The proposal is one of the most exciting parts of the entire wedding process, and it should be captured as such! Engagement photos not only add to the excitement and celebration, but they also freeze this moment in time- the precious days, weeks, and months leading up to your moment of marriage. It’s no question that you want these photos to be the best they can be! In my experience as Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin engagement, wedding, and portrait photographer, there are four important parts to creating stunning photos.
Posing. As a photographer, I never expect my couples to have experience or even feel comfortable ‘posing’ themselves. I know I didn’t when I posed for my first professional photos! Personally, I like to make this a large part of the experience, as I prompt the couples in a way that they will enjoy and will bring out the genuine emotion between them. This makes it more of an intimate activity of creating personal art rather than standing and posing for boring, lifeless photos. A few of my favorite prompts include a dance or twirl, a secret whispered into an ear, silly kinds of kisses, blowing raspberries on the neck, a simple walk, and everything in between.
Setting. Location and timing play a large role in any outdoor photography session. As a nature lover myself, places like state and national parks as well as local gardens and preservetories will always be my favorite, sporting beautiful scenery like waterfalls, hills, bluffs, greenery, wildflowers, creeks, empty roads, beaches etc. If your style is more city/suburban, try the inside or outside of a library, museum, your favorite restaurant or coffee shop, store, arcade, downtown area, or even your own home. As for time of day, I always suggest the time frame that is popularly known as golden hour- right before sunset or right after sunrise. This gives naturally warm tones and soft light rather than the harsh shadows the midday sun can provide. Another option in blue hour, which as you may have guessed, brings a cooler tone into the images.
Appearance. What you wear has a greater impact on your images than many may assume. Neutral tones will give a softer look while bold colors and patterns will create more contrast. I never suggest pastels as they wash out your color, and recommend avoiding neons/bright colors that may reflect onto the skin tone or overpower the image. Large logos can also be distracting. Rather than matching outfits, try choosing a color scheme and adding a pattern or texture or two instead. Choose pieces that will accentuate what you love about your body with a tighter fit in that area. If you’re having a difficult time deciding what to wear, I recommend using your phone to photograph each outfit to compare! You could always ask for your photographer’s advice, too. At the end of the day, be sure you are comfortable walking and moving around in whatever you choose, and most importantly be sure you feel like your best self in it!
Hire a great photographer. The bottom line is that you need a great photographer if you want amazing engagement photos. Search through websites and portfolios, set up consultations, and hire a professional photographer with a similar style as you to bring your vision to life. Bonus if they also do wedding photography, and you can use this experience as a trial run for potentially hiring them for your big day!
