If you believe in the magic of true love, Disney is not your destination for fairy tales — your own love story is. Engagement photos are not only a beautiful way to start a marvelous journey and to announce the good news to family and friends — but most importantly — they tell your love story and who you are as a couple. Love is made eternal through powerful imagery that transcends time and grows with you as you look back to these authentic moments to remind your hearts of where love began and the beautiful choice of love you’ve made together.

We recently spoke to Blue Nile, the world’s leading online retailer of diamond engagement rings, to share our tips for taking beautiful, Insta-worthy engagement photos.

 

Photo: Audra Wrisley Photography

 

Don’t forget to enjoy yourselves

Our number one piece of advice for couples is don’t forget to be happy and enjoy your photo session because joy is the key to becoming “photogenic”. Most of us are not professional models, so posing in front of the camera might be a challenge we need to overcome.

Other than getting yourself inspired by photo ideas and finding a professional photographer you love, always remember that deep friendship borne out of trust is the foundation of a happy marriage, and also the foundation of a successful engagement photo session.

Your other half is your partner in fun, personal goals, and spiritual growth, so show this genuine friendship naturally through the way you interact with each other to create those “candid moments”.

 

Photo: Audra Wrisley Photography

 

Choose a meaningful location

Choosing the best engagement shoot location requires some strategic thinking. Start by listing out places you love or that are meaningful to you, then make your final decision based on which location offers the best lighting and natural backdrop that best fits your vision.

Try to keep your backdrop simple (the main focus is you), and be sure to discuss with your photographer to get a professional thought on which location offers the best lighting.

If time, environment, and budget allow, we suggest picking an outdoor location as well as an indoor location to create a variety of shots. Consider getting your intimate styled close-ups indoors, and fun interaction with full-body shots outdoors under the natural light for an at-home vs. in-a-date look and feel.

 

Dress to impress

What you choose to wear is likely going to dictate how good your photos will look. Make sure your outfit works with the photoshoot location you’ve chosen and complements each other:

• The colors match to present a comfortable look without blending into the background.
• The formality scale of your clothing fits the overall style and atmosphere of the environment — wear clothes that are on the same level of dressiness or casualness so that it looks like you are heading to the same place.
• It’s also important to wear something that represents your style and allows you to pose naturally.

 

Photo: Audra Wrisley Photography

 

Create a plan and stick to it

Just like any event, planning is required to put everything together flawlessly to make your vision come alive. We’ve seen couples who know exactly what they want, hired the best photographer, picked their favourite locations, and the outfits, but ended up with undesirable results because they did not have a clear timeline or plan to follow for the day of the shoot.

A clever timeline ensures that you consider the travel time (if you want to shoot at different locations) and preparation time (if you need to change outfits) to maximize your time in front of the camera. Limit the number of locations and outfit changes to avoid running out of time.

 

Photo: Idalia Photography

 

Timing is everything

Also, if you are shooting outdoors, don’t go out in the middle of the day when lighting is the harshest — instead, schedule your session at Golden Hour (just before the sun sets) or sunrise, to get that romantic natural glow. Make sure you plan your outdoor session with plenty of time to capture all the pretty light.

 

Connect with your photographer

Finally, always communicate with your photographer prior to the photoshoot to make sure you share the same vision and values.

 

Photo: Idalia Photography