Engagement shoots. Some couples want them, some couples don't. Some feel it is a part of the tradition that comes along with getting engaged, and I agree of course being a people photographer.

Deciding to do an engagement shoot says, where you are together in this time of your life, the coming together, is important.

The engagement shoot is an official process of documenting the new "US"!

But how do we document the new "US" (you and your fiance)? There are options as to how to go about doing this. You can get a friend to do it, or a professional. When hiring a professional, they will do more than just take some photos. They will help create the vision and the purpose of the shoot. And that is what I am hear to discuss now in this blog post!

In thinking about doing an engagement shoot, first questions are... Do you do a short 1/2 hour shoot? Do you do a full engagement session? And then, what to wear? What not to wear? Where do we do the shoot?

In addressing the immediate questions, good answers come from asking the deeper questions! I have questions to help direct the type of engagement shoot that will give you what you need and the experience you want.

First question I have for you is: Who is the audience for your pictures?

 - Do you want a book of photos for the two of you to enjoy of each other now, for years to come? To talk about where you are in your life now, beyond just the wedding day?

If so, let's do a full session, with multiple outfits and locations, including places that are important to you now, like your home together, a neighborhood you spend time       together in, or  a park.... And get an album from me that you can have next to your wedding album. 

 - Do you want a photo for your parents or grandparent to frame?

If so, knowing them, what do they want to see? Is this the only reason you are doing a shoot is to appease the moms! If so, then let's do a shorter session and have fun with it too.

 - Do you want photos for your wedding website?

    If you want photos on your wedding website from our shoot, what type of images do you want to showcase you for that?

W h a t  t o  w e a r ?

My motto: Look good and be yourself.

My advice as to what to wear at engagement shoot is to be yourself, in the good casual part of your self. If on Saturday when you are going out to do things and you are going to wear something besides gym clothes or yoga clothes what would you wear? And this is a good start to plan to what to wear on an engagement shoot. { side note, I know yoga pants are now the norm to be worn EVERY WHERE! But, I am thinking there are other casual and flattering options that we should explore first ... even though I am wearing sweatpants as I write this !:)     

What are you comfortable in? Is is jeans and a t-shirt? Is it a suit? Which ever it is, let's do a nice version of this in colors and patterns that will look good visually in a picture. 

If we are doing a half hour shoot then we have time  to do only one outfit as doing a half hour shoot does not allow for a complete outfit change. So that one outfit needs to show case you for the purpose of the shoot. 

If you do the full engagement session where we have 2-3 hours together, there is room for different outfits, from dressed up to casual around the house. There is no right or wrong in what to wear. Be yourself and be the self that best depicts how you want to be seen, together.