Spring/ Summer season is finally here! For those of you who are planning an engagement shoot, finding the perfect photographer, location, as well as the other little things can be stressful. These tips are based on my years of experience capturing couples’ precious moments and will ensure that your shoot is fun, stress-free and showcases who the two of you are.

My goal is to make the process from planning to execution easy, smooth, and exciting and to leave you with great photos of your unique story.

So, let’s get to it!

Where?

Good news! New York offers a wealth of beautiful locations. From the iconic Central Park and the picturesque and charming West Village to the laid back East Village and Lower East Side and the eclectic Chinatown—the list goes on. If you’d like to step outside of Manhattan, there are also numerous beautiful places in Brooklyn like Dumbo, Williamsburg, and Bushwick. 

While New York is a perfect backdrop, the important thing isn’t capturing these iconic locations—it’s capturing the couple in the right atmosphere and, in the places that are special to them.

I usually suggest sticking  to two locations (neighborhoods) for the shoot that are relatively close to each other. This way we’ll be able to avoid unnecessary anxiety in rushing from place to place and still have variety of city backdrops. Of course, if you’d like, we can always schedule multiple sessions to experiment with more locations!

What to wear?

First things first: don’t try to be too matchy! While it’s good to color coordinate, it's best to avoid wearing similar garments or the same color for the same pieces of clothing. We want to avoid unintentional twinning or a uniform look. Consider having a pop of color to wear between the two of you. Consider using colors of your wedding color palette if you are planning to use the photos for your save the date or your wedding website. If in doubt, sticking to black and white can actually be a good idea if you are going for a classic, chic city look.

Secondly, chose outfits that will be comfortable for variety of poses, both standing and sitting. Flattering, cute, and comfortable is the best combination.

When?

Please consider scheduling a session close to sunset ( I’d suggest at least an hour before). What can I say—I think every engagement photo session needs a beautiful golden hour photo!

Public places generally are less crowded on weekdays. So, if you have a chance to schedule the shoot on a weekday rather than over the weekend, that is a bonus.

Make up?

Ladies! Please invest in getting your make up professional done! It may seem like an unimportant detail, but it’s not—it can make a HUGE difference. If you’re concerned that you’ll look overly made up, let me assure you - your make up won’t look as vibrant on camera as it does in real life. It’s totally fine if it's a bit more intense than your usual make up. It will look natural in the final photos. 

Consider using the services of a professional make up artist. They know how to create a beautiful camera-ready look. I know several talented make up artists, so you’d like a recommendation, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Inspiration.

What do you want from your photo session? What do you want to convey? Are you looking for simple photos as a loving couple, or photos that accent who you are as individuals? Look for images you love and don’t hesitate to share your selection with me. It's helpful to be on the same page and will give the both of us more direction during the shoot.

Do we need to bring extra stuff?

While I'm not a big fan of props for outdoor shoots, everything can have its place if done with taste and elegance. Flowers, crowns made of real flowers, vintage books, hats, guitars, or simply something that is significant for both of you—anything goes.

If you need ideas and inspiration, go to Pinterest. I do it all the time!

How should I pose?

Prepare to have fun! Remember, I’m here to make the process easy and comfortable for you. I’ll guide you with respect to where to look and what to do with your hands if you’re a little camera shy. After all, this photo session is all about your love for each other. And I can’t wait to capture it!