CONGRATULATIONS!! You’ve just experienced the magical moment of engagement. You’re floating on cloud nine and could not be more excited to begin the next chapter of life with your loved one. You call your family and friends, you celebrate and show off that bling! But once the initial excitement starts to slow down, you begin to plan your big day. There are a lot of big decisions that need to be made and depending on your engagement timeline, you might have to make some of them quickly!

One of the first things that you’ll want to do is book an engagement session. Not only will an engagement session capture those sweet early moments in engagement, but it will allow you to work with your photographer one on one before your big day. Having that experience with your fiancé and your photographer can give you peace of mind about your wedding photos, especially if you’re a bit nervous about being in front of the camera.

So you’ve found your photographer and your engagement session is booked.  You might be asking yourself, “What in the world should I wear?” These are pictures that you’re going to hold as keepsakes, so you want to make sure you and your fiancé are looking your best. I want to help so I took 5 tips from my style guide to help you prepare for your engagement session!

Tip 1- The Elusive Perfect Outfit:

The first thing you should remember is that you want to be comfortable. Try to shy away from things that will hinder you from moving or sitting, or from anything that feels uncomfortable. You’ll want to stay true to your style as well. When looking back on your pictures, you’ll want them to represent you and your fiancé, not a hot fad that has since passed. My suggestion: keep it classic and fun!

As a former bride and lover of fashion, I HIGHLY recommend Rent the Runway if you don’t already have something you want to wear. If you haven’t used them before, just know they send you two sizes so don’t be nervous about not being able to try it on first. There are also tons of reviews from other women who have tried the styles so you can feel more confident about the pieces you choose. You can even search by seeing dresses on other people with a similar body type, how cool! Here is a link to a coupon: $30 off your first order!

Tip 2- Where in the World?

Location is an important part of how your photos will turn out. You don’t want to wing it the day of and end up with construction equipment in the background. Plan ahead and make sure that the place you choose allows pictures and is available for you to use. Most public spaces don’t need a reservation, but if you want to snap some shots at your favorite restaurant make sure to call ahead! Want to know more? I wrote my top three tips about choosing your Atlanta engagement session location HERE!

Tip 3- Now? Later? Did we miss it?!

The time of day that you choose to have your photos taken is pretty important! Natural lighting is always best, so I want to take advantage of it as much as I can! Let me help you bring timing and photography together. It will only add more magic to your pictures!

Tip 4- It’s All in the Details, Darling!

Details, details, details. It’s something you’re going to hear a lot about over the next few months of planning. But don’t let it stress you out, have fun with it! Once you pick your outfit, go get your nails done in the perfect shade to compliment your outfit! Have your fiancé rock his favorite tie or watch, and you can never go wrong with a festive dress sock. Let the details be a fun way to express yourselves. I want the real you to shine through!

Tip 5- Who Me? Yes, you!

Being in front of the camera isn’t always natural for people, so I understand that you might be a bit shy at first. If you feel like your nerves might get in the way of your pictures, be sure to help yourself or your fiancé relax. Do so by being comfortable with what you wear, where you are, and if need be, have a treat to calm your nerves (treats range from ice cream to wine, either helps — both are delicious). It’s my job to make you look good and feel good, and I think you’ll find that I will just fade away and you’ll be able to enjoy special moments with your love that you’ll remember forever.

Hopefully these tips get you excited about your engagement session! And remember they’re just a sample of all the goodness that you’ll receive from my full style guide! If you are looking to book an engagement session, or just have questions about wedding photography in general, give me a shout! I would love to meet and chat with you about all things wedding. Or follow me on Instagram for updates about where I am, what I’m up to and all the fabulous real couples I work with!

Congratulations to you, bride! Soak up every moment of this very special season of life!

XOXO,
Rebecca