Tell Your Whole Story

Your engagement photo session is designed to do two things, help you get comfortable taking photos together before your wedding day, and tell the story of your relationship. Let's prepare for your session by considering the whole story of who you are as a couple, and how you want to be captured.

Couple toasting flutes in formal wear at a downtown Dallas rooftop bar for an indoor engagement photo session

First, we decide our location. A lot of people don't make their location their first building block but it's intrinsically tied to your wardrobe. It would be silly to chose a golden-clad 5 star hotel as your location and then show up in baggy jeans and t-shirts just like it would be silly to do an at-home session in a ball gown. More subtly, a wildflower location would clash with a busy floral print and you might not contrast enough at a white studio in an all white dress and shoes.

Find a location that speaks to you and your ideal wardrobe. If your wedding is going to be upscale, consider a uptown rooftop or someplace heavy with grand architecture. If you want something more approachable or even low-key, think of natural spaces with a lot of shapes and textures. Or you can always consider a location that works with both casual and dressy outfits, like an arboretum or downtown with green spaces, so that you can cover all of your bases.

Couple walking hand-in-hand through wildflower field with city skyline backdrop during outdoor engagement photo session.
A couple laughs joyfully as a man gives a woman a piggyback ride through a blooming wildflower meadow in Fort Worth, Texas
Couple embracing in a Dallas, Texas meadow at sunset, surrounded by lush greenery for an engagement photo session
Couple sharing a romantic moment in a golden sunlit field, man lifting woman joyfully at sunset in Dallas, Texas

Now, let's put together some outfits. Respectfully, I always start with the to-be Bride. Either way, build your outfits around one person and then work out. We encourage our couples to prepare a couple of outfits so that we can create variety in your deliverables and tell a well rounded story of who you are. Some tips and tricks as you plan your fits:

  1. One person gets a pattern. Unless you're a maximalist couple or well practiced in mixing prints, it's safer to stick to one person in print. This means men's polos in a small gingham, tartan, or plaid print!
  2. Avoid small patterns. We see this most with the aforementioned polos but floral prints can also fall into this category.
  3. Don't be afraid of color! I get it, you're ready to be in your all white wedding gown and you've purchased a number of white dresses this season for showers and parties. Consider one outfit that is white or mostly white and a second option that incorporates color. Use this outfit to pull in your wedding colors to your photos. Feel free to bring a third outfit that feels really fun or something you might only consider for New Years Eve. Just don't be afraid to shake it up!
  4. Coordinate with your partner, don't match. Gone are the days of the 90's family photos where everyone is in matching shirts and pants. Find a color palate or create a mood board and build complementary outfits.
  5. Add your own texture. Unless your in a studio, your location will probably offer some texture, but don't be afraid to add your own. Think lace, cotton, wool, linen, wear crocheted tops, tweed jackets, knit sweaters, etc. This creates softness and adds depth.
  6. Don't try to be someone you're not. This is something we stress a lot! If you've never worn a suit in your life, your engagement session isn't really the time to start. If skirts make you nauseous, find your best pants and an elevated top and walk right past those skirts and dresses. If you live for a spring time dress, stay comfortable in that! Ultimately, the key is to feel like your best self. That will always pull through in-camera.
  7. Avoid overly trendy pieces. This maybe isn't for everyone, but I personally believe in a timeless approach to photography. Super trendy pieces age your photos quickly and can make your investment feel lackluster. You don't have to be in a basic outfit, but avoid something that has never lasted through a fashion cycle.
  8. Fill in any gaps with accessories. Think of your wedding day and how you want to style your hair. What kind of jewelry and glam will you be wearing? Is this maybe the perfect time for a cowboy hat? Beyond that, consider bringing homemade florals, use this for your save-the-date info, and for all things holy please let us play with and photograph your dog at your session (with a handler of course).
A couple dances during their engagement photo session in a golden field under a clear blue sky in Dallas, Texas
Couple sharing a kiss while walking on a stone pathway surrounded by trees and flowers in a garden at the Dallas Arboretum
Couple sharing a romantic kiss by a fountain in a lush garden, woman in green dress lifted by partner at Flippen Park in Dallas, Texas.
Couple sharing a romantic kiss outdoors, woman in white cowboy boots and dark skirt, man in cowboy hat, under a large tree.
A laughing couple poses playfully on a park path for a fall engagement photo session, wearing fall outfits with boots and jeans.
A couple shares a romantic moment against a white brick wall for their engagement photo session in downtown McKinney, Texas
Couple laughing and walking hand-in-hand on a wooden bridge surrounded by lush green trees at Prairie Creek Park in Richardson, Texas
Couple embracing against a stone wall outside of Bush Library on the SMU campus with an urban park background.
Couple standing on a wooden dock at White Rock Lake at golden hour, woman in blue dress, man in white shirt.
A couple in Highland Park, TX walks hand-in-hand through a grassy park, smiling at each other, dressed in casual autumn outfits.

 

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