4 ways to make good use of your engagement photos

We've discussed how to prepare for your engagement session, now let's talk a little bit about what to do with all those beautiful photos once you receive them from your photographer! 

1 // Save the Dates

Many couples have their engagement sessions done well in advance of sending out invites and often even before sending a save the date. This is a perfect use for your engagement photos. It's almost like how when people would put an engagement photo in the paper (do people still do that????).

Making your save the date cards personalized with a photo of the two of you to is such a fun way to really highlight the excitement about your upcoming wedding to your potential guests! 

2) PRINT

Your photographer might provide you only digital images OR only prints OR a combination of both, but if you end up with only digitals from the session don't forget to get some printed! 

I could go on forever on the importance of printing your photos...(hard drive crash anyone?) and now is the time to start getting in the habit of getting a least a few of your ULTIMATE favorites printed and framed or made into a canvas. Or even in tabletop frames on nightstands.

One of my favorite photos of Paul of all times was taken during our engagement session and has been sitting on my nightstand ever since. Every time I look at it, I remember all the feelings that went along with that time in our lives. And those are some awesome feelings to remember. <-----ALLLLL the heart eyes!!! 

3) USE AT THE WEDDING

This is such a fun way to add some personalized decor to the actual wedding day! 

• Get a photo from the engagement session printed and put it in a frame that people can sign. 
• Make a book with the images and use it as a guest book and have people sign that. 
• Get a few photos framed and have them around the reception space either on the gift table or the cake table or on the head table. 

4) SHARE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ONLINE

Don't forget to give some of the images to your family (mom and dad will surely love that!) or your friends and share them online on your social media. And if you love your photographer, don't forget to tag them as well! ;-) 

Prepping for your CWP Engagement Session

Engagement sessions are probably one of my favorite types of sessions to photograph.

Actually, scratch that...they are my favorite. Hands down. 

Spending time with couples who are about to commit their lives to each other and are marinating in last few days and months before "the big day" is simply so much fun. There isn't the same pressure of the wedding day and it's just you, your camera and two people in love documenting the start of something amazing. 

So you may be thinking, "Well, Cinnamon, that is great that you are super jazzed about it, but we are nervous!! We haven't been professionally photographed in.....well, a REALLY long time, if ever!" 

First, this is TOTALLY normal. Its always nerve wracking to be in front of a camera. I actually enjoy having my picture taken and I get sweaty nervous as well. I find is the best way to really cut back on some of those nerves before the session is to be prepared! The better prepared you are for the session and the more you know about what to expect, everything will run much smoother and hey, we might even have a little bit (or even a LOT) of fun!! 

1 // Scheduling

Depending on how far out you book for the wedding, we will want to schedule the engagement session around 4-6 months prior to the wedding, especially if you might want to use some of the images for your save the date cards! 

This could change of course depending on season etc...but it's a good rule of thumb to have a little bit of time in between the engagement session and the wedding. 

Also depending on the season and time of year, a weekday will usually be when we schedule the session. Scheduling on weekends can be a challenge during wedding season and if the session is during the time of year when the sun doesn't set until 7pm or later, usually a weekday will work best for everyone involved. 

We will also schedule the session to start 2 hours prior to the sun setting on that day. I will let you know the exact time once we get the date on the books. This will give us ample time for changes, potentially traveling to different locations etc...The best photos always have the best light and these last two hours prior to the sun setting will guarantee the best possible images. 

2 // Location

Choosing a location for your engagement session can be so overwhelming with so many amazing choices! In order to narrow it down, I have a few suggestions. 

• Consider the "feel" you want for the photos. Rustic? Outdoor? Urban? Beach? 
• Do the two of you have any special or memorable places that you share that might be a good option? 
• Do you have access to any sort of private or exclusive locations that would add a unique element to the session? 

If all of that still doesn't help, just let me know and we can narrow down a fabulous location together! 

3 // What to wear

Hands down the hardest thing to figure out, amiright? 

The good news is, you don't have to pick just ONE outfit. I encourage all of my couples to do at least one outfit change during the session. That way you get a little more variety in your photos and can have a dressier look and also a more casual look. 

I also recommend outfits that compliment each other without being too "matchy matchy", and staying away from loud or busy prints is always a good idea. YOU are the focus of the photo, not your hawaiian print top! ;-) 

For Her

• Its important to be comfortable, while at the same time choosing an outfit that is flattering. 
• Heels elongate the legs 
• Accessories are a fun addition, scarves, hats, statement necklaces, cardigans etc...
• Don't forget the nails! We will likely do some ring/hand shots, so make sure those nails are free from chipped polish

For Him

• Long pants and closed toed shoes are a sure fire way to look "comfortable, yet put together"
• Consider one button down for dressier and a short sleeve or polo top for more casual
• Make sure hair/facial hair is trimmed and/or natural for the session. (ie...if you normally wear a full beard, don't shave it all off the day before the session!) 

Use these guidelines to direct you into choosing an outfit that is still true to who you are but will be the most flattering on camera. You will look back at these photos for YEARS to come, so keep that in mind when making your final choices! 

4 // Post session 

After the session, go out and have a fun night out!! You'll be dressed up and feelin the love from the session so go out and enjoy an evening out of just the two of you! I'll be getting you a sneak peek of the session on social media within a few days and then a blog post dedicated to the two of you within a few weeks after the session. This will tide you over until you get your gallery of images. ;-)

Hopefully, you now feel a little more prepared for your session and the excitement is taking over for some of those nerves. I promise we will have a fun and relaxed time and you will come away with precious memories from this awesomely fun time of being engaged!