It’s the height of wedding season, and with Atlanta wedding engagement photography sessions underway, couples continue to inquire how to prepare for their engagement photo session. As an Atlanta-based wedding photographer, I love to help all my clients feel ready and be prepared for their photo sessions. An engagement session in Piedmont Park, The Beltline, Arabia Mountain, Roswell Mill, Stone Mountain, North Georgia Mountains, or any location is their trial run before their big day. Ensuring you get the best experience is essential. Here are some tips I’ve given to past clients to help them prepare for their photoshoot.

An Atlanta Beltline Graffiti Engagement Photo

1. Not sure what to wear to your engagement session? I’m here to help! You should bring two to three outfits to your session so I can get a variety of different looks for you. I suggest the following:

Bring a ‘Dressy’ Outfit
It’s not every day you get to get all dressed up with your sweetheart and take photos together. Use this session as an excuse to really go all out and get fancied up! I’m not saying you have to wear a gown and tux (unless you want to), but maybe a dress or skirt for you, and a suit or nice slacks and a button up shirt for your fiancé. This outfit will be great for save the date cards, or your announcement.
Go Casual
I also suggest you bring a more casual outfit. This outfit is ideal for your more fun, relaxed photos. Tailored jeans and a nice shirt are always a great choice, especially if we are going to be walking around in nature a lot. Make sure to bring shoes specifically for this outfit, too.
Coordination is Key
The most important thing to remember is to coordinate. You don’t want to be matchy-matchy, but you want to coordinate. Choose similar colors and styles that photograph well together. For example, you don’t want to wear jeans if your fiancé is wearing a suit and tie in the same photo. Also remember to dress for the location. For example, if you are doing a natural, rustic or vintage session, you’ll want to stay away from bright colors and opt for neutrals instead.
Things to Avoid
- Logos, unless we’re doing a sports session and you’re wearing jerseys, etc.
- Patterns – Try to stick with solid colors or minimal patterns. Plaid shirts are fine as long as your fiancé isn’t wearing stripes or polka dots. It’s a good rule of thumb to only have one partner wearing a pattern at a time.
- Fluorescent colors – These don’t photograph well and also can cast bright color tones on your skin.
Try not to wear too much black or white, but if you choose to do so, make sure you have a strong accent piece to give a pop of color. Think of wearing layers (from a nice jacket to a sweater or cardigan that can be taken off) so as the session progresses. There can be a different look without changing an entire outfit since the session is an hour up to one-and-a-half hours with walking, set-up, etc.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

2. Choose a location that resonates with both of you. You and your fiance should each pick one location. If

they match, excellent! If not, depending on where they are, maybe you can incorporate both in your

engagement session, or you can speak with your photographer, who may have ideas. My advice is always

to choose a location that has meaning to both of you. The place where you got engaged, a favorite park

where you picnic, a neighborhood where you both grew up, etc. For couples who are not from Atlanta,

choose one place you want as a backdrop for your engagement photos. For couples who travel to Atlanta

during the holidays, Piedmont Park is a great location to get the scenery. Again,

wherever it is, speak with your photographer to get ideas of what you want your engagement photos to

look like. (i.e., urban, greenery, fall look, city backdrop, etc.).

3. If you haven’t viewed my website, feel free to view the engagement images to see my photography

style. Pin photos on a Pinterest board and share them with your photographer. I always ask my couples to

pin photos from my blog that they love, so I get an idea of the photos and look that they love. Pinning

photos doesn’t mean that the photographer will replicate the pinned photo. It means that the

photographer will use it as an inspiration to create a new image.

Caption: engagement photos at Ponce City Market

4.If you have any props (signs, flowers, scrabble pieces, iPhones with pictures, umbrella, balloons,

anything that tells your story!), bring them, and we can try to incorporate them in our session.

5. We’ll be shooting close-ups of your rings, so make sure to have your ring cleaned if possible, have clean

fingernails, or get a manicure, and bring lotion as well so your hands look fresh. If there are any other

details important to you (like a special bracelet or cufflinks you’ve gifted each other), let me know in

advance so I can make sure to get those details as well.

Engagement Photo at Ponce City Market in Atlanta, GA

4.If you have any props (signs, flowers, scrabble pieces, iPhones with pictures, umbrella, balloons,

anything that tells your story!), bring them, and we can try to incorporate them in our session.

5. We’ll be shooting close-ups of your rings, so make sure to have your ring cleaned if possible, have clean

fingernails, or get a manicure, and bring lotion as well so your hands look fresh. If there are any other

details important to you (like a special bracelet or cufflinks you’ve gifted each other), let me know in

advance so I can make sure to get those details as well.

6. Bring lip gloss, powder, tissues, umbrella, and walking shoes if necessary! Also, bring water to hydrate.

Make sure to pack everything, including additional outfits, the night before and get plenty of sleep!

7. Ask your photographer questions! You’ve hired your photographer, which means you trust them. So

do trust they will take amazing photos. However, this is also your chance to talk about any photography

details. Sometimes couples don’t want a lot of pictures where they’re kissing or not kissing at all. If so,

make sure to relay that information to your photographer. Communication is important!

Country Club of Roswell Engagement Photos

8. Makeup: Girls, pay attention to your eyes. Eyeliner and good mascara are a must! Take extra care on

your mascara and really separate your lashes. Your eyes will be the most important factor in many of your

Images.

9. Apply the rest of your makeup like you normally would, but just a tad heavier. You might also pack the

basics and bring them with you on the shoot in case you need a quick touch-up.

10. Moisturize your lips well before your photoshoot. Dry, cracked lips are really hard to touch up later in

the pictures.

We are definitely going to have a blast during our photoshoot! My main goal is not only to get great

images of you two for your Save the Dates or images for your reception table or guest books but also for

you two to enjoy the time to get comfortable with being in front of a camera.

What To Wear for Your Engagement Photos

Heather and Bryan: Roswell Mill Engagement Photos

Lindsay and Will’s Destination Mountain Wedding in Sun Valley, Idaho