For many couples, their engagement photo shoot is their first time to have professionally-taken photographs. While engagement photography is not strictly necessary for the wedding, couples who have taken it have found it enjoyable and that it enriches their overall wedding experience.
Photo by Chris Ling Photography
What Is It For?
Engagement photos are different from pre-wedding photos and actual day photos. One advantage of engagement photography is that it produces glamorous-looking shots (similar to those in pre-wedding photography), but it allows you to have more freedom to act like yourselves and let your true personalities show.
The purpose of engagement photos is, of course, to have a beautiful memento of this milestone in your relationship, and to announce to the world that you are set to embark on a journey to get married. You can use one of your engagement photos to announce your upcoming wedding in social media sites or as your image for your Save the Date card. You can also collect the photos into an album and post it in your personal wedding blog.
Props
Using props for your engagement photos is a fun way to add personality into still images. When used appropriately, props are engaging elements that hint at your love story and enhance the theme of your wedding. Most often, couples choose their props based on their sentimental value or how it reveal their personalities. The following are great prop ideas you should consider for your engagement photos:
Pets or Animals. Though it doesn’t seem right to call our beloved pets “props”, wedding photography classifies them as such since they serve the same purpose in photographs – to add personality and interest to the photos. Animals are challenging elements but are fun to have in your engagement photos.
Photo by Annabel Law Productions
Picnic Setup. Picnics are great because they’re naturally romantic and it gives you great choices for your background. A picnic setup also lets you dress up while still feeling casual at the same time, plus it allows you to do a variety of sitting and lying down poses. The food, which you can actually eat (always a plus), make for great props too.
Ice Cream. Who doesn’t love ice cream? Using ice cream as photo props brings out the child-like spirit in you. The added bonus is that most ice cream shops will be happy to let you use their colorful location – it’s free publicity for them, after all – as long as you don’t interrupt their business.
Frames. This is a very common photo prop. Though they don’t look natural and are sometimes overused, frames look fun and they diversify composition and posing. The trick in using frames is simply to not take yourselves too seriously and just enjoy the absurdity of the idea.
Sports Equipment. Sports and games could be the easiest way to get natural expressions and a genuine interaction between you and your partner. Whether it’s table tennis, badminton, swimming or any other sport, you can never go wrong with incorporating something that both you and your fiancé love to do in your engagement photos.
Musical Instruments. Using musical instruments, such as a violin, guitar or piano, will add a romantic feel to your photos. Use them for a variety of shots, from close-ups of your hands on the piano keys as you play together, to wide shots of the groom-to-be expressing his love to you through a serenade.
Storyboard
Usually used in filmmaking, a storyboard can also come in handy in planning and orchestrating a photo series that aims to tell a story. A storyboard is simply a layout of the different shots that you plan to take from beginning to end. Making a storyboard does more than just help in organizing the photo shoot, it also stimulates your creativity and nurtures new ideas.
Photo by Zonzon Productions
Mood Boards
For a photo session that showcases your lifestyle as a couple, consider making your own mood board. Generally, a mood board is a collage made of related images and various items that serves as a design palette to the wedding. If you are making a mood board for your inspiration, start with an image that is significant to your relationship and then build up your collage from there. There are social media sites that you can use to create your own mood board, which you can share to your vendors so that they can give suggestions and feedbacks regarding the services that they can provide for your wedding.
Styling and Wardrobe
One of the first questions that couples ask their photographer is what should they wear for the engagement photo shoot. Unfortunately, that’s beyond the expertise of your wedding photographer (unless he also has a background on fashion photography). The basic rules to follow are: dress casually, dress smart, and dress for the location you’re shooting at. For men, you can easily get away with a dress shirt and good pair of pants; for women, a Sunday dress with a venue appropriate footwear should be great. For something more specific:
Photo by Kent Wong Photography
For the Lady
Given the country’s hot weather, your best choice is a sleeveless sundress for a daytime photo shoot. If you’re having the shoot at night, feel free to wear a cocktail dress or a formal dress. Whether you go for a casual or formal attire, make sure that your fiancé’s outfit matches yours.
Choose your dress carefully and avoid wearing dark-colored dresses as they tend to wash away your glow. Wear a dress with a hue that compliments your eyes and hair. Avoid dresses with patterns as these will take the focus away from you. If you don’t own one yet, get yourself a good strapless, nude bra – the last thing you’ll want to see in your engagement photos are bra straps.
Before finalizing your attire for your engagement photo shoot, try all your choices on different lighting conditions to have a better idea how you’ll look in your photos. Important note: make sure your hair and makeup are expertly done. If you’re not makeup savvy and not sure how to make those lovely eyes and cheeks pop, go see a professional hair and makeup stylist.
For the Gent
It’s typically easier for men to choose their outfit. While you do have to look good, there’s no need to dress formally, unless the bride-to-be does so. Rule of thumb: wear an outfit you’d wear when you go on a date at a nice restaurant – a crisp button-down shirt and a fresh pair of jeans. Make sure to style your hair (you may ask your MUA to do it for you) and that your shoes are well-shined. Lastly, if you have oily skin, don’t be afraid to put on some foundation so that your face don’t shine in your photographs.
Photo by Kinici Photo
Having professionally-taken photos is a great way to commemorate your engagement. By incorporating fun, unique and creative ideas in your engagement photography, you’re guaranteed to have wonderful images that you’ll love to look again and again in the years to come.
