You just got engaged—Yay! After selecting a Wedding Date, one of the first things you might do as an engaged couple is to have engagement photos taken. Many people have a preconceived idea of Engagement Photos as unnecessary or (gasp) stuffy! Let me assure you that is just not the case. I love doing Engagement photos for my clients because it is a great way for them to get comfortable in front of the camera before the Wedding day. It is kind of like a dry run for the Big Day. Engagement photos make great Save the Date cards, wall art for your home, or gifts for family. As a professional wedding photographer, a lot of people ask me for tips on how to make their engagement photos really amazing. Below are a few tips and tricks to help you plan your engagement session and get photos that you really love.

1. Think about the big picture (no pun intended)—time of day, location, where you want to go. Decide ahead of time whether you want a more formal look or a casual look. Narrowing things down will actually make it easier to plan and pack for your session.

2. Consider styling choices carefully. You can still dress like yourselves, but you might want to take it up a notch or two. For women, a pretty dress and professionally styled hair and makeup look fantastic. High heels can give your legs a great shape. For guys, a well fitted, tailored suit and a fresh hair cut/shave are always stylish. Good grooming and a fabulous outfit help build confidence when being photographed. When you look great, you feel great—and it will show in your photos. Most of my couples choose to bring along two outfits—one more dressy and one more casual. I love options!

3. Make sure you communicate what your expectations are in terms of location and time of day. The best time of day for outdoor photos is generally the hour/hour and half before the sun sets. Photographers call this the Golden Hour because the light is very soft and flattering. So take that into account when planning your session. And make sure you leave enough time in the schedule for traveling to the location(s). Night shots are fun too—but may take some extra planning in terms of lighting equipment, etc. so it is important to discuss this well in advance.

4. Props can be really fun to include in your engagement photos. I love it when couples bring things that have special meaning to them. For example, if you have a particular activity you like to do as a couple, such as hiking or cooking together, that might be a great thing to incorporate into your photos. Some couples like to go to the spot where they got engaged or had their first date. Getting creative with this really personalizes your photos.

5. Lastly, relax and have fun with it. Use this time as a little break from the stress of wedding planning and connect as a couple.

One final note, an Engagement Session is a great way to preview how you photograph, what style of photography you like (posed, candid), and for building rapport with your Photographer, so use it to your advantage!