10 Ways to Prepare for Your Engagement Session—and Actually Enjoy It

You’ve booked your engagement photography session. Now you may be wondering what to wear, where to go, and what on earth you’re supposed to do once a camera is pointed at you.

First, don’t worry about knowing how to pose. I’ll take care of that. Your engagement session should feel more like time spent together than a performance, and a little preparation will help you arrive feeling comfortable and ready to enjoy it.

1. Choose a location that means something to you
   A beautiful location is lovely, but one that feels like you is even better. It could be the neighbourhood where you spend your weekends, a quiet stretch of countryside, Duke Gardens, or the streets of downtown Raleigh. Think about the atmosphere you want rather than searching for the most impressive backdrop. I’ll help you choose somewhere that suits your personalities, clothing, and the time of year.
2. Coordinate your outfits without matching
   Your clothes should look as though they belong in the same photograph, but they don’t need to match exactly. Start with pieces you feel good wearing, then look for colours and textures that work together. I generally recommend neutrals, black, or softer colours and suggest avoiding large logos and very busy patterns. But these are guidelines, not laws. If tartan is your thing, wear the tartan. If you’d like to change outfits during the session, let me know beforehand so we can choose a location where that will be practical. Regarding footwear, we may well be walking quite a bit so wear comfortable shoes—definitely something that won’t give you blisters. And ladies, if you’re taller than your partner, it’ll make life easier if you wear flats so it’s easier to photograph the two of you together in a flattering way.
3. Consider professional hair and makeup
   Professional hair and makeup aren’t required, but they can help you feel a little more polished and confident. Your engagement session can also be a useful opportunity to work with an artist before the wedding. The aim isn’t to look like somebody else; it’s to feel like yourself on a particularly good day. You can find my recommended hair and makeup artists here.
4. Plan around the light—and the weather
   The best time will depend on the location and the photographs we’re hoping to make. For outdoor sessions, the softer light shortly after sunrise or before sunset is often especially flattering. I’ll help you work out the timing, and you can also check the sunrise and sunset times as you plan. It also helps to put a backup date on the calendar. North Carolina weather is not known for respecting our schedules.
5. Tell me what you’re imagining
   You don’t need to arrive with a shot list or a fully formed creative brief. But if you love candid, energetic photographs—or you’re drawn to something quieter and more intimate—tell me. The same goes for anything you feel nervous or self-conscious about. A little honest conversation helps me make the session feel right for both of you.
6. Bring personal details with a purpose
   A bottle of champagne, a picnic, a handwritten note, or something connected to a shared interest can add personality to the session—but are by no means mandatory. Don’t feel you need to bring props for the sake of having props. If you feel you’d like to bring something, one or two meaningful items will usually add more than a collection of items that have nothing to do with you.
7. Make an evening of it
   Your engagement session is already time set aside for the two of you, so consider making plans for afterwards. Book dinner, stop for a drink, or revisit somewhere you love. It gives you something to look forward to, takes some of the pressure off the photographs, and means you’re not rushing home the moment we finish.
8. Eat, hydrate, and leave yourself enough time
   Please don’t arrive hungry, thirsty, or in a panic because getting ready took longer than expected. Have something to eat, drink some water, and allow more travel time than you think you’ll need. If you plan to have a drink beforehand to settle your nerves, keep it modest. Feeling comfortable and present comes through much better on camera than feeling hungry and hurried.
9. You do not need to practise posing
   You aren’t expected to know your angles or arrive with a collection of poses memorised. I’ll guide you throughout the session and give you things to do that create natural movement and interaction. Your only job is to listen, trust the process, and concentrate on each other rather than the camera.
10. Expect the first few minutes to feel a little odd
    Most people aren’t photographed professionally every day, so feeling awkward at first is entirely normal. Don’t mistake that feeling for doing badly. Laugh about it, lean into it, and give yourselves a little time to settle. Before long, you’ll stop thinking quite so much about the camera—and that’s usually when the really good photographs begin.

Bonus tip: bring your dog—but bring a helper too
As a dog lover, I completely understand wanting your furry friend in the photographs. From experience, though, everyone relaxes more when the dog joins us for just part of the session. Ask a friend or family member to bring them in for a few photographs at the beginning or end, then take them for a walk while we carry on. You’ll get the family portrait without spending the entire session holding a leash, handing out treats, or wondering what the dog has just spotted in the distance.

A little thought beforehand makes the session easier, but you don’t need to plan every moment. I’ll help with the location, timing, light, and direction. You simply need to turn up as yourselves, give it a few minutes, and be willing to have a laugh together. The photographs tend to take care of themselves from there.