Congratulations! If you’re here reading this, then I think it’s safe to assume that you’ve recently gotten engaged, and that means you’re ready to take the next step – taking engagement photos. And I’m here to offer plenty of ways to prepare for your engagement photography shoot!
There are quite a few things to consider, so I’ve put together a few tips for preparing for your engagement session in the hopes that I can answer some of the questions that are certainly already swirling through your mind. Here we go!
1. Set The Scene
The scenery that you surround yourself in is one of the first, and most important, decisions. Choosing your setting allows you to truly tell a story. It gives you the chance to choose somewhere powerful, meaningful and all-around epic to match your love.
The areas around Prince Albert National Park and Saskatchewan offer an amazing array of scenic backgrounds and sentimental places to choose from. Candle Lake serves as a dramatic backdrop for engagement photography, as the pristine water of the lake reflects light in a magical way. For a rustic and natural setting, Waskesiu Lake is a great location to capture stunning Golden Hour photography.
2. Treat It Like An Amazing Date Together
An engagement photo shoot should be treated as if it’s one day-long, epic adventure date. Write down all the things you’d love to do, whether it’s hiking an epic trail, taking a boating excursion around the lake, or running around your favourite shops in the city. Use it as an excuse to plan out your perfect dream date, and we’ll use that as the roadmap for your shoot. Find ways to make it fun!
3. Whatever You’re Doing, Be Comfortable Doing It
I know plenty of people who are absolutely at home in 6-inch heels and a ballgown, while others are most comfortable in hiking gear and all-terrain boots – and as an engagement photographer, I’m ready for it all! Just make sure that whatever you choose to do, it’s what you’ll feel most comfortable, joyful and confident doing.
Side note, that also goes for one of the biggest questions I get asked: how should I pose for engagement photos? The same rules apply. It’s all about your level of comfort and what makes you feel most confident. If you want to go completely stylized, we can do that. Something more artistic? No worries. Completely bonkers and zany? I’m here for it! Choose the kind of vibe that best suits you, and the rest will come naturally. It helps you loosen up and feel comfortable in front of the camera, and makes the smiles that come out all the more genuine.
4. Make Sure You Are Prepared
Being prepared feels like a fairly nebulous concept, so I want to make sure we look at the basics.
If you’re planning on getting professional hair and makeup done for the shoot, make sure that you have them booked well enough in advance, and prep them for what kind of setting you will be in (i.e. outdoors, indoors, etc) so that they can best ensure your look stays looking fresh.
Think about if you are going to need any specific props for your shoot, though as we plan out your storyboard together, those items will begin to emerge. If you have a specific vision in mind though, in terms of flowers, colour schemes, etc, those will all be important to talk about and plan for ahead of time.
Depending on the season, certain outdoor spaces may not be readily available for photos, at least not without some pre-planning for things like weather and travel delays.
5. Finding Your Photographer – The Right One!
This is SO important. The vision is almost impossible to make a reality if you and your photographer aren’t able to get on the same page together. Luckily for you, I’m here – so you don’t have to go any farther to find an engagement photographer! Of these five engagement photography tips, you’ve already ticked one off the list. Reach out to me through my website today so we can get started on planning your dreams!