A lot of brides are so excited as their wedding day draws near – it’s like all the days pass by in a blur, blending together in a colorful whirl of preparations, checklists, following up the caterer, and what-have-you. I love being with them at this time of their lives, when you know they’re on the brink of something so monumental and exquisite, that the journey itself is as joyful as the destination.  Come wedding day, everything just falls away, and there’s nothing else that matters but that man waiting for her at the end, The One whom she’ll be spending the rest of her life with.

I first become witness to this union during an engagement session. This is the time when I get to know the bride and groom, and where I get a glimpse of their life together and their love. As a wedding photographer, I encourage couples to have an engagement session, because it is one of the most important moments between you and your loved one. It is intimate and revealing at the same time. It is an opportunity to capture your love in the little details: a glance when you thought he’s not looking, a kiss on your shoulder, your two holding hands, a sweet kiss. It’s something you can both look at, weeks, months, years down the line and think, Gosh, I love you. It’s something to show to your kids someday. It’s something to show your family and guests at the wedding, too.

Now, a lot of brides have been asking me for advice, and I gave it some thought. Here are 5 tips to make your engagement photo session awesome:

1. Location, location, location. A great location makes for a great photograph – and it becomes even more extraordinary if it has a special memory attached to it. As a photographer I suggest looking for places that mean something to you – places where you two have met, where you spend most time together, or where something special has happened (i.e. first date, first kiss, where he proposed). Immediately this will add a character to your photos and you will likely feel more at home because of your fondness for the place. On the other hand, a location with an amazing backdrop or scenery can be effective as well because it’s a chance to take everybody’s breath away. Go the extra mile by exploring your area and finding an obscure nook that not a lot of people has been to yet – this adds a level of uniqueness to your session.
2. Wear what you feel. Better yet, wear what makes you comfortable. You and your fiancé can mix and match your outfits to make both of your looks coherent, but be careful in being too perfectly matched (i.e. same shirt color or same outfit altogether). The color of your earrings can match his belt, or his tie can match with your dress, or your shoes with his shirt. You can also opt for a theme – if your location is at a hotel, you can both wear something glamorous. If you are shooting at the beach, you can wear something casual.
3. Do not be afraid to show emotions. Be yourself. My job as your photographer is to make you comfortable as much as possible and not be too self-conscious. Enjoy this time to just laugh, talk, hold hands and be sweet with your partner. If you have any poses in mind, or if I have any poses I would like to do, I will take the time to guide you both and position you so that you look your best. We can discuss fun, candid poses that will add a lot of personality (jumping, kissing, etc.) and I promise to be game if you are
4. Bring props or things that mean something to you. They add so much to the photo and make your portrait pop. Some of the props that will be fun to do are: balloons, flowers, sparklers, and anything that’s unusual. It would even be better if the prop has a special relevance to both you and your fiancé. Whether it’s a dog, or a car – if it’s special to you then I would take the time to incorporate it in the photos.
5. What’s your story? In the end, the engagement session is about you as a couple. I love to include elements of your personality into the photographs, so that people who will see it will get a grasp of who you two are, and how much you love each other. If you’re a teacher and he’s a painter, we can include elements of your jobs into your outfit or the location or even the poses. If you both love the beach we can use it as our backdrop and make fun portraits like digging your toes in the sand, or running by the shoreline, or even kissing as the sun sets.

An engagement session is also essential in establishing a connection and rapport with your wedding photographer. It’s a chance for me to get to know you both as an individual and as a couple, and for you to get comfortable with me as well. This is vital in capturing the emotions flowing between the bride and groom. As the person who will be documenting your wedding, it’s important for me to know what makes you comfortable and uneasy in front of the camera, what poses you like and what makes you look good. The engagement session gives us the chance to bond and to trust each other, and this is what makes each photograph special.