Tea Thyme // The 5 W’s of Engagement Shoot Prep

Just because engagement season is over, doesn’t mean you have to jump right into wedding planning. Once you’ve decided upon the critical elements (venue, date, guest count, etc.), consider planning your engagement photoshoot before diving further into the details. This will put your planning skills to the test and give you an incentive to nail down some of your wedding day vendors. Keep scrolling for the who, what, where, when and why of engagement shoot preparation!

WHY

Let’s start with the why. This is such an important season in your life and it deserves to be celebrated AND captured. If that isn’t enough of a reason to convince your partner or justify the cost, just think about all the ways in which you could use them! You could feature the photos on your Save The Dates as well as your wedding website, display them at wedding-related events such as your rehearsal dinner, and, of course, hang them up in your home. Oh, and did we mention it will help you get comfortable posing for your photographer BEFORE the biggest day of your life? The question should really be, “why not?”!

WHO

The who might seem obvious, but we have a few others in mind besides you, your partner and the photographer. Have you thought about including a pet? Talk about a fun way to capture your story! What about vendors other than your photographer? An engagement shoot is the perfect opportunity to work with your hair stylist or makeup artist before the big day. Plus, you could always have the session double as your wedding trial run!

Pro tip: Add your florist to the mix! Ask him or her to create a single bouquet or arrangement using the same florals from your wedding day design to make sure it all works!

WHAT

The question on everyone’s mind – what should you wear? We recommend choosing 1-2 outfits each that are:

• Without crazy patterns, text, logos or images
• Complimentary of one another
• Seasonally appropriate
• Reflective of your personalities
• Comfortable!

Pro tip: Keep the accessories to a minimum, incorporating only one statement piece for interest!

WHERE

Wondering where you should shoot? The possibilities are truly endless but we have some ideas to get your creative juices flowing! Consider a location associated with a special memory or experience. It could be the spot where you first said “I love you”, got engaged or even where you’re getting married. If you enjoy hiking you could have them taken atop your favorite mountaintop. Conversely, if you’re more of a homebody, you could always take them in your living room! Your engagement photos should tell your love story as well as be unique to the two of you.

If you’re simply looking for a stunning backdrop, here are a few suggestions: in a forrest or field of flowers somewhere with city views such as a parking garage, along side a body of water or water feature. You can always add props (sparingly of course) to differentiate it from others that you’ve seen.

Pro tip: Some locations have strict photography policies requiring you to schedule in advance, work with a professional, or even pull a permit. Be sure to do some research on this as well as discuss with your photographer before committing.

WHEN

And for the [engagement season] finale – the when! This one ties back to the other 4 W’s:

• Why – If you’re planning to use the photos for wedding-related things, hold the shoot well in advance of needing them to allow adequate time for editing and printing
• Who – If including wedding day vendors, schedule your photos with enough time to make changes to your day of package
• What – If you already have outfits in mind, make sure you pick a time of year or season with which they coincide
• Where – If getting married in a field of peach trees, for example, you’ll want to pick a date when the tree flowers are in full bloom

We suggest consulting your photographer regarding the specific time of day. Lighting in photos is everything and only they can ensure you’ll get to take full advantage of golden hour!

Pro tip: Make a full day out of it! Get brunch beforehand so you’ll be relaxed come time to get behind the camera. The entire process should be FUN!

All photos by Jessi Lancaster Photography.

We’ll be taking some thyme off from this blog while we work on March’s brew. In the meantime, be sure to check out our She Makes Honey Moves blog next Tuesday featuring a local boss babe. Venue management is her cup of tea (hint hint).