural to do while making the shoot individual and interesting. You could rent a canoe or boat on a local lake. Do you have a horse and could go horse riding? Does your dad have a vintage car you could borrow for a drive or how about a vintage camper? You could visit an antique market, rent a tandem bike, or how about a picnic or trip apple or peach picking?
Fruit fields look fabulous and is a great activity that is fun and looks very cute in the images. Take a picnic to the woods or beach for some really romantic shots. Ice creams or sodas together are very sweet and again, any experience you can be seen sharing makes the images really romantic.
#3 Hobbies & Pets
Incorporating hobbies is another way to make your shoot personal to you as a couple. Obviously Zumba and tennis might not work, but boating or perhaps cycling (think vintage bikes with baskets) or hunting (bows or guns) are great ideas.
If you have a pet this is something we could incorporate too…they are part of your little family after all. Bringing your dog along will be sure to make it a fun experience!
#4 Hair & Make Up
You really want look and feel your very best on your engagement shoot.
If you are a bit of a makeup / hair novice why not arrange to have them done professionally. Two of our favorite local ladies: Ashley B @ SouthernExposure in Dillon, CO. http://www.southernexposuresalon.com/talent and April @ First Impressions Salon and Spa in Frisco, CO. http://salonfirstimpressions.com/home/. Perhaps you could even arrange your wedding hair and/or make up trials for the morning of your shoot?
If you’re doing your hair and make up yourself take a little extra time, perhaps buy some new items to make you feel great and remember to wear a little more makeup than usual while still keeping it fairly natural as makeup doesn’t show up as much on the photos.
#5 Clothing
Choose colors that go together and keep the same color palette as this will unify you together in the shots, but please keep a flavor of your own style. We feel it is important to wear color rather than blacks and whites which can look harsh…color really lifts your photographs.
Think about where we are shooting and choose appropriate clothes i.e: if we are in the mountains in winter: boots, hats and scarves or on the beach by the lake in summer, think sun dress and cute sandals. Think classic, no big motifs or wording on your clothes and nothing too fashionable as this will date your images quickly.
If we are going to an appropriate location, why not dress up a bit, a dress and heels looks fabulous or jeans, a nice shirt, shoes and belt for the guys...you will feel amazing and in turn look that way too.
Style it up – this really makes your photos sing. You could dress in a cute vintage way (not fancy dress!) perhaps a 40′s style dress and jeans and a vest for your guy.
If it’s a winter shoot, tights and a little skirt or tweed shorts, a chunky knit cardigan with a belt, hat scarf, gloves and cute knee high boots are far more stylish than "regular" ski gear, but if that's your thing, rock it! :)
#6 Props
Think about the kind of props that might go with the shoot you have chosen. Perhaps you have decided on a woodland picnic in which case you could bring a beautiful picnic blanket, pretty plates, and gorgeous looking food like strawberries, cupcakes, olives. You could bring a vintage tea-pot or a carafe of lemonade and glasses with fun straws.
If you are going fruit picking, bring a pretty basket. A winter walk? Maybe a fuzzy or knit blanket to hang round your shoulders and a flask of hot chocolate. Even a bunch of flowers looks great as it looks like you are on a ‘date’.
If you do decide to bring props make them stylish, sandwiches in a plastic bag do not a picnic make! We could go on forever about props as they can really ‘make’ a photo…they are fun and make your images unique to you.
Check out more of our photography on our website. Here is a ‘pinnable’ image for you to pin to your wedding planning Pinterest board – feel free to share it on Facebook or Twitter with your engaged friends too!