Engagement photography vancouver - photoshoot guide


Now that you and your fiancé are engaged, it’s time to commemorate the momentous occasion with a romantic and timeless photoshoot.

But where do you start?

Being in front of a camera for the first time can be quite intimidating - we understand that you want the photos to look genuine, and probably everyone you know is telling you to "act natural", but exactly how? For many couples, the engagement session can be the best way to have a “practice run” before the big day. It also allows us to get to know each other, build our relationship while making some beautiful images!

We have had our sights set on creating this guide for quite some time and couldn't be more excited to share these tips with you all! There are a handful of things you can do to make sure your photos turn out perfectly one-of-a-kind and feel right for you and your partner.

We hope that this guide will help you design your dream engagement shoot!

 
 
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Engagement Photoshoot Locations

There are so many stunning location options and with all the pins & inspiration posts saved on Instagram and/or Pinterest, we understand that it can be overwhelming to narrow the location list down.

What we always ask our couples is that what is it that really inspires the two of you? Whether you two are world travellers or the chill-at-home type, nature-lovers, or just always love to get lost in the city... Location is (almost) everything when it comes to making your engagement photos special/unique to the two of you!

Another recommendation we always give to our couple is to choose a location that has a variety of backdrops - for example, somewhere that has not just the ocean view, but also west coast forest; somewhere where we can get some city skyline, as well as some nature - this way we can make the most out of one session!

 
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What to Wear for Engagement Shoots

Stumped on what to wear for your engagement photos? You're not alone. As these sentimental photos will appear on everything from your save-the-dates and wedding website to the walls of your first home, it's important to put together looks that feel 100 percent you.

Make sure to choose your attire with intention & to pick something that you’re comfortable in: it could be a flowy dress, it could be white shirt x jeans, or even a beautiful bridal dress! As for your partner, please think “complimenting” and not “matching” outfit options.

For our style, pastel and neutral colours are always a good idea, sometimes bold or bright pops of colours are great too (feel free to send us snaps if you’d like our advice on your specific outfit options)! Please avoid busy prints, they always create distractions in the images.

 
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Accessories

Accessories, such as a beautiful set of earrings, a stylish scarf, or a chunky necklace, can lend oomph to any engagement shoot. Plus, they're easy to slip on and off, which means you'll be able to style a variety of looks.

Adding in at least one accessory per outfit for the ladies, and wearing layers of clothing for the guys, are two things that photograph well because it adds more visual interest to your looks and, as a result, to the images.

 
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Timing

The most ideal time for natural light photography is certainly one or two hours before sunset (aka golden hour), it will give us the best lighting which means the perfect, soft light to make your skin glow!

For our style of shooting, cloudy days are certainly not the end of the world, think of it as the sky is giving us a giant softbox so your skin is going to be perfectly lit on all sides.

Many public places (whether it’s city streets or provincial parks) are busy on weekends, so weekdays are always a better option!

 
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Props and Design

Props can help tell a compelling story, and help complete the design of the shoot. Choose a few key items that are meaningful to both of you and we will incorporate them into your session for additional visual interest.

And, if you have fur babies, please do bring them!

 
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Communication

Last but not least, communication with your photographer is one of the most important things - share what you’re expecting, what are your favorite photos from your photographer’s feed, what is the most important thing for you to get out of your engagement shoot, etc.

And then just remember to have fun during your shoot! It is a session to celebrate your love, and that’s what our engagement shoot is all about!