Lifestyle /
The Perfect Engagement Photo Shoot
She Said Yes, Now Say Cheese!
One of my favourite new wedding trends is a couple becoming more creative with their Engagement Shoots. No longer do photo shoots have to be limited to typical portraits in one or two positions, nor do they have to be confined to the festivities of the wedding week. Instead, these can be planned much earlier when the glow of newly engaged is shimmering in the air and it’s a perfect way to express the personality of both the bride and the groom.
Couples these days are using the engagement shoot photos both privately and publicly as a way to introduce themselves to their guests, relatives and friends via their wedding website, wedding invitations and as a decor item (i.e.. an enlarged photo on an easel welcoming guests) at that wedding itself.
When planning your engagement shoot, do sit down with your photographer and map out the key moments, look or feel that you want to capture.
It’s important to involve them in the process from the very beginning, as they have ample experience and can recommend locations that fit your theme, time of day to fit the mood, and colours that can enhance the look.
Hobbies are an excellent way to capture what brought you two together and what will be part of what sustains the relationship further down the road. It’s an activity that you and your partner truly enjoy and that emotion will convey itself through the photographs.
Depending on the hobby, really get yourselves into the mood (i.e.. soccer, baking, painting) and have fun getting dirty! Those unscripted smiles and laughter are infectious when others are viewing your photos.
Find a location that has a special meaning for the both of you. Whether it’s where you first met, had your first kiss, your first date or that moment when you just “knew” that this is the one for you, use location as a canvas to capture your engagement shoot.
I’ve recently seen some innovative grooms even secretly hiring their photographers to capture their proposal! When you look back at it 5, 10, 50 years down the line, it will instantly bring a smile to your face when you recollect this special time in your relationship.
Wearing costumes/outfits to your photo-shoot is an excellent idea to reflect your personalities as long as you don’t go too over board.
Have fun and dress up, color coordinate (explore complementary colours to avoid a look that is too matchy-matchy), and most importantly, make sure that the costumes enhance your photo-shoot without taking away from the main stars of the photo: you and your partner.
Props can be the perfect icing to the cake of your engagement shoot. The right types can make the photos look even more charming and lovely, while also adding a wonderfully interactive element to your photos.
When selecting your props make sure they blend in naturally into the theme of your shoot and try to keep them minimal. When in doubt, ask your photographer to give you a peek at the photos so you can see if less is more.
Timing is everything. Sometimes the sweet simplicity of Mother Nature is all that’s needed to make your engagement shoot all the more impactful. Take advantage of the varying lighting styles, whether it’s those vivid hues of yellow-orange as the sun is rising, a bright sunshine-filled afternoon, or those gorgeous rays of pinks and purple as the sun is setting in the evening.
A silhouette of a couple in love against such a spectacularly scenic background makes a dramatic and romantic moment captured beautifully on camera.
CREDITS:
Image by Lin & Jirsa Photography
Image by Shandro Photo
Image by Cosmin Danila Photography
Image by Aliph aur Meem
Image by Aamer Kapadia Photography
www.shaadibelles.com
Vandana Duggal
Author
Vandana Duggal, a former Beauty & Fashion marketer, is the co-founder of Shaadi Belles, a South Asian Wedding inspiration search engine. Based in New York City, Vandana is a biking enthusiast, beauty junkie, Bollywood fan, vegan and global traveler. w...
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