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Engagement photos are a fun, optionaltradition that more and more couples are opting for nowadays. It’s not reallyanything new – people have been doing engagement photos and portraits foryears. But it’s undoubtedly an increasingly popular tradition.
If you’re wondering whether to snap someengagement photos and how exactly to go about it – here’s our quick guide.
Do I need anengagement shoot?
First things first, is an engagementphotoshoot something every couple should do or is it cheesy to take engagementphotos? As far as we’re concerned – it’s entirely up to you. Engagement photosare not a set-in-stone tradition and if you don’t like the idea of it, you canskip it. No one’s going to judge you for it.
Then again, you’re (hopefully) only gettingengaged once so why not capture the moment while you can? If you’re afraid thatit’s a cheesy tradition you can just take the photos in a simpler, non-cheesymanner.
Here are the pros and cons of an engagementphoto shoot.
Why you should takeengagement photos?
Youcan have a lot of fun during the process and capture your couple style.
- It’s a special moment thatdeserves to be captured. Even if you don’t feel like it at the moment, you mayregret not taking your engagement photos decades down the line.
- You’ll silence any possible dissentof your friends and family. It might not be a must-do tradition but it’sdefinitely a beloved one.
- You can have a lot of fun withthe shoot itself as long as it’s true to who you are as a couple and you’recomfortable with the process.
Why you shouldn’ttake engagement photos?
- If you’re going for somethingmore special and hire a professional photographer you can end up spending quitea lot of money that you could’ve saved for the wedding.
- Additionally, such staged engagementphoto shoots can be viewed as clichés. Holding hands on train tracks, huggingtrees in the woods, kissing on the beach at sunset – it’s all been done at thispoint. Which isn’t to say that clichés are bad – if you enjoy it then good foryou. But it is something to keep in mind.
We’re alreadyengaged, that means we missed the boat, right?
Not at all. In fact, most engagement photosare taken days, weeks or even months after the engagement itself. Sometimesthey are taken just before the wedding itself by the same photographer you’vehired for the big event.
Of course, you can just snap a photo or twowith your phone during/after the proposal– that’s a “true engagement photo” ina sense. It’s also much more budget-friendly and arguably more romantic. But ifyou want to make a separate engagement photoshoot a week later to celebrate andcommemorate the engagement, you can do that as well.
What if there wasn’t a big romanticproposal and the couple simply made a practical decision to get engaged? That’sstill romantic in its own way and there’s no reason you shouldn’t celebrate itwith a photoshoot if you want.
How to take yourown engagement photos
Setting aside the case of simply snapping aselfie with you and your beloved just after the proposal, you can also try andtake a semi-professional approach with a special photoshoot somewhere. Even ifneither of you has the background and photography know-how, if you get theright equipment, research how to prepare for engagement photos, and choose theright location, you can still create something special. Here are some tips onhow to take engagement photos yourself:
- Find a third person to help. Even if you’re not going to hire a professional and you don’t haveany amateur photograph friends, the third set of hands and eyes can be of greathelp during your engagement photoshoot. Without a third person you’ll end uphaving to use the camera’s tripod and timer function which is going to make thewhole process much more difficult.
- Preparation is key. The less photography know-how you have the more you’re going toneed to acquire before you start. Most people don’t know more than 2 or 3settings on their cameras so take the time and research about the differenttypes of photos your camera is capable of, the different techniques you canuse, and so on. Of course you won’t end up becoming an actual professionalovernight but every little bit counts. Plus, you can find out quite a few newideas this way.
- Get the necessary equipmentand props for engagement shoots. If you don’t havea nice HD camera and you don’t want to spend too much for one, you can alwaysask a friend to loan you theirs (and to come help too!). In addition to thecamera, however, you’ll also be smart to get a tripod and remote control.Outside of that, look for some additional props to use in the photos –balloons, flower bouquets, chocolate boxes, or other holiday-themed props thatare related to the time/season of your engagement. If you want to make it evenmore interesting, make it a period-piece or role-play inspired photoshoot –your imagination is the only limit you need to have.
- Location is key. As with almost anything else in life, the right location can makeall the difference. It’s easy to just go to a nearby park and snap some photosamong the trees but you can also think of something different – somethingspecial that will make the whole thing truly unique. Or, if the nearby park isthat special thing for you (maybe you met there?) – go for it.
- Timing is vital as well. In outdoor photography, there’s a term you might have heard of –“the golden hour”. It refers to the period just before and after sunset orsunrise. This is the best time for all types of outdoor photos as it:
1) reduces the chance of unwanted shadows on your faces
2) ensures less busy locations
3) makes it easier to pose for photos without having to squint your eyes
4) sunsets and sunrises are gorgeous
- Take a large variety ofphotos. If you’ve gone through all the trouble ofprepping and investing in the photoshoot, at least make sure that you takeevery kind of photo you can think of – vertical, horizontal, Dutch angles,serious/cringe-y photos, joking/meme photos, etc. In short – make sure you haveenough B-roll footage.
- Have fun with the editing. If you lack any editing skills – don’t worry, engagement photos area perfect opportunity to hone your editing prowess. Not only can this be a veryfun process but having basic editing skills is quite useful nowadays anyway.
Should you get aprofessional photographer and how should you work with one?
If you don’t feel you’re up to taking yourengagement photos yourself, you can always hire a professional. If your weddingis getting close, you can use an engagement shoot as a “test” of sorts for thephotographer you’re about to choose for your wedding.
The average cost of engagement photoshootsin the U.S typically ranges between $200 and $500, depending on the state, howmany locations you want to shoot at, if you want the photographer to supply yousome special costumes such as a suit and a dress, how much editing you’ll wantfor the photos, and so on.
Still, even if you’re going to work with aprofessional, that doesn’t mean that everything will be automatically takencare of. There are multiple tips and insights you might want to keep in mind toget the best possible bang for your buck:
- Meet with the photographerahead of time before you commit to anything. Set upa meeting in a coffee shop or something familiar and spend some time together –go over all the details, the pricing, all your preferences, and all the adviceand suggestions the photographer might have.
- Brainstorm locationstogether. You may have a couple of locations inmind, but if the photographer is experienced, he/she might have a lot ofsuggestions you haven’t even thought of. Be open-minded and think thingsthrough – you’re getting one chance at this.
- Follow the photographer’sdirections. As long as you’ve managed to find atruly good professional that you can trust, follow his/her directions asthey’ll probably know much better how to get the best possible photos. If youfeel like the photographer’s ideas or suggestions go against your vision, thenyou’ve either hired a mediocre professional or – more probably – you haven’tgone through your concept well enough before the shoots.
At the end of the day, there’s no “right” way to take engagement photos. Astaged, choreographed, and detailed photoshoot with 100+ photos at severaldifferent locations can be as special to you and your fiancé as a simple selfietaken right after the proposal. It’s all about taking the photo(s) that youknow will bring a smile to your face whenever you look at them.
TagsWedding Photography
