I am officially in Wedding Plan mode! For those that may not know, I have been happily engaged to my boo (Blake, who is often photographer for this blog!) since February. I was not one of those little girls growing up planning their dress, their wedding colors, and all those details. The only detail I ever had planned out was the photographer. Fitting don’t you think? The pictures are what’s left over after the dust settles on your special day.
I met Alison Conklin while living in Philadelphia. She shot one of my friends weddings and I instantly fell in love with her work. She has a way of capturing the moments happening that just blows my mind. We met at her gallery show in the city and it solidified that she was as beautiful a person as her photos. From that moment on, I knew she would shoot my wedding. I am currently prepping for an engagement shoot with her (that I will of course share with you here!) in my hometown of Philadelphia next month and thought it would be fun to share my tips on how to get the best engagement photos. Let’s get to it!
1. Be Playful. It’s not easy to be in front of the camera! Especially for the guys, I get it, you aren’t usually posing with your dudes on the weekends. You have to remember these photos are to celebrate the two of you. Jump around and let loose! And if your feeling stiff just shake it out. Remember that all you need is a beaming smile on your face and your best friend to make you laugh in your photos.
2. Bring a prop. Props can make for some excitement in your photos. It’s always fun to have something to interact with. They can also relate to your wedding theme and create some fun Save-The-Date moments. Try some balloons, sparklers, chalk boards, funny glasses. Anything to get you amped for your photo session.
3. Find a mural. Murals can create a nice color and texture behind you in your portraits. Also, I am a sucker for street art so it’s a fun way to liven your photos with color.
4. Hometown Pride. When thinking about where to take your engagement photos, it’s needs to be a place that means something to you. I grew up in and around Philadelphia and so did my fiancé. It’s a special place where we met and part of our history. So get that hometown pride going and pick a location that speaks to you and your partners history together.
5. Rain is good. So sometimes the weather doesn’t like to cooperate on a day you have your shoot scheduled. Just know that it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it makes for some beautiful photos. Have a back up plan. Do yourself a favor and buy some clear umbrellas (I love these) and the light will still shine through and the photographer can still capture your faces despite the down pour.
6. Be Yourself. At the end of the day, these photos are a reflection of 2 people. Have fun and be yourself! Don’t dress fancy if you are a laid back girl. And when all else fails, tell a funny joke and get laughing.
Hope you guys enjoyed my first Wedding inspired post! Many more to come. Would also love to hear what you guys are dying to hear about? Leave your comments below.
photo credit / photos 1,3,4,5,6: Alison Conklin / photo 2,8: style me pretty
photo 3: jana from alabama / photo 7: green wedding shoes
