this Comprehensive guide will walk you through:
What is a purpose of doing the candid engagement session and why is it so important?
What is the best time to book your shoot for save the date cards?
What are the best New York engagement session locations?
What is the best time of day for engagement photos?
What is the best season for engagement session?
Why weekdays are better for couples shoot?
What should you wear for your engagement shoot for million dollars look?
Should you incorporate you your pets and props during your engagement session?
When should we reschedule our engagement shoot?
Remember this engagement session guid for couples is not a must or the only right things to do or follow. Those are the tips and tricks that proved working over time!
Why Engagement sessions is so important?
Memories
When you book an engagement session in NYC, you’ll end up with beautiful, magical, and colorful pieces of physical evidence of the light and love in your relationship. You can use these photos to create “save the dates” that you and your loved ones will treasure forever.
Confidence
You’ll also get the chance to get comfortable with your favorite NYC wedding photographer and their camera. Most people aren’t used to getting professional pictures taken all day, so spending some time together before the big day is a great opportunity to build your confidence and get comfortable. With my clients, I treasure this time together. The more I know your story and the way you interact, the better I’ll be able to capture your magic.
Fun
My goal is for you to forget that you are in front of a camera. We’ll capture real moments as much as we can – natural, smooth, and candid. Whether that means practicing your dance moves in the middle of a busy street, talking about your first memories of each other, or telling jokes, I want to capture genuine, candid moments of love and laughter.
Relationship
The end result is not only beautiful photos but also increased confidence, a relationship with your photographer, and a fun day out! Couples who book an engagement session with their wedding photographer often are happier with the way their wedding photos come out because they took the time to get comfortable in front of the camera and discover what styles and types of photos they really love.
Plan Ahead For Save The Date Cards
Whenever my newly engaged clients ask this question, I typically tell them that the best time to schedule their NYC engagement session is about 6 – 9 months before the wedding date. This will give you plenty of time to get the photos back, pick your favorites, and order and send out your “save the dates.”
What are the best New York engagement session locations?
I’ve photographed clients in Ikea and on the rooftop and laundry room of the building that they live in, in the middle of a crowded intersection in the East Village, and surrounded by nature in Pelham Bay Park. I can cover up to a 30-mile radius from the city with no additional charge, so the options are endless. You can also choose more than one location, but I wouldn’t recommend any more than two. We want to have as much time for pictures as possible and traveling in the city can make that difficult.
What is the best time of day for engagement photos?
What is the best season for engagement session?
Hands down – Late Spring and Mid Autumn are for me the best seasons for taking the engagement photos. There are some reasons for it. For one the daylight is very long and the sunsets relatively late which means more beautiful light.
In the late spring we still have this juicy greens and a lot of plants in loom soe if you want to visit botanical garden or got to the park we might be able to capture some great colors.
Mid Autumn gives us beautiful gold colors of the Fall season but still preserving predictability of good weather.
Also, both seasons are not very hot and humid, so we can get more active – if that is your thing – go for bike ride or hike.
What about winter and summer. I love winter. There are so many great opportunities for romantic photos in the snow – even in the city. Middle of Summer is for those resilient ones :). If you are ok with high temperatures and humidity I’m all for it. Just please remember to bring an extra bottle of water so you can stay hydrated.
Why weekdays are better for couples shoot?
If we shoot during the week, a lot of these issues go away. New York is rarely quiet, but it’ll be a lot better. It’ll also be a lot easier to book. Most weekends throughout the year fill up really quickly for wedding photographers in NYC. I constantly receive wedding inquiries and I would like to accommodate these couples as well.
What should you wear for your Engagement shoot?
Matching your partner
The most important thing to remember in this category is that you want to be comfortable for your engagement shoot. If we’re hiking through parks and climbing rocks to get to your location, stiletto heels may not be the best choice. Choose your outfit to match the mood of the shoot, the colors of the location, and each other.
For example, if you’re going for a chic, high-life Manhattan engagement shoot, choose a cocktail dress and heels (pack flats as a backup), and a well-tailored suit. If we’re shooting in the more laid-back New York location like East Village or Brooklyn, try for elegant casual. A pretty blouse and skirt, and denim pants with an untucked but wrinkle-free shirt will work for engagement session. For park or nature scenes, wear cute walking shoes and clothes that will look great even if they get wrinkly along the way. Spend some time trying on outfits together to see what matches, what you’re comfortable in, and what will go well with your surroundings.
Colors & Patterns
You can bring a change of clothes to the shoot with you but remember. It’s always better to have one outfit that you love, than two or three that you’re not sure of. As a general rule, try to stick to solid colors. Patterns and stripes can be distracting in photos. My favorite recommendations are long-sleeve, solid colored dresses for the ladies and long-sleeve button up shirts with stylish denim for the guys. These go great together.
Another suggestion for the ladies: try to use this day as a test run for your wedding makeup, too. It’ll be a great opportunity to get pampered, get to know your makeup artist, and see how it will come out in professional photos. If you’re good at doing your own makeup, you can do it yourself too. We may take a picture or two of your engagement ring, so a fresh manicure may be a good idea.
Hair and Makeup
It is a great Idea to do your trail wedding make-up for that day. You gone be able to see how it comes out on the photos. I can also arrange that for you. I know make-up artists who are on the top of their game. If you want do the make-up yourself -great! You can find some good tips here. Also remember that if you decide to wear toeless shoes you should have your nails done. For him – visit in a barbershop is a must short before your engagement session.
Should we bring our pets and props for the engagement session?
PETS
Yes! The goal is to have fun, get you comfortable with the camera, and let your personality and love shine. If your pets and fun, festive props will help, then it’s a great idea to include them. Engagement sessions in New York are great for pet and prop lovers. There’s so much room and so many places to go. I love dogs and I’m always happy to include a furry friend in an engagement shoot! Keep in mind that pets can be demanding to juggle when it’s time for photos of just the happy couple. So, I’d recommend starting with the pet shots. We’ll spend 20-30 minutes with them and then have you pass him or her along to a friend. If you have a friend you can ask for help that is great. We can have your dog pop in here and there for a photo. Please remember to bring water and some snacks for your pet. Water will definitely help in hot city days and snacks are helpful to keep their attention.
Props
The same goes for props. We’ll start with those, then focus on your interactions and surroundings so we get the most well-rounded collection possible. Simple and fun props can include balloons, save the date signs and ribbons as well your favorite memorable or sentimental items. It is a perfect opportunity to take some photos with them as well. Just please remember. Most probably you will need to carry them all the way so please keep the size under the consideration.
When should we reschedule our photoshoot?
If there is more than a 50% chance of rain or snow, it would be a good idea to reschedule your NYC engagement shoot. I understand that weather is a factor that is entirely out of our control. I’ll be happy to work with you to get you a convenient alternative date. If you’re okay with a drizzle or a dusting of snow during your session, we might just go with it. These photos can still come out great and they often feel exciting, raw, and real. The decision is yours.
I’m hoping to find one day the couple who wants to do fun romantic engagement photos in the rain! If you are the one please contact me and I will be happy to do it at very attractive price!
When Will we receive our photos?
You will receive your photos blazing fast!
You may see a photo or two from your engagement shoot on my blog or social media very soon. The full collection with raw and edited photos will be available to you within 3 – 4 weeks. As soon as they are ready, I’ll send you a link to your online gallery with all wonderful shots we captured together.
Last but not Least
The most important thing to remember is to have fun! This process should be relaxing and flow with ease. You’re creating life-long memories and beautiful images with the person you love the most in this world! Being award-winning New York wedding photographer, I’m very good at getting clients to forget that they’re in front of a camera during engagement sessions. We want real, stunning photos that highlight the magic and love you two share. That’s what it’s all about.
So, on that note, here is my last recommendation. Book a table in your favorite restaurant or one that you’ve always wanted to try. Go there after the session is over to share drinks, dinner, and a laugh or two. As an added bonus, you both already look great! Take some time to reflect and look ahead at all of the wonderful things to come.