I know that every single couple is nervous, and I know that the groom’s probably aren’t excited to be taking photos for over an hour but I try and do everything I can to make the whole experience fun and most importantly NOT TORTURE. The engagement session is not just for getting photos in non -wedding attire, it’s a chance to spend some time away from distractions, not thinking about work or the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding or your grocery list or anything. It’s a time to focus 100% on your partner and to enjoy their company. Basically it’s a date night but I’m there with a camera lol It’s also a way to get used to being in front of MY CAMERA. Not all photographers direct the same way or make you feel comfortable in the same way so that’s why I offer engagement sessions because I want you to get used to me, I want us to get to know one another, I want you to have fun and smooch a bunch while I stick a camera all up in your grill.

So here they are the 3 things I say to couples before we start their engagement session.

No. 1

The first thing I let couples know is that YOU CAN’T MESS THIS UP. I have no expectations for you to be models, to be perfect, or to know what to do. Every time I say this, my couples audibly let out a sigh of relief. It’s my job to explain ways to make you look your best. I don’t expect you know where to look, where to put your hands etc. I will guide you along the way making sure you feel comfortable the whole time!

I have 2 expectation’s. though.

No. 1 Is that I expect for you is that you enjoy each other. Guys, your only job is to love her, adore her, look into her eyes, kiss her intensely, try and have fun and let go of any repressed memories of getting your photos taken as a kid.

No 2. I do expect you to go along with my crazy prompts, weird names for poses and please don’ judge me when I get overly excited about the light or location we are in. Because if you go along with it, it will be more fun. If you put up a front and try to be all cool and refuse to do things because it’s embarrassing or you’ll feel like a dork, the more of an awkward and not fun experience it will be. But the more you just let go and just go with it the more fun it will be and the better the pictures will come out. And also depending on how your relationship is, if you just go with it, you’ll probably get lucky later on that night. #keepinitreal

No. 2

I will ask if you have a preferred side. Some girls do, some girls don’t but I always want to make sure I ask. I also add if there are any insecurities I need to be aware of, or if there are things you don’t want highlighted in the photos. Some guys have started losing their hair, so they don’t want photos from behind, some girls are self conscious about their arms, or don’t like their profile. I am not a big fan of my nose so photos of my own profile are generally not my favorite. We all have little things we don’t like about ourselves and our bodies no matter how many self love inspirational posts we see per day. My job is to make sure that when you look back on these photos, that you look back on them happily, joyfully, in love with the fact that they display how much you love each other and how beautiful you both are inside and out.

No. 3

The last and most important thing I tell them is that everything I will ask you to do, we will do some variation of it on the wedding day. At an engagement session I might ask you to run around, play, drunk walk, spin, and play games, and basically do a bunch of other things to make you feel like a kid again for a bit. But I will also mix in a bunch of more traditional and modern posing. On the wedding day, I will calm things down a bit unless your up for some playful games, but for the most part your posing will lean more on the modern traditional side with a mix of some playful things, all of which you will practice at your engagement session and be masters at it by the wedding day!

So there you have it! The 3 things I tell every couple before we start their engagement photos. If you had an enjoyable experience during your engagement photos whether it be with me or someone else, tell me in the comments!

Be Good,

Frankie