Photographer

Dressing for Engagement Photos

After getting engaged, couples want to share the news. Outside of the general announcement to friends and family, many will also pay for a photoshoot to celebrate the moment. Engagement photos can help provide you with cute pics you can incorporate into your invitations, wedding website, and other items related to your big day. Naturally, you might have a few questions before your photoshoot arrives. Specifically, you might want to know what to wear. Use these tips to guide you and put together an appropriate outfit for this fun planning activity. 

The Engagement Pictures Represent Your Relationship

Before getting into the specifics of what you should wear, it can be useful to think about the purpose of the photos. The pictures aren’t just about looking happy and smiling together. The entire aesthetic of the shoot should cut to the heart of your relationship. Everything from the setting to the lighting to the color choices will play into the feel of the final images. What you wear should be born out of the decisions you make about the general mood of the pictures and the style you agree upon with the photographer. 

Work With the Photographer

On the subject of your photographer, it can be a good idea to work with this expert when making decisions about your wardrobe. Photographers have an eye for composition, color, and other elements that make for amazing images. Certain colors have a way of popping in particular environments. If you’re planning on taking pictures in a very lush and verdant environment, for example, your photographer will likely suggest avoiding any green tones that will blend into the scenery. Once your photographer offers some input, you can begin curating an outfit.

Focus on the Specific Season

A vast majority of engagement pictures are taken outdoors. Regardless of the season, it seems couples are all too happy to jump into nature for pictures no matter what temperature it is outside. If you plan on following suit, you’ll definitely want to think about how you’re dressed. A cute and thin outfit may make for some nice photos, but it is definitely not worth getting frostbite if you’re shooting in the dead of January. Dress appropriately for the season by layering or wearing an outfit that helps to keep you warm until the pics are being taken.

In the thick of spring and summer, you’re likely to experience the opposite problem. When it is unbearably hot outdoors, you may feel like wearing certain materials can lead you to break into a sweat. Some people also deal with frizzy hair and other problems related to humidity levels. The trick here is makeup and hair product. If you know the heat will cause you and your partner to start looking like sweaty, greasy messes, find concealer that will keep you both looking dry and comfortable. It is amazing what a little makeup can do.

Follow the Latest Trends

Every year sees new trends appear in the world of engagement photos. If you’re not sure what direction to take your own shoot, give yourself the chance to explore a handful of the latest trends. While you don’t have to use any of the ideas you come across, it can get your wheels turning and help you get a better idea of what you do and don’t want from your own experience. If nothing else, you might start to get some outfit inspiration from looking at a variety of photoshoots. 

Though engagement photos are by no means a requirement while planning a wedding, plenty of couples find the act to be a sweet way of spreading the joy. Don’t overthink the shoot too much, as you’ll have plenty to stress over as you plan for your big day.

A Photographer and Specific Styles

Picking a wedding photographer is definitely one of the biggest challenges ahead of you as you begin planning for your big day. Some couples will start on this task early, hoping to use the same artist for both engagement pictures and actual wedding-day photos. While it might seem like picking the photographer is the main goal, you actually want to linger a bit on aesthetics. Though there is a general “wedding photo” vibe you can go for, some couples prefer having a look that fits their unique personalities. 

From the whimsical to the bizarre, selecting a photo style can help you in more ways than one. Consider these tips and find a look that works for you.

Why This Matters

First and foremost, you might be curious why the style of your photos matters. While it might not be a crucial component for all couples, many people want control. Beyond this, choosing an engagement photographer can actually help you with planning for your wedding. If you’re stuck on a particular aesthetic for your event, finding a photographer with a style that appeals to you can help you form a plan for the theme of your wedding. 

A Traditional Photographer and The Traditional Route

Perhaps the most popular option couples select is the traditional style. This means that the pictures are all posed, typically in a manner that resembles classic portraiture. A majority of the pictures will be staged, usually with various combinations of the couple, the wedding party, and key relatives. All pictures that follow a traditional path will not have the exact same aesthetic, however, as the overall vibe of wedding pictures changes each year as new trends appear and old fads fade away.  

The Emotional Path

By nature, a wedding is an emotional event. It makes sense that couples want to capture this in their photos. Staged pictures can’t always cut to the heart of the day’s meaning, especially when you’re trying to sit and smile with so many other feelings swirling around inside. Photographers who base their work around emotion will try to capture you in a natural way. Unlike candids, however, these pictures will usually have a bit of prompting. Jokes may be told to get you to smile and laugh in a way that captures a natural, effortless emotional tone. 

The Editorial Style

Ever wonder why there are so many wedding pictures that depict the couple looking like stylized models? It is because the editorial style of wedding photography has become quite popular in recent years. Editorial pictures tell a story beyond the “happy people about to tie the knot” angle. Like a spread in a fashion magazine, the pictures are meant to capture a specific idea. Posing with a bottle of champagne while casually leaning on a luxury car, for example, sells the idea of elegance and class. 

The Niche Photographer

If you have some specific interests you want to work into your wedding, then your photos can be a perfect way to achieve this. A couple obsessed with horror films might want to do a shoot where they’re dressed similarly to their favorite slashers. Sports fans can get creative and work the home team into the aesthetics of their wedding pictures. Whatever niche interests you have, no matter how odd or bizarre, you might find it fun to make it a cornerstone of your wedding pics.

The Final Results

The key to enjoying how your wedding pictures look is researching a photographer’s work in advance. No matter what style you decide on, a portfolio by an artist you are considering is all you need to see to make the final decision.

From the weird to the sentimental, a unique aesthetic can make for some great pictures. Start looking at options now to feel inspired and find a perfect fit.

Wedding Photographer: Tips for Choosing The Right One

The proper wedding photographer will make your ceremony one worth remembering.

When choosing a wedding photographer, make sure that they are experienced and professional.

You’ll probably spend more time with your wedding photographer on the day of your wedding than any other professional or person. Although many wedding magazines recommend that you ask about equipment and style, it’s more important to choose a photographer with whom you can relax and who will provide what you’re looking for. Here are seven tips to help you select the right person.

  1. There are probably hundreds of listings in your area for wedding photographers. Browse through their portfolios and find three or four with images that you like. Once you’ve narrowed your choices, set up a time to meet with the photographer. Make sure you’re meeting with the person who will be at your wedding, not a sales person/consultant or the owner of the studio. You’re putting your wedding memories in the photographer’s hands. You have to like and trust this person.
  1. Don’t choose a photographer for these reasons:
    • He or she is family or the friend of a family member. Just imagine if something goes wrong. You have to face this person at family reunions for the rest of your life.
    • The venue made the recommendation. There are some venues that actually allow vendors to pay to be on the “preferred list.” It’s marketing, not preference.
    • The wedding photographer is running a sale. Good photographers have to invest in professional equipment and pay taxes and insurance. If they’re offering a deep discount, you have to ask yourself, “Where are they cutting corners?”
    • They’re popular and booked out for 300 weddings this year. Think about the logistics of doing 300 weddings in one year. Who knows who will be actually taking pictures of you on your wedding day?
  1. Ask what you get for their services. On average, you should expect 50 to 100 photos for each hour the photographer works.  Who owns the rights to the photographs? How will you get reprints? How many of the pictures will be edited in post-production?
  2. Will the photographer do a first-look session? A first look is when the bride and groom spend a few minutes alone together before the ceremony. It helps to get the jitters out and lets you have that real moment of seeing each other in private. Your photographer can capture those raw emotions before the ceremony and then you can enjoy the cocktail hour after the ceremony.
  3. What happens if the photographer is sick? Although it is unlikely that the photographer you choose will get sick, you should know what the contingency plan is.
  4. Find out how much experience the wedding photographer has. Don’t simply look at years in business, but consider how many weddings the person has actually shot in that time frame. Someone with five years of experience who has only done 10 weddings may not compare to someone with just one year of experience who has done 50 weddings over that time.
  5. Do you get a contract that clearly outlines the details of the services? Be extremely wary of photographers who do not have a contract that offers pricing, resolution terms and cancellation terms. This is for your protection as much as theirs. Once you have a contract, any verbal statements that change the terms of the contract should be obtained in writing.

Choose Your Wedding Photographer Sooner Rather Than Later

You may need to book your photographer right after you choose the date of the wedding. However, don’t panic if you don’t get your first choice. You may be able to get a referral to someone with a similar style who doesn’t have a full schedule. Should you tip your photographer? While most photographers don’t expect tips, most will appreciate one if it is given.