10/04/2026
💍📸 ENGAGEMENT SESSION PREP GUIDE 📸💍
Planning your engagement or proposal session? Here are some important things to think about BEFORE booking your photographer!
✨ FIRST: DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF SESSION YOU WANT
• Traditional engagement session
• Proposal session
• Save-the-date session
• Couples/romantic session
• Lifestyle/candid session
• Editorial/fashion-inspired session
• Studio engagement session
• Environmental/outdoor session
• A combination of studio + outdoor
• Seasonal engagement session
🌿 THINK ABOUT YOUR LOCATION & SCENERY
Choose a location that reflects YOU as a couple!
• Mountains & overlooks
• Lakes, rivers & waterfalls
• Gardens & flowers
• Downtown/city settings
• Historic buildings
• Farms & fields
• Forests & wooded areas
• Beaches/coastal locations
• Your favorite date-night location
• Your home or a meaningful place
• Studio setting
• Multiple locations for different looks
👗 PLAN YOUR OUTFITS
Ask your photographer:
• Can we have a wardrobe change?
• How many outfits are included?
• Is there time for casual AND dressy outfits?
• Is there a changing area available?
• What colors photograph best at our location?
• Should our outfits coordinate without completely matching?
• Are there colors, patterns or fabrics you recommend avoiding?
📍 ASK ABOUT LOCATION CHANGES
• Can we use more than one location?
• Is there an additional travel fee?
• How much time is included between locations?
• Are permits required?
• Are there parking or entrance fees?
• Does the photographer have favorite locations they recommend?
🎨 KNOW YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE
Before booking, look carefully at the photographer’s portfolio and decide what you love:
• Light & airy
• Dark & moody
• Bright & colorful
• True-to-life color
• Warm & romantic
• Film/vintage-inspired
• Editorial
• Fine art
• Candid/documentary
• Posed & polished
• A mixture of candid + posed
Make sure the photographer’s editing style matches what you want. Don’t assume they can completely change their style just for your session.
📸 ASK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER BEFORE BOOKING
• How long is the session?
• How many images will we receive?
• Are digital images included?
• How will our images be delivered?
• Will we receive a private online gallery?
• Can we print our images?
• Are high-resolution files included?
• Do you offer albums or prints?
• How long is your turnaround time?
• Can we request certain poses or shots?
• Will you guide us through posing?
• Do you photograph candid moments too?
• Can we bring our pets?
• Can family members participate?
• Do you offer studio, outdoor/environmental, or both?
• Can we change locations?
• Can we change outfits?
• Is travel included?
• Are there additional fees for locations, permits or travel?
☔ ALWAYS ASK ABOUT THE WEATHER
• What happens if it rains?
• What is your inclement-weather policy?
• Do you reschedule?
• Is there an additional fee to reschedule?
• How far in advance will you make the weather decision?
• What happens if there is severe weather?
• What if the weather is cloudy, cold or windy?
• Do you have an indoor/studio backup option?
📅 ASK ABOUT POLICIES
Before booking, understand:
• Cancellation policy
• Rescheduling policy
• Retainer/deposit requirements
• Payment schedule
• Late-arrival policy
• No-show policy
• Weather policy
• Travel fees
• Location fees
• Refund policy
• What happens if YOU need to cancel or reschedule?
💻 KNOW HOW YOUR PHOTOS WILL BE DELIVERED
Ask:
• Online gallery or download?
• How long will the gallery remain available?
• Are images high-resolution?
• Are images edited individually?
• Are print rights included?
• Are there restrictions on printing?
• Do you receive sneak peeks?
• How long until the final gallery is delivered?
❤️ MOST IMPORTANTLY… CHOOSE A PHOTOGRAPHER WHOSE WORK YOU LOVE!
Your engagement photos will become part of your story for years to come. Choose someone whose photography style, personality, communication, posing direction and editing style feel like the right fit for YOU.
And remember—your engagement session should be fun! Don’t worry about being “perfect.” The best photographs often come from simply enjoying each other and letting your photographer capture the connection between you. ❤️💍📸
