Three Tips for Great Engagement Photos

It's not everyday you have your own personal photoshoot.  But weddings tend to bring about lots of out-of-the-ordinary adventures!  To get you on the right path for a successful and fun engagement photoshoot, we've enlisted gifted photographer, Laurie Peacock to give us her do's and don'ts.  Laurie's also one of the contributing wedding professionals at the upcoming Love at Breathtaking Heights Wedding Show to which giving away two sets of tickets.  One lucky attendee will be winning an engagement shoot with Laurie at the show!  Comment on this post or any other by noon, January 20th, and be entered to win tickets to the show!

From Laurie:

"I love engagement photography sessions. They’re full of laughter, goofiness (mainly on my part) and butterflies-in-the-stomach romance. They are also the perfect way for my clients and I to get to know each other prior to their wedding day. 

Worried about your engagement session? No need to stress out about what to wear, shoot location and what to do when the big ol’ camera points your direction.  Here are three simple tips to make your engagement session a fun experience and ultimately help create photos you’ll treasure.

 1.)   Wear complimentary colors and brush on the blush and bronzer.  Women don’t need to go crazy with the make-up: blush, bronzer, mascara and at least lip gloss works really well in front of the camera.  Wear a little more blush and bronzer than normal, since the camera tends to wash you out. Got a little junk in the trunk? Wear darker pants or dresses that de-emphasize your lower half.  Don’t have Michelle Obama’s arms or a svelte belly? Wear light layers with sleeves.

 2.)   It’s not the location.  It’s the light.  Sure, Chicago is home to some of the most spectacular views, but the quality and strength of sunlight really dictates how awesome your photos will be. Ask your photographer when is the best time of day to hold the session.

I prefer 1-2 hours before sunset and 1-2 hours after sunrise, which are both called the “golden hour.”  Also, be open to your photographer stopping you in random spots where the light is gorgeous.  I’ve been known to ask my couples to stand in alleys, parking lots, etc…because the light sparkled and I knew my lens would blur out the background.

3.)   Ignore the camera and focus on your fiancé.  It’s okay to hold onto your significant other like a security blanket. Look in their eyes, make funny faces, and pull them in close to you and give him/her a big kiss. The natural chemistry between you will do more than you realize for the photographs.  Not lovey-dovey?  That’s okay too. Go ahead and tease each other until both of you are laughing. Just be you."

Laurie, of course, really knows what she's talking about as shown in some of her engagement photos below :)