When I meet most of my couples for their engagement session, one of the first things they say to me is that they haven’t been photographed professionally since their senior pictures for high school — which, by the way, is completely normal. Besides possibly graduation pictures for college, there really aren’t too many reasons why you’d be getting pictures otherwise! So I wanted to chat about some of the basic information to get you ready to enjoy your engagement session! 

1. Timing
Clients love their engagement session because not only do they get to know their photographer’s style better before the wedding day, but they also have some wonderful professional photographs to use on their save the dates or wedding website. Many photographer’s calendars fill up a few months in advance, so if you’re planning to use your images for either of these purposes, I definitely recommend selecting your date as soon as possible!
Time of year is also an important consideration for you engagement session — I’ve previously discussed the perks each of the four seasons offers for photographing engagements, so be sure to check that out and decide which time of year is the best for you! 
And finally, you’ll have to choose between sunrise or sunset! Most photographers only shoot at these times as it’s the most flattering light for their subjects. Just remember to be on time for your session because once golden hour is over, it’s over! 

2. Attire
Planning your outfits is one of the most fun part of your engagement session — let’s be honest, who doesn’t love picking out a new dress or suit!? Since this is one of the most frequently asked questions, I’ve dedicated an entire blog post to just this topic! You can read all about that here: What to wear for your engagement session!

3. Location
We are so incredibly lucky in the Washington, DC area to have an enormous amount of location choices! I would suggest working closely with your photographer to find a spot that will photography beautifully — they will be able to give you a plethora of choices ranging from mountain views and open fields to chic city backdrops and historic monuments.  A fun idea is to try to include somewhere of significance, whether that’s an area you frequent for date nights, where he proposed, or where you first met. 

4. Props
Sometimes accessories aren’t something you wear, they are something you bring! A blanket for some sitting photos or a small prop that ties in your wedding day can be a fun addition. I definitely recommend keeping your props personal to you as a couple to ensure they don’t go out of style in a few years! 
And it’s probably no secret that I love dogs! They are always welcome at your session, as long as it’s okay with the venue. Just remember to pack a few treats for your photographer to use as bribes!

 

5. Clean Your Ring
Brides to be — don’t forget to polish up your beautiful engagement ring! While you’re changing outfits, your photographer will take a few shots of it for you, so a quick cleaning will go a long way to show off that shine.

BONUS: Relax!
Your engagement session is about getting comfortable in front of the camera before the big day, so this is an opportunity to just have some fun and snuggle with your fiancé! Trust that your photographer knows what poses and light will be the most flattering so that you can just enjoy the moment with one another — by the time your wedding day rolls around, you’ll be pros!