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Wedding Engagement Photos – What do we need to know?

This unseasonably warm winter weather has me thinking about my upcoming spring wedding engagement photo sessions. It is tempting to take advantage of 70 degree days in February, but most people prefer to wait for some green on the trees and even a few flowers. So now’s a good time to pull together some tips for planning your session and answering a few common questions.

When should we do the photos?

I recommend that you try to do your wedding engagement photos in a different season and location than where you’re getting married. It’s not always possible, but it’s nice to be able to mix the look of things up a bit. If you’re getting married at a vineyard in the fall, maybe the engagement session could be in an urban setting in the spring. For the actual timing on the day of the photography session, I prefer to schedule late in the day for the best light (starting 1 ½ to 2 hours before sunset depending on the where we’ll be) and to photograph on a sunny day. On your wedding day I work with whatever the weather brings–for the engagement session, a sunny day makes for the best photos!

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Where should we go?

Washington DC is full of iconic spots to take portraits. If you’re looking for something that immediately says the “Nation’s Capital,” the Mall is a logical spot. The Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial or the Capitol grounds are all great backdrops.

wedding engagement Deb Lindsey Photographywedding engagement Deb Lindsey Photographywedding engagement Deb Lindsey Photographywedding engagement Deb Lindsey PhotographyBut, my favorite locations are the ones that have meaning to you and your partner. Where you had your first date or how you like to spend your time together. Is it hiking on the C&O Canal or shopping in Georgetown? Playing with your pooch or maybe it’s a restaurant where you like to hang out? Sometimes it’s just fun to wander your neighborhood getting a sense of where you live and what feels familiar.

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And if nothing comes to mind and you need some help deciding where to go, I can help! There are several interesting spots and parks around town that I can recommend. Sometimes it’s just nice to have some pretty flowers in the photo and leave the focus on the two of you.

wedding engagement Deb Lindsey Photographywedding engagement Deb Lindsey Photography

What should we wear?

This is the most frequently asked question by far! First, wear something you think you look great in. When you feel good about how you look, that confidence shows in the photographs. Look at the color combos between the two of you. If you’re wearing purple your partner shouldn’t be wearing orange! The same goes for mixing prints and patterns. Keep your styles at a similar level. If you’re wearing a suit and your fiancé is in shorts it’s probably a mismatch in photos. The feedback I’ve gotten from couples is that if they’re a little more dressed up than they’d usually be on a weekend that’s about the right level. It’s not necessary to have hair and makeup professionally done but it doesn’t hurt! I love a pop of color, especially against green trees or those white pillars all over DC. If you’re wearing heels, bring a pair of comfortable shoes for walking. Photographing around DC will almost always involve some walking. Bringing a change of clothes is fine and can add to the variety of the photos. Changing shirts or putting a sweater over a shirt is easy but a full outfit change might be trickier on the Mall or somewhere without a restroom.

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How much time will it take?

Generally I plan for about an hour and a half to two hours for an engagement session. That includes the time we’re actually shooting and the walking to get there. I’m not opposed to a couple locations as long as they’re not too far away from each other.

I’m not that comfortable in front of the camera. Can you help??

Of course! I’m not a fan of overly posed photos, but I completely understand that it’s hard to be in front of the camera (and it’s one of the reasons I prefer to stay behind it). I will put you in the prettiest light, give you a few tips if you need them and let you interact naturally. To me the best wedding engagement photos capture your relationship and are about having fun. I tend to shoot with a longer lens so that gives me a little distance and makes it feel less intrusive.

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Having your wedding engagement photos done should be fun and easy and I work hard to make it that way. It’s also a great way for us to get to know each other a bit before the wedding day and the other bonus is you get to spend a some quality time with your sweetheart hugging, kissing and holding hands in a public setting!

Should we do a first look for our wedding?

Wedding Day First LookIn recent years the first look (or reveal) has become almost as traditional as not seeing each other before walking down the aisle! At least half of our couples opt to see each other before the wedding for several reasons:

Flow The day often will flow better if you see each other before the wedding ceremony. Once you see each other you can take all the family and wedding party photos earlier in the day then everyone is free for cocktails as soon as the ceremony is over.

Logistics If you’re getting ready in one place, getting married in another and having your reception at a third, it can work to your advantage to see each other first than travel together for the rest of the day. It saves on transportation costs and you get to spend more time with your soon to be spouse and what’s better than that?!

A moment alone  The first look is arranged so that it’s just the two of you. No family or others allowed! OK occasionally we spy bridal party members or family peeking around a corner or from a higher vantage point, but really we want it to be a genuine moment between the two of you. We’ll put you in pretty light, a nice location and let you have a moment. Sometimes getting ready on the wedding day can be a little stressful and seeing each other is a wonderful relief.

Pretty pictures  Even though the first look is not something that would happen organically on your wedding day, we do our best to make it feel like it is. There is no much better than the pure emotion of seeing each other for the first time and it can make for some very sweet photos and some lovely moments! Sometimes they’re among the best emotional photos of the day.

And here are a couple of reasons not to:

Timing Sometimes there just isn’t time in the day. Early ceremonies or church services often don’t allow for the time for a first look.

Tradition You may just not want to see each other before the walk down the aisle! That’s great too. We never try to talk anyone who feels strongly about keeping with tradition into a first look. Just remember to factor in time for your portraits, family photos and wedding party after the ceremony and into the cocktail hour.

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Wedding Day First Look