I’ve made a lot of major decisions for my upcoming wedding so far. From setting a date to choosing a venue, there have been some stressful bumps along the way. But for me, planning for my engagement photos has been one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the process.
I finally got mine taken, but not before stressing about everything from what I should wear to who we should enlist to shoot the photos themselves. Along the way, I picked up some tips that I’d love to share with you here.
Photo courtesy of Braja Mandala
Choosing the photographer: This is one of the hardest parts of the whole process. If you live in the city where you’ll be getting married, shooting with your wedding photographer is a great idea – this will give you a chance to get to know him or her a bit before shooting the wedding. I live in Chicago but am getting married in Pittsburgh, which made things a bit tricky for me. We didn’t have time to head to Pittsburgh for photos so we opted to use a Chicago-based photographer instead. Whether or not you decide to shoot in the same city where you’re holding your wedding, I would definitely recommend choosing a photographer who is local to the city where you get engagement photos taken. That way, he or she will be familiar with interesting locations and know how to capture the city’s character in photos.
Choosing the location: Pick a location that is meaningful to you. Sure, getting your photos taken against an iconic backdrop is cool – but if you ask me, it’s more important that you choose a place that tells a story about you and your fiancé. This is actually one of my big engagement photo regrets: I chose to take my photos at two of the most common locations in the city. While I like how recognizable the backdrop is, I honestly wish I had chosen more personal locations.
Set boundaries: Some desi brides might be uncomfortable with kissing or anything that involves too much physical contact. That’s perfectly fine – just be sure to set your boundaries beforehand and avoid any poses that make you feel uncomfortable
Photo courtesy of Peter Gubernat
Wear simple solid colors: It’s tempting to wear a distinctive, stylish outfit. Consider this, though: You’ll have your engagement photos forever. While you may love those crazy patterned pants right now, chances are you’ll cringe when you look back in twenty years. I would suggest wearing clean, classic items in solid colors. When in doubt, wear black.
Choose one body part to emphasize: If you have amazing arms, go for a sleeveless top. If you love your butt, show it off in a fitted dress. If you’re especially proud of your legs, go for a mini. Highlight your best feature….but keep everything else relatively conservative to create balance. For example, I wore a mini dress with a high neck and long sleeves to highlight my legs.
Stick to a familiar silhouette: I generally wear loose clothes but I worried that they wouldn’t photograph well. Because of this, I considered opting for a tighter outfit for my photos. Ultimately, I decided against this and I’m so glad I did. Wearing something that you’re not used to – whether it’s a pair of heels or a cleavage-baring dress – will only make you uncomfortable. Stick to your comfort zone for engagement photos.
Be natural: Don’t be afraid to tell jokes, have a little chat with your fiancé or even make goofy faces while you’re being photographed. A good photographer will understand how to shoot those moments so they look adorably candid, not awkwardly candid.
Photo courtesy of Sonya Lalla
Get a blow out: Great hair makes everyone look and feel so much better. Invest in a great blowout from your favorite salon to instantly boost your confidence – it’s a worthwhile splurge. I would also caution again getting a fancy updo or anything that looks too “styled.” Keep it simple, sleek and classic. Another tip? Get your makeup professionally done! You can use this as your trial run for your bridal makeup – you’ll get to see how the look translates on camera as well.
Don’t try anything new on your face: Sure, a brightening mask might sound like a great idea before you take your photos. But what if it makes your break out expectedly? Stick to skincare products you’ve used before, especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Those are my top tips. The biggest thing to remember is this: Your engagement photos should tell the story of your relationship. Let your personalities shine through and you’ll cherish those photos forever.