Okay, so you’ve done your homework and booked the best photographer based on your needs, wants and budget. Great! Now what? In this session, I’ll discuss location ideas and strategies, what to wear to your photo shoot and how to converse with your photographer to ensure you get exactly what you want.
Let’s say you’re preparing for an engagement session. This is perhaps one of the most important photo shoots you’ll do because it introduces you to your photographer, how he/she works and his/her style of photography. You can get a feel for how things will go down on your wedding day and how to work with your photographer to get the shots you want.
First things first: You’ll need to meet with your photographer prior to your photo shoot. Bring some ideas of locations and style of photography you want. Do you want goofy or serious portraits? Do you want a romantic style or a hot and steamy style of session? How “touchy feely” do you feel comfortable being? Do you mind kissing in front of the camera? Or are you more of the conservative type? These are things your photographer will need to know before taking the first photo. What you do during your shoot will depend on your pre-consultation with your photographer, so it’s important to know what you want.
With that said, you should also keep an open mind when working with your photographer. Chances are, he/she has had loads of experience and really understands how to pose and manipulate your surroundings to really give you a one-of-a-kind photo shoot. Be prepared to do something out of the ordinary –t o you, it may seem silly or dumb, but to your photographer, it’ll be a work of art.
So let’s talk about locations. There are generally four broad types of engagement shoots: the city vibe, the romantic vibe, the playful vibe and the intimate vibe. The city vibe usually entails a downtown/ New York feel. Most downtowns today are into the art scene. Utilize public art galleries and artwork outside. This is also a great place to look for cool or unusual graffiti art on the sides of buildings or anything quirky you can find on the sidewalk or in front of stores. This is also a great place to do some night photography, if the city you’re in has a lot of vibrant lights.
The romantic vibe is usually broader of a term than the city vibe, but basically, you’ll want to be in a spot that the two of you feel is romantic. Maybe it’s by the park bench where your fiancé proposed. Maybe it’s in a nice flower garden or on a romantic beach, or perhaps a red barn isolated on a private farm. Whatever your location, make sure it translates to romantic to you. A park bench may not seem romantic to the average couple, but if it’s the first place you met or the place where you shared your first kiss, it’ll be extremely romantic to you. So, the romantic vibe really just depends on you.
The playful vibe is often held at a park with swings, slides – you know, fun stuff. Couples who go to the more playful route are often silly themselves and like to be goofy in public. These couples can pretty much find the fun in just about any setting. Going downtown during the day could be useful for this couple, too.
And lastly, the intimate vibe is also sort of a broader term than the rest. The only main requirement for the intimate vibe is that you find a location that’s private – maybe a private beach or beach house or your own house or apartment. Just find a spot that means something to you and that not a lot of people go. Couples who go the intimate route often do not have a problem with sexier, “come hither” poses, so make sure you find a photographer who can get this look for you. Also, make sure you are confident enough to do this style of photography. If you are nervous about kissing in front of the camera, it’ll show big time in your prints.
With that said, let’s talk about wardrobe. Again, the type of clothing you wear often depends on the type of session you want. I generally tell my clients to bring two outfits: a casual, down-to-earth outfit (maybe a nice pair of jeans and your favorite blouse) and a more upscale outfit (maybe a nice dress with some bling). Whatever outfits you choose, make sure they represent who you are as individuals and as couples. If you like to stand out in a crowd, go for vibrant colors and accessories. If you like to blend in, go with more subdued colors and fewer accessories.
Most photographers LOVE details (by the way, detail shots are often what sets apart “good” photographers and excellent photographers. The excellent photographer will take his/her time when shooting the detail shots at your wedding, so make sure you book a photographer who has an eye for the details. You’d be surprised how much those detailed shots will mean to you after the wedding is over). So if you’re into fashion, go all out and wear those shoes that are impossible to walk in (you can bring flip flops for in between poses if you want). Or wear lots of accessories. Seriously, these details are like eye candy to your photographer.
And lastly, if there’s a specific pose you want to do, don’t be afraid to let your photographer know. Remember, the number one priority to a photographer is to make his/her client happy, so if you want a specific shot, be sure to let him/her know. Bring magazine clippings and/or other examples to give them an idea of what you’re going for, but also remember to keep an open mind and do other poses your photographer suggests, too.
Carrie Hachadurian is co-owner of Blue Frame Photography and Design. She specializes in engagement and wedding photography, and she also has experience in graphic design. For more information, visit www.blueframephotography.com
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