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Engagement Shoot Preparation

What to Wear on your Engagement Shoot? When to Shoot? Where to Shoot?

Janine and Richard: Kariya Park, Mississauga Engagement Photographer

All You Need to Know for your Engagement Shoot!

An engagement session is a great way to celebrate your upcoming wedding and is a great way to get to know your photographers before the wedding day. Your engagement session is all about capturing who you are and the essence of your relationship, as a memento for years down the road and to be able to share this special time with your friends and family. Here are tips for preparing for this important photo-shoot:

Choosing The Right Time

Celina & Michael: Sunset Engagement at Scarborough Bluffs Toronto Engagement Photographer
Celina & Michael: Sunset Engagement at Scarborough Bluffs Toronto Engagement Photographer
Celina & Michael: Sunset Engagement at Scarborough Bluffs Toronto Engagement Photographer

Photographers Call the Time Just Before Sunset the Golden Hour – It’s the Best Time of Day for an Outdoor Photo-shoot.

If you want to have your engagement pictures taken outside, the golden hour is the best time to do it. This is the time of day right before the sun sets when there is not so much light that the result is harsh pictures, but rather just enough light to have your pictures taken in the warm glow of the evening sun, creating a luminous setting. Booking about two hours before sunset is usually the best time of day to get fantastic pictures.

In the morning and at midday, the sun is often too bright, making you squint, which creates shadows under your eyes. While we definitely can make a morning, midday, or afternoon shoot work, we find that near sunset creates the best pictures. Some of our best sessions have been at sunrise, sunset, or even at night.

Emma & Blair: Ancaster Fall Engagement Photographer

Choosing The Right Outfits

Niki and Joey: Kensington Market Toronto, Ontario, Canada Engagement Photographer
Sarah & Dean: Pravda Vodka House and Gooderham Building Engagement Photographer
Narmi and Rajeev: Bloor St - Yorkville Toronto Engagement Photographer
Nicole & Charles: Humber Bridge & Lakeshore Engagement Photographer

Choosing a Look.

While you do not want to match, you do want to pick clothing that is in the same general family of colours. This way, the pair of you will coordinate, rather than matching or clashing. Wear clothes that fit your body, with very simple patterns or which are solid in colour. At the same time that you are choosing your setting, think about whether you want a casual or a dressy shoot. A little black dress paired with a slick three-piece suit is a great way to ensure you both look your best—but keep in mind that you will be sitting, standing, lying down, and even running and jumping during your shoot.

What do you absolutely want to avoid? Horizontal stripes—no matter how thin you are, they will make you look wide. Loud patterns will overwhelm you and wearing the same colour from head to do will consume you. Big logos, clothing that is skin-tight, anything very short or really baggy, and very low necklines should all be avoided.

The bottom line: wear something that you look great in, but which you are also comfortable in. When you feel good, you’ll look good.

Get A Great Location

Sarah & Dean: Pravda Vodka House and Gooderham Building Engagement Photographer
Kelly & Chris: Roundhouse Park Engagement Toronto Photographer
Elaine & Boon-Hau: Colonel Samuel Smith Park Toronto Ontario Engagement

Other Engagement Shoot Preparation Resources

Wedding Insider | Kately James Blog | Pop Sugar