When to Take Engagement Photos

So, you just got engaged.. now what? Typically one of the first things you start thinking about is engagement photos! But when is the best time to start booking those? Let’s cover that in this post!

When to Take Engagement Photos

Honestly, you don’t want to wait to get your engagement photos booked! Even if that means planning it out months in advance. You don’t need to do your engagement session the week after you got engaged or anything. But photographers book out fast and it’s better to get it planned out sooner rather than later!

Here are a few of my tips for planning your engagement photos!

Start looking for your photographer ASAP

Photographers fill up their books pretty quickly, especially at certain times of year! So you don’t want to fall in love with a photographer’s work and vibe, only to find out they are booked on your date!

A lot of photographers, myself included, offer complimentary engagement sessions in their wedding photography packages. So if you love a photographer and want them for your wedding also, you may want to go ahead and book them so you can start planning your complimentary engagement session!

Your engagement session is a perfect way to get comfortable not only in front of the camera, but in front of YOUR photographer’s camera! Think about the fact that you’re going to be spending most of your wedding day with your photographer. So you want to meet them in person before your wedding day and get a feel for what it will be like to have them on the other side of the lens!

An engagement session helps you do just that and then you have the perfect photos to use for your save the dates! Once you have your photographer booked, start to think about when you want to do your engagement session.

Think about what vibe you’re looking for

Now you need to think about the time of year that feels ideal for what you’re envisioning for your photos! First of all, what type of weather do you want for your photos? Do you want it to be warm and sunny? Or would you rather it be a bit chilly so you can bundle up and wear warm clothes?

Then, you should think about what you prefer to wear! Maybe you feel most comfortable in a fun sun dress and sandals. Or maybe big sweaters, jeans and boots are more your style. This can help you determine when you should take your photos! As long as you have some flexibility with your timeline (more on this next!) choose the season that fits with what you prefer to be wearing for photos!

Also, what overall vibe or backdrop do you want for your photos? Do you want the golden hues that come in the fall? Or do you want bright greens and maybe some wildflowers in your photos?

You want your photos to fit your relationship and what you are envisioning so take time to think about it and even look for some inspiration photos!

Plan out your timeline

Another big thing to think about when planning your engagement session is the overall timeline for your wedding. Think about your wedding date and how far in advance you need to send out save the dates. And make sure that you have your engagement session far enough before that to give your photographer time to edit your photos!

And here’s a pro tip for you: save the dates can be sent out as early as a year from your wedding date! Invitations should be sent to your guests six to eight weeks in advance of your wedding. But invitations for destination weddings should be sent to your guests three months in advance of your wedding! So just keep this timeline in mind and let this help you figure out the best time for your engagement session.

Start brainstorming how to make your session unique to you!

Once you have an idea of when your engagement session may be, start planning all the fun details! Here are a few things to start planning next:

• The location: where do you want to capture these important photos of the two of you? You can choose just a beautiful location that would make a great backdrop. Or you could make it more personalized! You can recreate your first date or do something that you love to do together. You could also choose a place that’s meaningful, like where you first met or where you had your first kiss. It’s so fun when couples make their engagement sessions tell a story of their relationship!
• The outfits: since you now know the season for your photos, you could pick outfits that will make sense for the location and the time of year! Choose outfits that complement the location, but also make you feel confident and comfortable. Your outfits help show your personality and make you feel like your best self for your photos!
• Any extra details: bringing something fun along for your session really adds to your photos! This could be your dog, your favorite drink that you have together, your car, etc. Something that tells a story about you and your relationship makes your photos truly unique!

Chattanooga Engagement Photographer

Hi, I’m Christin, a Chattanooga Wedding Photographer that serves all of the areas around Chattanooga & travels for destination weddings as well! I am super passionate about capturing those special moments that are unique to you & your partner and making it an unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for help with planning your Chattanooga engagement photos, I’m your girl! Reach out here & we can talk more about your vision!