5 Tips for planning your Engagement Session

Hello!

So most of you know how much I love engagement/ adventure sessions. I love how we can explore, adventure and capture you two as a couple all while have the craic.

An engagement session is the best way to get to know your photographer and prepares you for what to expect on your big day. It’s also so nice to have other photographs instead of being in your formal wedding attire.

I’ve put together some of the best tips for you to have the best session and when the time comes for your wedding day, you will be super confident in front of the camera.

Location

When I’m emailing couples ahead of their session, my first question is “Where would you like to go?“ The location is a biggy for me and with living in the Mourne area, we have so much choice here.

I always tell me couples to go somewhere that they won’t go for their wedding.

If your up for an adventure, go and explore a Mountain or a Forest Park with amazing views.

If you love the beach, head to the beach and don’t be afraid of getting into the water. The best sessions are always when you aren’t afraid to explore and adventure.

Or if there is somewhere which you always go together, somewhere that holds an emotional connection to you both. Go there. I am up for going anywhere so you have have the most amazing session.

What to wear

The most common question I’m asked is “Karen what do I wear?” Your outfit choice has a very important role in your engagement session.

Choose complementary colours so that both of your outfits coordinate, but not match.Try and choose colours that work well with your location. Colours that stand out in nature.

Avoid fluorescent/neon colours which are harsh and clash with colours found in nature and also try to avoid clothing with big, bold branded logos.

These are your engagement pictures so don’t wear what you wear every day and dress up a little. Have fun with it! Flowy dresses are amazing in the wind and on the beach!

The main thing you need to make sure is you feel confident and comfortable in the outfits you choose. If you feel uncomfortable, you will look uncomfortable. It’s as simple as that. Wear whatever the heck you want to wear and what makes you feel your best.

Time

I’m very strict with my times of session and try to schedule all my engagement sessions for golden hour, the hour just before sunset. The light at this time is the softest and most prettiest and makes for so much better pictures than that harsh, mid afternoon light. It makes your session much more enjoyable as you aren’t squinting and you don’t have harsh shadows on your skin. It also makes your skin look more radiant. Count me in!

I always try to stay so we can see the sunsetting (if its a clear night) but sometimes thats not always possible. After all we do live in Ireland! Sometimes we can even get the moon in too!

Be yourself

Before every session my couples all say “I’m so nervous, I don’t know what to do”.

My answer to you is just be yourself. If you are getting married to this person you obviously love them with every bit of you. You know what makes each other laugh and smile. If you are goofy, if you love exploring, if you are up for the craic, JUST BE YOU.

I always tell couples if they want to incorporate something they always do together into their session that I would love to capture that little bit of them.

Whether it be cosying up by the fire pit in those Summer nights and toasting marshmallows or going for a walk along the beach with a wee ice cream, I LOVE the little personal touches.

Trust your photographer

If I had a pound for every time someone said to me “We hate getting our photos taken” or “We aren’t photogenic”, well I’d probably be a wealthy woman!
Pretty much every session starts out with you both feeling a little awkward and not sure what to do and that’s completely normal. But! If you have the right photographer, you’ll be a natural in no time. It’s amazing to see couples gain confidence as the session progresses with just a little direction from me and a lot of laughs. And you will be a natural in no time and you won’t believe how much you actually enjoyed your session!

Trust me!

If you'd like to book an engagement session I'd love to adventure with you!