Your engagement session is meant to be a fun opportunity to not only connect with your photographer before the wedding day, but also to connect with your partner! This is your opportunity to capture who you are as a couple! I tell my couples to think of your shoot like an opportunity to paint a picture — and every component matters. Your location is the canvas, and everything from what you wear to the props you incorporate, will contribute to the end result of what your photos look like! We put together this engagement session style guide to help you out while planning your engagement session. If you’re looking for the best Bay Area locations for engagement sessions, check this out.
Choosing a place thats meaningful to you. It could be where you had your first date or a place you’ve frequented together through the years. If you like coffee, think about incorporating a coffee shop into your session, or a local restaurant with food you like! If you two like to party, go take a shot together at a bar! You’re a surfer? Bring your surfboards to the beach. All of these things can make your shoot feel more personal to you.
When planning your outfits, number one, choose something you feel comfortable & confident in. It’ll show in the photos if you don’t feel good in your own skin. Now, I’m not talking about being awkward in front of the camera… we will talk about that momentarily. For now, let’s focus on attire. Wear something you’re comfortable moving around in. Something that you look in the mirror and think “damn, I look good.” Secondarily, use your engagement session as an opportunity to let your personality shine through! Wear your vibe.
Play off of each others outfits but don’t overdo it. Compliment, don’t coordinate. Lastly, be mindful of what looks best on your skin tones — some colors reflect on skin.
Now for my awkward turtles — guess what? 98% of couples I talk to tell me that they are not photogenic, awkward in front of the camera, or don’t know what to do with their face during a shoot. Some couples have even never been photographed professionally before! Totally normal. It’s our job to guide you through posing, make you feel comfortable & take photos that make you look better than you’re expecting. We typically schedule engagement sessions on weekdays because we’re booked with weddings on weekends. And we plan to meet closer to sunset (plan for an hour to an hour and a half before sunset).
When considering what to bring, I often recommend bringing a cute blanket to sit on for some photos. Skip the custom signs & tshirts and bring champagne to spray, your dog to love on, or maybe a vintage car to play with 😉 similarly to choosing your location, props can be a good way to incorporate meaning & individuality into your engagement session. If you’re looking for more inspiration outside of this engagement session style guide, we’ve created this Pinterest board to help with the vibes!
Wanna know WHERE to do your engagement session? Check out our Best Bay Area Engagement Session Locations!
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FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER:
At Apollo Fotografie it’s safe to say we love love. Like a lot. Our skilled professional photographers are passionate about their work. Our photographers are trained in a light and airy cinematic storytelling style. This is what makes us some of the best photographers in the Bay Area. We specialize in surprise engagements, engagement photography, San Francisco City Hall ceremonies, elopements, and weddings. Let us help you document your love! Whether you’re in San Francisco, the Bay Area, or beyond. Contact us at Apollo Fotografie today for pricing and availability.
