Your engagement is a special time in your life. It is a time when you and your significant other are madly in love and preparing to spend the rest of your lives together.
Sometimes the build up to your big day can overshadow this season in your relationship. However, an engagement shoot can help freeze this part of your journey together so you can cherish it for years to come.
But what exactly should you plan for on your engagement shoot?
If you’re thinking of starting to plan your session, please read ahead to what you can expect on a shoot with me.
Why Should We Have an Engagement Shoot?
First, it will capture your love story. Life can start moving fast as your wedding draws closer. But your engagement shoot will give you some time to yourselves. It will capture you in love, looking great and excited for the future together.
Engagement photos allow you to share your love and happiness with friends and family. It will also give you a collection of photos you can look back on for years. Seeing these photos in the years to come will put a smile on your face thinking back on your engagement and life during wedding planning.
But there is another important reason. In adding to having a collection of photos you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives, it will help us get to know each other. You’ll get to see how I work, and we can build our relationship before the big day.
Where Should We Take Our Engagement Photos?
This is another big choice you’ll have to make. Many couples will choose a special spot from their relationship. This can include a first-date location, a favorite cafe or any location that holds a cherished memory from your past together.
Choosing a location where you’re comfortable can have an added benefit. No matter if we’re taking photos in your home, a favorite bar or a park you went to on an early date, being in a comfortable environment can help put you at ease.
Or, if you’re totally stumped, I can offer some suggestions. If you’re having a hard time choosing a spot, don’t be afraid to ask for help! I’ve photographed hundreds of engagement shoots as photographer, and I am always scouting spots that could be magic!
Looking to take your engagement photos to the next level? Let’s hit the road. Learn more about destination engagement sessions with some of my favorite photos from past couples!
What Should We Wear for the Engagement Shoot?
First, it is important to wear clothes that highlight who you are. If you wear clothes outside of your comfort level, it can make you feel awkward and lead to a less than enjoyable shoot. Your engagement photos are about capturing who you are as a couple. You want to dress the part.
Consider having a wardrobe change. This can be a good way to capture photos that look a little more fancy along with some photos that are more casual. It’s the best of both worlds! At most, two outfits should do it. This amount makes sure you’re not rushing through your entire engagement session.
Finally, make sure to consider the time of year and location for your shoot. A scarf in the summer or a lack of a jacket in the winter will look unnatural and make you feel uncomfortable.
How Do We Overcome Any Awkwardness?
Being in front of the camera can feel weird for a lot of people. I know the feeling. But I will do my best to make you feel more comfortable. Read more about what I do to embrace the awkward.
Also, this will get you ready for your big day. Being in front of the camera for a couple of hours prepares you for the barrage of photos you face on your wedding day. You’ll know what to expect and how I work.
What Time of Day Should We Have Our Session?
The golden hour is the most in-demand time to do an engagement session. The golden hour is the time of day just before the sun sets. This time of day allows for warm, golden light in your photos.
Are you an early riser? Morning light can also make your photos look magical. Consider a sun-rise session. Afternoons can be tough as the light is the most harsh with the sun overhead
What Should We Do With Our Engagement Photos?
Your engagement session is over, and I’ve sent over your gallery. What do you do with the photos? Obviously, you can print them out and frame them for your home or send them to family.
But there is so much more you can do with these keepsakes. You have several options of what to do with them. Here are a few ideas:
- Save-the-date-card
- Wedding favors
- Engagement party or bridal shower decor
- Custom photo book for guests to sign
- Blow up photos for the reception
- Slideshow to project during ceremony or reception
An engagement shoot is an important step in the build up to your wedding, and I am excited to be part of it! If you have any questions or want me to be part of your special day, please reach out!
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- Sam & Dan
"Not sure how to give this review because I can not really put into words how amazing Dawn is as a person and a professional photographer. If you are looking for a talented photographer who will make your experience with pictures fun and stress free, Dawn is your photographer. From the moment I found her Instagram page and fell IN LOVE with her skills I have NEVER regretted my decision to book with Dawn. Also, listen to all of her suggestions, DO the engagement shoot, DO the sunset pictures, DO EVERYTHING. She goes above and beyond to make your day as magical as you dreamed it would be. She pays attention to what really matters to her clients! I like to call her my photography unicorn because she seriously one of a kind and is VERY good at what she does. If you don't book her, you will regret it! Side note: I just got married last weekend, have only seen my preview pictures (which I got that night and the NEXT morning) and waiting for the rest. I'm writing this review now because that is just how OBSESSED with her I am."
"I like to call her my photography unicorn"
- Christine & Andrei
"Dawn is incredible!!! She is truly one of a kind – I’ve never seen a vendor go above and beyond for clients like she does! Not only is she insanely talented, but she is incredibly meticulous, extremely responsive and cares about every detail just as much as you do! Weddings can be complicated, especially when it comes to family, but her detailed questionnaire about anything and everything she needs to know put me completely at ease. And if that wasn’t enough, she has an incredible guide that helps you shape your day, answer every question you could ever think of (and ones that you didn’t even know you had or should have!) – all just to make sure your day turns out beautifully. She captured the most incredible shots, worked so fast, and was so fun to hang out with throughout the day! I could never have imagined working with someone so wonderful for our big day – she truly is the best & if you have the chance to work with her, don’t even think twice. Book her immediately!!"
"I’ve never seen a vendor go above and beyond for clients like she does! "
- Samantha & Ryan
"There are not enough positive adjectives to describe our exceptional experience with Dawn Derbyshire. From the initial consultation, engagement photos, wedding pictures, a COVID postponement in between – she made the process enjoyable and easy. She made taking pictures fun and not awkward, often cracking jokes between each shot. She took the time to know us as a couple and what was important for us on our special day. We had periodic check-ins to discuss the process for our wedding day and what to expect, one less stress we had to worry about on our wedding day. Let me just tell you the photos were all AMAZING! We cannot thank her enough for her talented work, we look forward to using her in future endeavors. We highly recommend Dawn; this is one decision you will not regret!"
"She took the time to know us as a couple"
- Paige and John
"Dawn was truly the all star of our entire wedding day. From the time we booked her (over 2 years ago) to the wedding, she was SO communicative, beyond organized, and helpful. She brings such a positive energy while still getting. it. done. She made us feel so comfortable during our engagement session, that by the time we took wedding photos, they felt seamless. Let me also mention her work is PERFECTION. I could not love our engagement and wedding photos more if I tried. I would recommend Dawn 1000x over and if you have already booked her, consider yourself the luckiest!!!"
"Dawn was truly the all star of our entire wedding day."
- Lauren & Chris
"You deserve to have a photographer as amazing as Dawn. We can't stress enough how much we love her and would recommend her a million times over. Not only is she an amazing photographer that gave us thousands of unparalleled photos between our 2 shoots, she's an incredible person and every second you spend with her will be a delight. She made us feel so at ease, made us laugh, we made each other cry for sure—and honestly, she helped make our wedding the success it was. She's professional and dedicated, took charge when we needed it, wrangled our friends and took gorgeous, quality photos of everything we asked for and everything we forgot. Seriously, if you're looking for a wedding photographer, you could not pick a better one than Dawn."
"You deserve to have a photographer as amazing as Dawn.
- Julia & Matt
"We highly recommend Dawn Derbyshire for your wedding photography. She was definitely one of our best vendor decisions for our wedding day. We cannot speak highly enough of Dawn as both a photographer and as a person. We're so grateful that we found and hired Dawn to photograph one of the most important days of our lives. She truly exudes creativity, passion, and professionalism. From our first meeting to our engagement session and our wedding day--Dawn completely understood our vision and made us feel at ease. She was able to capture the genuine, candid moments of the day, the spirit of our relationship, and all of the little moments that elicit big emotions. We will truly cherish every detail shot, every portrait, and ever candid she took of our day. Dawn's expert planning, organization, and attention to detail ensured that we never felt rushed but kept things moving so that we were able to fully enjoy our wedding. We took her advice and enjoyed a moment away from everyone for sunset photos--I'm so glad that we did. She went above and beyond to make sure we had every possible shot we wanted and more."
"We will truly cherish every detail shot, every portrait, and every candid she took of our day"
- Kaitlin & Reggie
"I'm so happy we chose Dawn for our wedding photos! She is so easy work with, organized and incredibly talented. We decided to have an intimate wedding due to COVID. Even though it was such a small wedding, Dawn made us feel so special throughout the whole process. She took the time to meet with us virtually before our wedding to get to know us as a couple and listened to what our dream vision was for our wedding photos. I don’t usually like to have my picture taken, but I never felt so comfortable in front of a camera before. Dawn’s energy and outgoing personality helped calm my nerves. Our photos turned out beautifully and we couldn’t be happier! Dawn is incredibly talented and her work speaks for itself. I definitely recommend choosing Dawn as your photographer. She is so easy to work with and your photos will turn out beautiful. Thank you for making our wedding day so special Dawn!"
"Dawn made us feel so special throughout the whole process"
- Laura & Zach
"I can't begin to come up with enough amazing words to say about Dawn.. but I will say that I knew shortly after getting engaged there was something about her photography that really stands out. From the perfect details, to the genuine feeling you get from the couple she shoots. When we had our first meeting with her she emphasized wanting to be the right fit for us. Between her details, organization, "thinks of everything" questions, her incredible work, and her positivity; we knew she was the right choice! We did our engagement session and wedding with her and can't tell you how happy we are with the pictures that we will treasure forever. Dawn might be the hardest working woman I've ever met and my guests were shocked when she delivered a preview of our magical photos in 24 hours. If you are searching for a photographer who will shine a true light on your day, Dawn is IT!"
"Dawn might be the hardest working woman I've ever met"
- Kathryn & Tony
"As other reviews have said - Dawn is the absolute BEST !!! We had an absolute dream team of vendors and Dawn was the leader of the pack. Her photos are absolutely gorgeous but take a look at her website or Instagram and you already know that. What set her apart for us was her awesome personality. I will openly admit I am very "type A" and planning a wedding made me a little crazy. I sent her about a hundred messages asking for input on suit colors, day of timing, my makeup, etc. I'm sure other vendors would not have been nearly as patient as Dawn. We received our wedding photos last week and all I can say is wow. There have been endless compliments and multiple people have told me that they look straight from a bridal magazine. I am over the moon and will treasure these for many years to come"
"We had an absolute dream team of vendors and Dawn was the leader of the pack"
- Mallory & Andy
"Dawn is so absolutely amazing! She was recommended to us by a friend, and we are SO glad we booked her! Dawn is very accommodating and understanding. We told her that my fiancé didn’t like getting his picture taken. She posed us and snapped the pics efficiently and quickly. The photographs from both our engagement session and wedding are absolutely stunning. Dawn is very quick to respond and willing to help you with anything she can. She gave me recommendations for other vendors, provided feedback, gave advice and was a listening ear when we needed to vent. We got married in September 2020. Many of our plans changed due to COVID-19. Dawn was so empathetic and helpful throughout. I got ready with just my mom and Dawn in the room. Dawn was a stand in friend and bridesmaid to me. I will never forget those special moments. We have received nothing but compliments on how beautiful our pictures are and how fantastic Dawn is. She has a super fun personality, kind heart, and exquisite photography skills. We cannot say enough about the wonderful Dawn Derbyshire!"
"Dawn was a stand in friend and bridesmaid to me"
