You’re engaged! The biggest congratulations! Go ahead and pop those bottles because what an exciting time this is for you and your sweetheart!

Now that wedding planning is in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about your engagement session (if you’re doing one)! Engagement sessions are a great way to not only get gorgeous photos of you and your sweetheart together, but a time to really get a feel for what it’ll be like to take photos during your wedding day. There are a lot of pros in doing an engagement session, but today I want to share how to ensure you get the most out of your engagement session.

1. Choose a photographer you truly connect with

This might be one of the most important parts in planning not only your engagement session, but your entire wedding. Choosing a photographer who takes the time to get to know each of you and your story together is going to be able to document your moments both big and small with your love story at the center of it all. They will know you. Ensure your photographer answers your questions and addresses your concerns, and most importantly, knows what is most important to you. After all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your photographer throughout this journey so it’s important you invest in someone you truly enjoy being around and connect with!

2. Pick a location(s) that you love or holds significance to your love story

“Ah, Venice.” Indiana Jones said it best and I can’t help but share my love for Venice with him! Chose a location for your engagement session that you both love! I recommend my couples choose not one, but two locations when planning and engagement session. One location that they absolutely love and once location that holds significance to their own love story, like where they proposed! A few examples that come to mind from past engagement sessions was Emma and Clayton’s surprise proposal and engagement session. Emma and Clayton hired me for a couples session taking place at the Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine, Kansas; a beautiful 15-acre secluded garden nestled in a rural midwest town. Little did Emma know, Clayton was going to be proposing during our time there. Clayton popped the question and of course Emma said yes! We were all over-the-moon excited and wanted to turn our couples session into an Engagement session. After talking more with Emma and Clayton, I learned they shared a love for Coffee Shops and had a few favorites in Wichita. It was a hot summer day and after all the excitement on the recent engagement, we gave ourselves a couple of hours to cool down and change outfits and headed to one of their favorite coffee shops to take their Engagement photos!

Another example that comes to mind is Bethany and Daniel’s Engagement session at Coronado Beach in San Diego. When we were in the planning stage of their engagement session they loved the idea of finding a location that was iconic to San Diego itself. San Diego held so much significance to their story: it’s where they met, where they fell in love, where they proposed, and where their story began. They decided on Coronado Beach next to San Diego’s historic Hotel Del Coronado.

3. Get dressed up and dress down

What’s a more perfect occasion to get dressed up for than your engagement session?! When discussing engagement session ideas with my couples, I recommend choosing two outfits: one on the semi-formal/formal side and one on the more casual side. Chances are, you don’t get dressed up every day and your engagement session is one of the best reasons to get dressed up! Have that dress you’ve always wanted to wear but haven’t had a reason to yet? Has that sport coat been hiding in the closet for some time now? Your engagement photos are showcasing such a special moment in life for you, so break out those fabulous wardrobe pieces and get dressed up!

4. Get your hair and makeup done

Chances are, you probably don’t get dressed up to take professional photos every day. Your engagement session is a once in a lifetime event, and it’s a time you should celebrate without stress or to-do’s. We all know now that you’re engaged, your to-do list might be extensive. This is just one reason why I recommend my brides get their hair and makeup done for their engagement session. The last thing you should do is scramble to do your hair and makeup in time for your session. Trusting a pro to take care of you in all area’s of beauty will set the stage for a stress-free and relaxing day for your engagement session. Sit back, relax, and let us pro’s take care of you!

5. Make it a date night, date day, or a weekend-long event

YOU’RE ENGAGED! Can you believe it?! Getting engaged is no small moment, it’s just the beginning of a new and very exciting chapter of your life, and it’s an occasion worth celebrating. You’ve booked your engagement session with your photographer, worked so hard on choosing the perfect outfits and picked out your dream location. You’ve put in so much work for this special occasion, so why stop there? Turn your engagement session into a date night out full of celebration to wind down from all the fun picture-taking. I’ve had some couples turn their engagement session into a day long excursion, starting with brunch, then a day at the spa followed by getting glammed up with professional hair and makeup for their session, then after the session concludes, ends the night with celebratory drinks and eats at their favorite restaurant. My absolute favorite is when couples opt for an engagement weekend! Not only does it allow us to take all the photos, it gives us time to slow down and truly celebrate this beautiful moment with them. There is no rush and they’re able to take a moment and breathe in the start of this new and exciting journey together. It makes for some of the most incredible memories!

Your engagement celebration doesn’t have to end after your photography session, get the most out of this incredible moment by following these 5 tips! Your love is worth all the celebration! Love these 5 tips for getting the most out of your engagement session? Wonderful, share this post with a couple you know and love! Want to snag my Couples 10 Step Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding Day? Sign up below to get your guide delivered right to your inbox!