Engagement Session Tips from a Pro

Not only do engagement sessions provide lasting memories of a special season in your life, they also provide good practice for being in front of the camera on your wedding day.

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Since your engagement session is likely the first time you and your honey have had a professional photo shoot, we asked Bridal Extravaganza of Atlanta show photographer (and wedding portrait extraordinaire), Bre Sessions Photography for some tips to put your mind at ease. Read on for tips from Bre to make your engagement session the best ever.

‍Let’s start with the most important question: What does one wear to an engagement session?

First, stick with solid color clothing and avoid wearing white. You want you and your fiancé  to be the focus, not what you are wearing. Busy patterns and prints draw attention away from your faces, and white will grab attention as the brightest point of the photo. Choose solid colors in flattering shades that look good on you. If you like a pop of color, go for a bold shoe or accessory!

Second, you want to coordinate but do not want to be twinning so that the camera captures you as one body in the setting. My tip is to ask yourselves if your outfits look like they are part of the same ad campaign, or if they could be put in a store window together. If the answer is yes, you have a coordinating outfit!

Last, and I’m talking to the guys too here, don’t forget about all of the little details. Use hair product to protect against fly a-ways, get your nails done for close up shots of showing off your new engagement ring, and remember to bring an extra hair brush and makeup for touchups. Think through undergarments ahead of time (if somethings shows in the mirror, it will show in photos), and make sure your clothes are freshly dry cleaned and pressed so there aren’t any wrinkles. You don’t wan to be thinking about any of the little details while you are in front of the camera.

Check out more wardrobe Dos and Don’ts here.

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‍Moving on to engagement session location. How does one choose?

Atlanta has so many great locations for engagement sessions, but I like incorporating places that are meaningful to a couple. Couples often feel much more relaxed and comfortable in a familiar place.

Inside the city, my favorite spots are Piedmont Park, The BeltLine, Inman Park, Atlanta Botanical Gardens and Atlanta landmarks like the Fox Theater or the High Museum. I also love Georgian Terrace for a couple that may want a more formal portrait session, or love architectural details.

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OTP, you can find some really beautiful nature or city settings too. Serenbe is a gem just south of Atlanta with beautiful fields, wooden swings, and if you’re lucky you may even get some shots with one of the horses or goats too. North of Atlanta, I often recommend Roswell or Avalon. Roswell has a mix of outdoorsy and downtown vibes, while Avalon has many of the same city vibes you’d get ITP – cool walls as backdrops, bocce ball, and The Hotel at Avalon. A bit further north, Montaluce is one my favorite North Georgia wineries that has a very authentic feel to it – and is quite a bit closer than Napa or Sonoma!

I have had the opportunity to shoot all over Georgia, and so you can read more about my favorite spots here. I’ve included half in South Atlanta, and half North of the Perimeter.

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Any other advice for a couple that has some engagement session nerves?

Just have fun! The best part of engagement sessions is that there isn’t a tight timeline like there will be on your wedding day. You have time to relax, get comfortable and be yourselves! This window of time is when you get to capture what your love looks like at this special and exciting time in your relationship.

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Ready to plan your engagement session? Contact Bre Sessions for availability.

Bre Sessions is an Atlanta based wedding photographer who focuses on relationships. Her goal to shoot from the perspective of a best friend or family member, because who better than someone who knows you intimately, to capture all of the moments that mean the most to you, on one of the most important days of your life? Bre captures couples' unique love stories and preserves them to look back on and treasure for many years to come.

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