The love of your life finally asked the question and you said “yes!” (congratulations!), and now the planning begins. If you’re trying to plan your Houston engagement photography and you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, here are our top five tips to help you get started.
Communicate with Your Photographer
Choosing the best photographer for your Houston engagement photography session may be the first thing that comes to mind, but taking the time to really communicate with them about what you want your photos to look like is crucial. If you have a strong image in your head of what your final photos should look like, now is the time to speak up! Start by choosing a photographer you and your fiancé both feel comfortable with, meet with them before the day of your engagement session, and take some time to talk about your expectations. If you’re extra organized, you can even bring along a few example images or a mood board to help illustrate your dream engagement session.
Choose a Meaningful Setting
If you want to go a step beyond the usual engagement photos you’ve seen all your friends post, consider a unique setting for your session. Spend some time with your fiance thinking about the places behind your relationship milestones, or places you love to spend time together. Where did you meet? Do you have a favorite place to hang out? Where did you get engaged? If you can’t choose just one “happy place,” you could even go on a day-long date and have your photographer meet you at a few of your favorite places.
Choose Your Outfits Ahead of Time
You’ll want the clothes you wear to your session to look natural, and not clash or distract from the true content of your photos (you!). It’s usually best to skip over patterned clothing and select solid colors that match well together. Keep in mind that you may need to try wearing your outfit ahead of time to ensure that you feel comfortable and confident in it. Once you’ve selected your outfits, clean and steam/iron them before the day of your session to make sure you look and feel your best.
Consider Professional Hair and Makeup
Your Houston engagement photography session is not only a good time to audition a photographer for your wedding, but also for the hair and makeup stylist you’ll be using for your wedding itself. This is an excellent opportunity to get comfortable with your stylist, and have a trial run of your hair and makeup before the big day at the same time!
Remember What It’s All About
Planning your engagement and wedding celebrations can be immensely stressful. Spend some time reflecting on who you and your fiance are as unique people, and what you really want in all of this. A celebration of the two of you should reflect exactly that, so don’t allow yourself to be pressured into doing what other people want. Whether your dream wedding is an elegant extravaganza with hundreds attending, or just the two of you and a photographer in the courthouse, it’s up to you to decide. Take plenty of time to de-stress with your fiance, and remember that your engagement is just the beginning of a wonderful life together.
If you’ve taken the time to find perfect photographer for your Houston engagement photography session, don’t be afraid to ask them for advice about planning it — or about anything else for that matter! From session settings to attire recommendations, a good photographer can be a priceless resource during this exciting time in your life.