You’ve booked your photographer and scheduled your engagement session, but now you’re thinking to yourself – how in the world do you prepare for your photoshoot?! I’ve got you! 😉 I’m sharing 5 tips for getting ready for your session that will lead to beautiful photos + an easy and fun experience.

Go shopping

When picking outfits I recommend keeping in mind the word “complements” rather than “match.” For example, if one you is wearing a green button down shirt, the other may want to choose a long, pretty white floral dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color families” such as jewel tones or pastels. 

Keep in mind that softer, muted colors tend to photograph better than bright colors – especially since the bright colors could reflect on your skin. I recommend wearing colors that are darker or neutrals – such as maroon, mustard yellow, white, etc.

My favorite shops for the ladies are Lulus, Free People, and ASOS. I also love J.Crew, Urban Outfitters, and H&M for the guys!

Clean your engagement ring

I highly recommend you get your ring cleaned before your session! I always take a photo of your ring during your engagement session and it’s usually pretty close up. You can take it somewhere to get cleaned or give it a go yourself! To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20-40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse, and repeat if needed. This is a small but impactful way to prepare for your photoshoot!

Get your hair and makeup professionally done

Engagement sessions are the perfect opportunity for your hair and makeup trial! Most of my couples choose to get their hair and makeup professionally done for a couple reasons. 

First, it takes a TON of stress off your plate on the day of your session because you don’t have to worry about making your hair and makeup look just right! I always feel like on the days you want to look your best, those are the days you smear your mascara, run out of eyeliner, or can’t find your favorite lip stick. Or is that just me? 😉

Secondly, hair and makeup that are professional done tend to last longer. They also hold up with wind and humidity much better than if you do it yourself! So I highly recommend this investment in order to get your photos looking their very best.

Treat yourself to a manicure

There will probably be times during your session where I’ll be photographing a close up of your hand on your fiance’s arm, showing off your beautiful engagement ring. This means that it’s a good idea to get your nails looking their best to prepare for your photoshoot!

Make dinner reservations

If you’re anything like me and my boyfriend, you probably don’t get dressed up all that often. Which means that the day of your engagement session is the perfect excuse to go out on a fun date night! You’ll also probably be a little hungry at the end of the session since it often takes place right around dinner time. So I highly recommend picking out a restaurant to go to ahead of time and make a reservation for after the session! 🙂

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Yay! You’re now ready to go for your engagement session! The time you spent preparing will be so worth it in the end! You are going to feel more confident and relaxed, and you will be extra pleased with the final gallery. So excited for you!

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