We’re engaged, now what?

Engagement session tips by Alexis Schwallier Photography.

I tend to get several recurring questions before engagement sessions, so I decided this week to make a blog post on important things you should know before your engagement session!  I tried to be specific but if you have any questions or comments please feel free to write them below. Every session is different, every story unique – let’s make this personal and capture your authentic moments.

Engagement sessions are a great way to see how you interact in front of the camera and get comfortable with having your picture taken.

But where should our location be?

Great question! Location is important. The engagement session is the start of the documentation of your love story. If you guys have a spot that’s significant to both of you, whether it be where you met, where the proposal happened, or a place that you frequent together, that can be a great choice for your engagement session.

If you like an adventure, I’m always willing to suggest some neat places. Lane & Paul entrusted me with finding a unique, adventurous location for their engagement session.

Remeber this is about YOU. Let’s adventure, grab a coffee from your favorite café, but most importantly let’s capture your love story.

Colman proposed to Leah at The Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Can you guess where we did their engagement session?

What should we wear?

One of the most common questions I get is, “what should we wear?” With your location in mind, what would you wear? Are we going downtown? A mountaintop adventure? What about a brewery for your engagement session? Dress for the location, stay true to your style and remember to coordinate.  You want it something that you could see yourself wearing.  There is no need to buy something new or that you’d only wear once. You need to feel comfortable and feel you, let your personalities to shine.  Bring options.  A second look is always a good idea.

When should we plan the engagement session?

You should do engagement photos 6 months to a year before your wedding. This will allow enough time for editing and save the dates to be created and sent out.

Should we bring our dog? (Or props).

I will never say no to dogs. Remember, this session is about YOU. Props aren’t necessary unless there is something specific to you and your love story.

Grabbing a beer during your session is a great way to relax. Even better if you enjoy going to breweries. Lauren and Jordan are getting married at a brewery in May, so naturally, finding a place to drink local craft beer was important to them and their session.

Trust your photographer!

Still having doubts or questions? Ask me! Trusting your photographer is the most important thing to remember. Together we can plan the perfect location, what to wear, and how to best tell your story.

Conclusion: Be in love, have fun, and celebrate your story.

Engaged? Book your own session today!

Want to see some rad love stories?

Lauren & Jordan adventured in Charlotte, NC.

Susan & James got creative in downtown Columbia, SC.

Nyomi & Lachey were modern and classic for their engagement story.

Find more engagement sessions on Instagram. Tell your story.