10 steps to the perfect engagement
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10 Steps to the Perfect Engagement Shoot

Kimberly + Devon
Engagement Session
Arizona

10 steps to the perfect engagement

When Danielle from Danielle DeFiore sent these over, I knew immediately that you’d love them. These engagement pictures are a near perfect primer for a near perfect engagement session. Let me walk you through each step.

Step 1: Relax

Being in front of a camera doesn’t have to be difficult. Nobody likes to think that they might look bad in pictures. Nobody. But fretting about it while the camera is clicking away is the worst thing you can do. The very best thing you can do is relax. Start out by ignoring the camera all together. Just sit back, and settle into your natural rhythms with each other. The easiest way to do this is to strike up an easy, light conversation with each other.

engaged couple relaxing and talking

Step 2: Have a Little Fun

Once you’ve loosened up, have some fun. Stand up, twirl around, fall into each others arms. In a word: play. Again, don;t worry too much about the camera.

engaged couple playing around

Step 3: Consider a Wardrobe Change

If you have time, consider changing things up with a wardrobe change. You don’t have to, but different outfits add variety and can tell different stories about you as a couple.

engaged couple in new clothes

Step 4: Be Yourself

Don’t worry about being model-perfect. Just be yourself. A happy, relaxed, and spontaneous person always looks better than a stiff, awkward model doing a duck face. I promise!

engaged couple laughing and having fun

Step 5: Flirt!

Flirt with your beau, flirt with the camera, or simply just be flirty. This photo shoot is about love, and your love story and I’m certain you two flirted at least once! Rekindle that. The camera will love it, and so will you!

engaged couple flirting

Step 6: Dance (or do whatever you love: climb, ski, hike, camp, read, eat…)

Kimberly and Devon met while swing dancing. It’s part of their story and something they both love to do. So it makes sense that they would want to include dancing in their engagement shoot. What do you like to do? What hobbies do you both share? Don’t be afraid to put your love, your story, and your love story front and center.

Engaged couple dancing Engaged couple dancing Engaged couple dancing

Step 7: Use Props (including trees)

You don’t have to have a bazillion dollars or be the number one handcrafted artist on Etsy to use props effectively. A half-dozen paper hearts and a tree work perfectly well to tell a story of love and whimsy. See what I mean? What simple prop can you use to tell you story?

paper hearts for an engagement session

Step 8: Enjoy Each Other’s Company

The best engagement sessions are the ones where the couple is having fun and enjoying each other’s company. You can really see the easy, relaxed, and comfortable love Kimberly and Devon share. Maybe your love is playful, or pensive, or quiet. Whatever kind of love you share, don’t be afraid to express it fully while your photographer is there.

Engaged couple walking down the road

Step 9: Consider a Change in Location

Like a wardrobe change, a change in location can add variety. While it’s not necessary, it can be fun. Pick a location that’s meaningful to you, or just pick a place you think is cool. It doesn’t matter.

engaged couple at an ice cream shop

Step 10: Hold Hands ( a lot)

Be in love with Love during your engagement shoot. Hold hands, smooch, spin, twirl, embrace, skip, jump. Do it all and do it a lot.

engaged couple at holding hands engaged couple at holding hands engaged couple at holding hands

What’s your advice for a perfect engagement session?

Photographer:  Danielle DeFiore