What to Expect During an Engagement Photo Session

What Happens Before Your Engagement Photo Session

A great engagement session actually starts before you ever show up with your camera.

There are a few things we can figure out ahead of time so that when your session arrives, you don’t have to wonder if you’re doing it right.

Choosing Your Location

One of my favourite parts of planning an engagement session is figuring out where your photos should actually happen.

And no, you don’t have to choose the prettiest location just because it’s popular on Instagram.

Think about what feels like you.

Maybe you love being outside and want mountains, trees and a little room to wander. Maybe you’re more of a downtown couple and love architecture, coffee shops and an urban feel. Maybe there’s somewhere that has a story behind it for the two of you.

That’s always going to mean more to me than simply choosing a location because it’s “pretty.”

If you’re in Calgary, we have plenty of options, from river pathways and city streets to open prairie and parks. And if you’re willing to head a little farther out, the Alberta Rockies give us a completely different look.

I love helping couples figure out what works best based on the look you want, the time of year, and how much adventure you’re actually interested in. I have a blog all about it here, including specific Calgary and mountain engagement spots.

Picking Your Outfits

Let’s take a little pressure off this one.

You do not need to show up looking like you coordinated your outfits for a Pinterest board.

You should look like yourselves.

Choose clothes you feel good in and that you can actually move around in. If you never wear a dress, this probably isn’t the time to decide that engagement photos are your chance to become a completely different person.

A few things I usually recommend:

• Coordinate rather than perfectly match. Your outfits should work together without looking identical.
• Keep logos and really busy patterns to a minimum. We want the focus to stay on you.
• Think about movement. Dresses, skirts, jackets and layers can photograph beautifully when you move.
• Bring a second outfit if you want variety. It doesn’t have to be a complete wardrobe change. Sometimes changing one or two pieces is enough.

And please wear shoes you can actually walk in.

You’re probably going to move around more than you think.

More on outfits here.

Talking With Your Photographer Beforehand

This is where you get to tell me all the things you’re thinking about before we start.

If you’re nervous about being photographed, tell me.

If you hate stiff posing, tell me.

If one of you loves being in front of the camera and the other would rather hide behind a tree, definitely tell me.

The more I know about you, the better I can make the session feel like you.

My goal isn’t to force you into some version of what I think an engagement session should look like. I want to figure out what makes the two of you comfortable and then build the session around that.

Let me know the things that you love doing together, what excites you. We can incorporate some of this into the session. Frisbee throwing, park beers, spots of first dates, all of it. This is what adds extra meaning and some extra fun to your session. Here are some ideas for engagement session (but one that feels like you is best)

What to Expect During Your Engagement Photo Session

Now for the part most people are nervous about (but you don’t have to be)

Make It a Date

Most of my engagement sessions are around one to two hours, but I actually want you to think of your session as a date, not just a photoshoot.

This is time for the two of you to slow down, hang out, explore somewhere beautiful, laugh a little, and actually enjoy being together. The photographs are important, but so is the time you get to spend together while we’re making them.

And if you want to make a whole evening of it, even better.

With a night session, we can start while there’s still some daylight, take some beautiful daytime photographs, and then you can head off for dinner or drinks while we wait for the sun to go down. Then we’ll meet back up and create some completely different photographs once it’s dark.

How Long Does an Engagement Session Take?

Most of my engagement sessions are around one to two hours.

That might sound like a long time when you’re imagining standing in front of a camera, but I promise we’re not going to spend two hours staring at each other and smiling.

We’ll move.

We’ll walk.

We’ll talk.

We’ll laugh.

We’ll stop in different spots.

And I’ll photograph all of those little moments along the way.

Having some time gives us room to settle in rather than rushing through everything. Usually, the first 10 minutes feel very different from the last 10 minutes because by then you’ve completely forgotten that I’m even taking your picture.

What the Session Actually Feels Like

I don’t expect you to arrive knowing how to model.

In fact, please don’t.

I would much rather have you show up as yourselves.

I’ll give you direction throughout the session, but I’m also looking for the things that happen naturally between those directions.

You might walk together while we talk.

You might cuddle up.

You might dance for absolutely no reason.

You might make each other laugh.

You might get a little competitive when I tell you to see who can make the other person laugh first.

There will be some posed photographs, because yes, those are important too. But I don’t want your gallery to feel like a collection of poses.

I want it to feel like you two.

What About a Night Engagement Session?

And here’s something a little different: your engagement session doesn’t have to happen at sunset.

I love photographing couples after dark, especially when we can create something a little more dramatic.

Night sessions give us a completely different look. Instead of soft natural light, we’re working with city lights, headlights, stars, flash and whatever else we can find to create something really fun.

I’ll guide you through it because, let’s be honest, you’re probably not going to know what to do with yourselves in the dark while I’m standing there with a camera and a flash.

That’s where I come in.

We might start with some photographs while there’s still a little light and then keep going as the sun disappears. Or we can plan the entire session around nighttime.

And if you’re up for it, we can get creative.

Night photographs can feel more dramatic, editorial and completely different from the photographs you’ll have from your wedding day. They’re also a great option if you’re not the couple who wants to spend an evening standing in a field at golden hour.

Sometimes the best photographs happen when the sun is long gone.

What Kind of Direction Will You Get?

If you’ve ever been photographed and thought, “Okay… what do I do with my hands?” you’re exactly who I photograph.

I’m not going to put you somewhere and say, “Okay, pose!”

Instead, I’ll give you simple things to do.

Walk toward me.

Hold hands.

Put your forehead against theirs.

Whisper something ridiculous in their ear.

Spin them around.

Look at each other.

Don’t look at each other.

And sometimes I’ll ask you to do something specifically because I know it’s going to make you laugh.

The goal is to give you enough direction that you never feel lost, while still leaving enough room for the real moments to happen.

How to Feel Natural During Engagement Photos

Let’s talk about the big one.

“But what if we’re awkward?”

You’re probably going to feel awkward for the first few minutes.

And that’s okay.

Feeling Awkward Is Completely Normal

Almost nobody walks into an engagement session thinking, “I can’t wait to have a camera pointed at me for the next 90 minutes.”

You’re suddenly thinking about your hands.

Your smile.

Where you’re looking.

Whether your partner is standing weird.

Whether you’re standing weird.

I promise, I have seen it all.

And usually, that awkwardness disappears surprisingly quickly.

Once we start moving and talking, you stop thinking so much about the camera. That’s when things start to loosen up.

Talk to Each Other Instead of the Camera

One of the easiest things you can do is simply focus on your person.

Talk to them.

Tell them a story.

Make fun of them.

Laugh at something stupid.

Remind yourselves why you’re doing this in the first place.

You don’t need to stare at the camera for every photograph. In fact, some of my favourite images happen when you completely forget I’m there.

Move Around

Movement makes a huge difference.

Walking is one of my favourite ways to start a session because it gives you something to do. You’re not standing there wondering where your arms should go.

And movement doesn’t have to mean running dramatically through a field.

It can be as simple as walking together, pulling each other in for a hug, spinning around, or sitting somewhere and hanging out.

Don’t Be Afraid to Laugh

This one is important.

If something feels silly, go with it.

Some of the best photographs happen immediately after I say something ridiculous and you both start laughing.

Those are the moments I want.

How I Help You Feel Comfortable

You don’t need to know what you’re doing.

I will guide you.

I’ll tell you where to stand, what to do with your hands, when to move, when to look at each other and when to forget about me completely.

And I’ll talk to you throughout the session.

I don’t want you spending an hour in awkward silence while I quietly click away.

We’ll chat. I’ll probably make you laugh. I’ll probably tell you when something looks great.

And eventually, you’ll realize you’re not really thinking about the camera anymore.

That’s when we get the good stuff.

If you’re especially nervous about being photographed, I also have a whole post about how to feel natural during engagement photos.

What Happens After Your Engagement Photo Session?

Eventually, we’ll call it a day.

You’ll probably be surprised by how quickly the time went.

And then comes the part where I disappear into my editing cave for a little while.

How Long Does Editing Take?

For engagement sessions, you can generally expect your gallery within 2–4 weeks.

I don’t just throw a filter on your photos and call it a day.

I go through your images, choose the strongest photographs, and then carefully edit them for colour, light, skin tones and consistency.

There are a lot of little decisions that go into making a gallery feel cohesive.

So yes, you’ll have to wait a little.

I promise it’ll be worth it.

How You’ll Receive Your Photos

Your finished images will be delivered through an online gallery.

You’ll be able to view your photographs, download your images, and share the gallery with the people you love.

Once you receive your gallery, I recommend downloading everything and backing it up somewhere safe.

Your engagement photos are worth more than just a social media post, so don’t let them live in only one place.

What Can You Do With Your Engagement Photos?

Pretty much whatever you want.

Your engagement photos can be used for:

• Save-the-dates
• Your wedding website
• Invitations
• Social media announcements
• Prints and framed photographs
• Albums or photo books
• Gifts for parents and grandparents
• A giant photograph on your wall because, honestly, why not?

And there’s another benefit to doing an engagement session that doesn’t get talked about enough.

It gives us a practice run.

By the time your wedding day arrives, you already know what it’s like to be photographed by me. You know how I work, how I give direction and what it feels like to have a camera around.

And I already know you.

That’s a pretty nice place to start on your wedding day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Engagement Photo Sessions

How long does an engagement photo session last?

Most engagement sessions take about one to two hours.

That gives us enough time to settle in, move around, explore the location and create a variety of photographs without feeling rushed.

What should we wear for our engagement photos?

Wear something you feel good in.

Coordinate rather than perfectly matching, avoid really distracting logos or patterns, and choose clothing you can comfortably move around in.

Most importantly, look like yourselves.

Can we bring our dog to our engagement session?

Absolutely.

If your dog is part of your life, I am all for including them.

I do recommend bringing someone who can hang onto your dog when we’re taking photographs without them. That way your pup can be part of the fun without having to be in every single photograph.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Welcome to Alberta.

Weather happens.

Sometimes clouds, wind or even a little rain can make photographs incredibly beautiful. If the weather is genuinely unsafe or conditions are going to make the session miserable, we’ll talk about rescheduling.

The important thing is that we have a plan.

When will we get our engagement photos?

You can generally expect your finished gallery within 2–4 weeks.

I’ll let you know your expected turnaround time so you aren’t sitting there wondering when your photos are coming.

If you’d like a little more inspiration, I’ve put together a free guide to stunning Calgary and mountain locations, created to help you choose somewhere that feels like you.

Ready for an Engagement Session That Doesn’t Feel Awkward?

If you’ve been putting off engagement photos because the whole idea makes you nervous, I want you to know something:

You don’t have to be good at having your picture taken.

You don’t have to know how to pose.

You don’t have to be naturally comfortable in front of a camera.

And you definitely don’t have to turn into someone you’re not for your engagement photos.

I’ll guide you through it.

I’ll give you things to do.

I’ll help you choose a location that actually makes sense for the two of you.

And I’ll keep the whole thing relaxed enough that, eventually, you’ll probably forget we’re taking pictures at all.

Because that’s what I want your engagement photos to feel like.

Not a photoshoot where you spent two hours trying to look perfect.

Just you two, having a really good time together.

Get in touch with Shannon to plan your engagement session and let’s make some photographs that actually feel like you.