Engagement photo Session Tips from your Halifax Photographer
I can’t wait to meet you and discover together all the amazing places that Halifax and Nova Scotia have to offer. Well, maybe one at a time :)
I am honestly so excited for you! Creating amazing photographs is a big part of what I love about my profession — but I also absolutely love meeting new people and forming new friendships, exchanging laughs, and creating fun memories together!
Besides taking photos, my job as your photographer is to let you be yourself during your photo session and create amazing memories for you. I strive to create a fun experience for you during your session and create new connections - a lot of my clients become my friends - we keep in touch long after the session is over and the engagement and wedding photos are delivered. People are so important to me — becoming a wedding photographer in Halifax was just an excuse for me to meet new people, hah! That’s why it’s a big deal to make sure we are the right fit for each other before you decide to hire me as your photographer. We got to love each others’ antics, am I right?
I am in love with my job and can even say I live to work, hah! After my family and loved ones, photography is the next reason I jump out of the bed in the mornings all energized and ready to take on the world!
Getting in front of the camera as a couple may be a new adventure for some and a matter of fact for others. While we’re guaranteed to have a lot of fun, here is a quick guide on what to expect and tips on getting the most out of your engagement photo session.
What to expect from the engagement session with me
As we meet and greet we’ll start our session by chatting a little bit to get to know each other while also giving me a chance to get my camera settings ready and finalizing the plan for the session. It might rain just as we’re getting started, or the place might be too crowded, so we’ll figure out the last-second details in those first few minutes and take a minute to just relax and get comfortable with the surroundings.
Just think of your session as an adventurous date - which it is! We want to ease you up into flirting with the camera and each other, making the session feel fun and comfortable. I’ll let you wander off a little bit, while I tag behind you taking some candids of you walking, holding hands, and maybe even touching each others’ butts! - whatever you feel comfortable with 😁. I might run and hide in the bushes at some point (like a true paparazzo) for some creative shots, but I will communicate that with you, so you never wonder where your third wheel went :)
One of the most popular shots of a couple holding hands with a visible engagement ring is a must-have for some, and this will be the time to take one.
Anytime during or after the candids, depending on how comfortable you feel we will stop for some posed photos. Some people know exactly what they want their engagement posed photos to look like and some people love posing directions — I’m happy to give you as little or as much direction as you like. I know what looks good on camera and will guide you into the most flattering positions.
WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR SESSION TO LOOK AND FEEL YOUR BEST
Bold & Solid colours are the best option, as they help you stand out in your pictures despite whatever the backdrop is. But, if you are not that bold colour type of person then you can go with your favourite colours that suit your personality. If your wardrobe is full of colour, pick a classic look so that you will love looking at your photos every time you look at your album, or pass that framed photo in your hallway.
Coordinate — you’re wearing blue? Pick a lighter or darker blue for your significant other. Grey goes well with any colour and it being my favourite (seriously — I am a big, big fan of grey!) you can never go wrong with grey.
Comfortable shoes —There will be a lot of walking so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. Or bring an extra pair of shoes with you in case of any emergency. Stay tru to - fancy on the top, fancy on the bottom - don’t wear sneakers if you wear a good-looking shirt and pants. My recommendation is to stay away from sneakers in the shoot all together, unless we are doing a hiking trail - themed wedding photoshoot where hiking footwear is a must!
WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION TO GET THE MOST MEANINGFUL PHOTOS
Bring or wear an extra layer —Wearing a cardigan, a sweater or your favourite jacket for the session! This will create a whole new extra look for your session with minimum effort and there will be no need to bring an extra outfit if you wanted to capture several looks.
Accessories — Don’t underestimate the glamour! Dress to impress your date - it is a date with your hunny-bunny after all, and I am just there as a third wheel with a third eye!
Hat lover? A closet full of scarves?
Wear it on the day of, or bring it with you for an additional look and to glamour it up a bit.
PROPS TO BRING TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION
A picnic basket and a blanket will not only create amazing photos, but will let you enjoy some snacks in the open fresh air - and everything tastes better in the fresh air, doesn’t it? Bring a bottle of sparkling juice that you can pop open and celebrate your day, your engagement and your love! Who knows - it might even start a tradition for you!
Gifts you gave each other, the engagement ring box, or a guitar or a violin that you happen to play will make for awesome photos that will pull on your heartstrings every time you look back at your photos and will transport you back in time to your special day. If you happen to play bagpipe and dare to bring it to your engagement photoshoot, I am totally gifting you a canvas print of your favourite photo from the session!!
Did you two meet while traveling? Planning on a grand adventure for your honeymoon? Let’s get those suitcases in the frame — nothing says love and romance (and patience) like exploring the world together.
HOW TO LOOK YOUR BEST DURING YOUR SESSION
Bring a hairbrush, a hair tie, and lipstick if you’re planning on wearing one. It may get windy, so keeping your hair in control will not only make you look good, it will also save me a lot of work in the post-processing - that gorgeous photo where you never looked better but with your mouth full of hair will take quite some time to edit and may cost extra. Hiring a makeup artist for your engagement session is a good way to ensure you look your best for the photo session, but also a chance to see if you like the artist’s style and what they can do for you. Read more about the reasons to hire a makeup artist for your engagement photo session or your wedding day here.
Bring a matte powder if you’re prone to sweat — it will help control shine.
Things to avoid during your engagement session
Patterns — loud patterns are best avoided as they will be the first the eye sees when looking at photos. Patterns are usually quite distracting and if people in the photograph are all wearing different patterns, it becomes a cacophony, instead of a beautiful harmony we’re trying to achieve. Having said that - if your favourite dress or a shirt has a gorgeous floral pattern that you can’t wait to capture forever, it will totally work for a hot summer session, just make sure your partner wears solid colours.
Baseball caps - baseball caps will create uneven shadows on your face and take away from the clean, fancy look we’re going for. Ignore ths advice completely if you two are head over heels in love not only with each but also sports — a sport-themed engagement photo session will be the occasion to rock those baseball caps, of course!
Neons! - Neons will play funny tricks on your skin tone, they will be the first thing you see in a photograph and will overpower the frame. Let’s show off your bright personality through some action shots instead!
Match—Select different colours from the same colour family. Your clothes should complement each other — unless of course we’re at Wimbledon courts and absolutely must wear all white! So, say no to matching clothing to create picture-perfect…erm… pictures! 😂
Logos and sequins — as much as you love that shiny top, wearing it to a photo session should be avoided - it will reflect back to your skin, make it look blotchy and my camera will have harder time capturing your beautiful faces through all that shine. Logos are distracting and make the photos more about the brand than about you!
Something you never wore before — if you’ve been eyeing that new shirt or a dress and an engagement session is a perfect excuse to buy it, make sure you wear the outfit a couple of times before your engagement session. Having a surprise like a button that never stays buttoned right above your belly button is best avoided during a shoot - otherwise it will be a ton of extra work for me as your photographer having to photoshop that surprise out of your photos - that will take extra time and money!
Haircut the day before — if you’re planning on getting a haircut before facing the camera, the best time to do it is a couple of weeks before the session. This gives you time to settle into your new haircut and look your best during the session and your photos!
Facial the day before — if you’ve been planning on pampering yourself, the best times to do it is 1-2 weeks before the session — you never know how your skin will react to all those fancy products, and while I am open to rescheduling the session due to unseen circumstances, it’s best to avoid visiting a spa right before your session to keep our engagement photoshoot plans in place.
Aestheticians will advise you not to have a facial right before your big events; to make sure your skin feels and looks fresh, schedule your pampering day a couple of weeks before your wedding day or your engagement session.
I hope these tips are useful in your planning — every photographer will have a ton of tips to share with you to make the most of your engagement session. Read this post for location ideas for your engagement or couples photo session in Halifax and HRM.
I can’t wait to meet you and create new memories and stunning images for you and your loved ones! Until then - Stay safe!
Your Halifax wedding and family photographer —Anka Goold ❤️
