10 min read From pose to perfection: Techniques for capturing engagements

The precursor to the main event, engagement photography helps show the couple’s spark with each other and it creates widespread awareness of their forthcoming wedding. As the photographer, it is very important to complete your research so that the couple’s engagement pictures will be interesting, creative, love-struck, entertaining, and most of all, satisfying for the couple in love.

•  Preview the couple:

No, I don’t mean to screen the couple before you even decide to start working with them. (Well, in many cases, this might actually be a smart idea.) Get to know who these people are in advance. Meet with them for a cup of coffee, for lunch, or just a simple chat on the phone. The best way for you to take the engagement photos that the couple wants is to figure out what they want. Simply feel their chemistry together and personalities to see what they will love the most.

•  Keep them connected:

This engagement photography tip speaks for itself. Keep the couple connected. Sure, they are going to be a little nervous (especially if they are not perfectly comfortable with you) but do your best to keep them into each other. This leads you to your next pointer.

•  PDA is okay (and necessary!):

Because an engagement photo session is entirely different from a normal model, headshot, or family photoshoot, you have to keep in mind that the total theme for these pictures is love. Make the couple easy, relax, and make them aware that they should hug, kiss, hold hands, be playful, and be touchy-feely mushy gushy all they want! It makes the photos more personal and lovely!

•  As always…”Burst mode!”:

This seems to be a recurrent theme in my articles. Make a point to use burst mode while doing engagement photography. The couple might be nervous, so after they do their stiff and initial pose for the camera (thinking they appear natural!), they will smile, loosen up, laugh, and look at each other. These are the moments you need to shoot more than anything.

•  Location is crucial:

If you have been in photography, especially engagement photography, for a while, you may know some great places in your town to take engagement photos. Prepare yourself with a list of some really good locations and beautiful places beforehand that you can suggest to the couple. Most likely they will be open and agree to consider anything that you have to say! Also, couples often travel to other towns for their engagement photos, so ensure that you have looked for some hot spots that will be pleasing aesthetically.

•  Do your research!:

The only way for you to be as prepared and knowledgeable as you want is to be simple to do your research. As with the prior engagement photo tip, search for the best locations for engagement pictures. Lookup for creative engagement picture poses that you can further suggest to the couple for the shoot. Learn what clothing options will be best to suggest to them to wear.

• Clothing optional (well, not quite):

Maybe they are committed to one person only, but ensure that this couple has options! Tell them to bring some changes in clothes so that you can get different engagement shots at various locations. You want to give them creativity and variety. Also, tell them what to wear and what not to wear. Examples: khakis, white, light colors, etc. Depending on the background, prints, and certain colors may not mesh.

•  Suggest an event shoot:

A lot of couples won’t think of this interesting idea for engagement pictures, so you must suggest it to them. Give them the idea to go along and shoot a date night for the beautiful couple. Take them for the first time, to their favorite restaurant, or out doing their beloved hobby. Another wonderful engagement photoshoot idea is to shoot photos at their engagement function! We just shoot engagement pictures like this and the photos were amazing. Family, friends, and most importantly, the couple, were included.

•  Shoot in RAW (vs. JPEG):

This great hint is very important when you are shooting indoors! Shooting in RAW gives you the freedom of having a wide range of exposure adjustments throughout the editing process. A lot of people may prefer one format over another, but in our engagement photography, we want to ensure that we have the most possible options so we can come out with the best possible engagement photos.

•  Don’t focus on the face:

This hint sounds absurd for engagement photography, right?! Well, of course, you should take photos of the faces of the couple but on another side, try to focus on things other than just those. Have the bride-to-be lift her foot when they are kissing, and take a picture of their shoes from the knee down. Take beautiful pictures of their engagement ring and she whispers something in his ear. Shoot them from below the neck. All of this is innovative and interesting to the eye.

•  Be vocal (they won’t!):

Finally, let us come to the most important engagement picture tips that I can give you to be vocal. Have fun with the couple and suggest to them some poses to try. Have a natural conversation to loosen them up. Crack some jokes and create a light and friendly atmosphere. Give them directions and let them follow. A lot of couples want you to guide the way along the engagement picture path and lead the way. Take advantage of this power! Well, you have the freedom to come up with something creative, innovative, and fantastic. They will appreciate it when the editing process is completed.