Congratulations, you’re engaged! Exciting times are ahead! Wedding planning and all things leading up to your big day can be stressful. But there are some enjoyable aspects of the process! Like your engagement photos, for example! I  know that you want everything to be perfect for your wedding, especially getting those natural, effortless photos of the two of you.  And I, April James, of Peridot Imagery, am going to offer you some tips that’ll guarantee you get the natural engagement photos you want!

Be Yourselves – Your Connection is Essential to Natural Engagement Photos!

The easiest way for the two of you to avoid being awkward in your photos is to be yourselves. You have no idea how obvious it is when you’re pretending to be someone you’re not, especially on camera. You’re uncomfortable, and you’re stiff, you’re awkward. Granted, you’re not going to be completely comfortable in front of the camera right away, and there will be moments of weirdness at the start. But once we get rolling, you’ll loosen up and feel more relaxed and natural. 

Tip: Do something fun together in the days leading up to your engagement shoot. It will be an excellent time to bond and get used to being in each other’s space, in public. This brings me to my next point.

Natural-Looking Poses for Enagagement Photos

“I don’t know how to pose,” “I don’t know what to do with my hands,” “I’m so awkward in front of a camera.” Does this sound like someone you know? Mm-hmm. I thought so. Listen, When it comes down to nailing those natural-looking poses, there’s not much you need to do except to follow my lead and be yourselves! I have a few tricks up my sleeve to ensure you don’t look awkward in your photos.

• 

The Best Lighting for Natural Engagement Photos

I’m sure you’ve heard of the phrase “natural light” photographer. That’s me; I’m one of them. I love using the light that is available to me at the most optimal times of the day. One of them being the “Golden Hour,” which is about an hour and a half before sunrise or sunset. The sun offers this amazing warm glow and creates the most romantic atmosphere, the perfect setting (and the best lighting) for your engagement photos. Believe it or not, an overcast day can offer up a beautiful scene for your pictures as well!

• 

• 

• 

Choose the Right Location

Deciding where to take your engagement photos plays an integral part in being comfortable in front of the camera. If you both are not big on public displays of affection, you may want to choose the right location without too much foot traffic. If the desired location is a popular one, you can find out when the least popular times to visit would be and go then. A densely populated space on a Saturday may be a ghost in the middle of the week. You also want to select a specific location that has sentimental value to you. Don’t settle on a place you have no connection with or don’t like.

Indulge Yourself

Aside from your wedding day, your engagement shoot is one of the best moments you’ll get to experience on this journey! Probably the most fun too! It’s the perfect excuse to get dressed up and indulge yourself! 

Ladies – Get dressed up, get your hair and nails done, and make sure your ring is clean!

Gents – Get dressed up, get your hair cut/beards and mustaches trimmed, and make sure your ring is clean!

Don’t underestimate the power of a transformation! Everyone enjoys looking excellent and feeling outstanding! I will provide tips on what to wear to your engagement session in another post.

• 

• 

• 

Manage Your Expectations

We all have our insecurities about our physical “flaws” or which side is our “good side.” And we’re concerned that we may not look our absolute best in our photographs. It is always best to communicate these feelings to your photographer (me) before the session to maximize our time together while making magic! 

Moment of Transparency: Some photos you’ll love, others you may not love so much. And while we are discussing it, there is no such thing as a “perfect photo.” Pimple on your nose? Garbage can in the background? Whatever the case may be, the photos can be retouched, cropped, or edited to enhance the finished result. 

Another important tidbit, if there are poses that you’d like but noticed that you hadn’t taken any of them, let me know!  I have a photojournalistic shooting style, and having my couples smiling and posing for the camera isn’t my jam. We’ll sprinkle in a few traditional poses for variety but capture most of those natural engagement photos you love so much while in the moment. 

Now that you are aware of these facts, they will help manage your expectations for your upcoming session.

• 

• 

Print Your Photos

Now that your engagement session is over, and you have these incredibly romantic pictures to show for it, it’s time to share with your friends and family on Social Media! But it shouldn’t stop there because that is just the beginning. Choose your favorite photo the create the save-the-dates for the big day! You could make an album with your favorite shots from the session. Perhaps you could enlarge a picture for your home or use it as a sign-in board for your guests at your wedding. Maybe your parents may want a framed photo for their wall. Whatever you decide, be sure to print your photos.

I hope you found this information helpful and you’re on your way to taking natural engagement photos. If you have anything to add, or if you’d like to ask a question, comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for stopping by!