Engagement Pictures 101: How To Get It Done!

Well it looks like it's about that time...time to wrap things up on the Engagement Pictures 101 mini-series! Over the past two weeks all-the-need-to-know info concerning Engagement Pictures has been laid out -- You got the WHY, the WHEN, the WHERE..and now, I will finish it up with the HOW! The HOW element of this whole ordeal is the easiest of engagement picture knowledge, and is the step where you put all the other elements together!

The first thing to do is start your research! This is extremely important and will end up saving you lots of time in the end. It is crucial that you take the appropriate time to research for and about different photographers. Wedding photography takes up a big junk of your budget - and the last thing you want to do is spend it on an unsatisfactory outcome. There are thousands of fabulous proffessional photographers in all urban cities, especially Atlanta. Try finding several that photographers that interest you through internet searches or friend referals. Then, take an indepth look at some of their work and portfolios. Photographer's blogs are great for seeing their most current work and allows you to compare portfolio's side by side. Make sure you like their photography style, their use of color, and the creativity displayed across their work. It is also wise to compare pricing and packages among photographers -- you will find that no one offers the exact same package - find the one that fits your needs best.

Once you have a photographer of choice, be sure to book them through a contract well in advance. I would recommend to book your photographer at least two months before your desired photoshoot date. Photographers', especially those who specialize in weddings, schedules fill up fast! You would hate to have your desired date be unavailable and jam up the rest of your timeline.

If you haven't already chosen a place, ask your photographer for recommendations - they usually have great suggestions and have a list of places that guarantee great photo outcomes. Once you have the place and the photographer, you are ready your the lights - camera - and action! Pick your outfits appropriately for the weather and look you are going for! Remember, stay on top of the Engagement Picture process, don't wait till the last minute to get these timeless photos done -- and you can always check back on the Engagement Pictures 101 series if you feel a little lost! Here are some creative photos from across the web!

papers and packages

Simply Two

Studio222 Photography

Kristin Vining

Engagement Pictures 101: When is the right time?

If you did not catch yesterday's post, you missed out on the beginning of a informational mini series! The last post concerned "What is it all about?!," and took a closer look at why engagement pictures have become such a standard thing recently. Today is all about the WHEN...and how your personal engagement shoot should fit into your wedding journey timeline.
Typically, engagement photos are used in someway for your Save The Dates - that being said, the real question should seemingly be "When to send out Save The Dates?" I advise brides to start sending out your Save The Dates as early as 10 months, but no later than 6 months out from your BIG day. Most likely, and dependent on your contract, photographers will take up to 3-4 weeks to edit your photo shoot film, and then you will need to time to create/assemble/print the actual Save The Date -- so if your crunch all those numbers you can see that engagement photos should be taken no later than about 6 weeks prior to the date you wish to mail the Save The Dates out. 


Although you want to get the photo shoot going at least a month in advance to your mail out date, that does not mean that you have to wait till then -- really, your engagement shoot could be scheduled as far ahead of time as you wish...and there are several things to consider:


1. The Weather
2. Your Outfits
3. Color Composition
4. The Backdrop


Taking these four elements into consideration will definitely dictate when you want your engagement shoot done. For example, if you want a soft muted background, schedule your shoot early winter. If you want to be shot wearing a sundress, choose spring. If you want to be shot with more of a warm hint to your skin, choose summer. If you want a backdrop full of ambers and oranges, choose fall. It may seem like people don't go through this "thinking" process concerning their engagement shoot, but putting a little thought into it will assist in your satisfaction of the final photos. 


Check back next week for the last two posts for this mini-series -- the WHERE and the HOW are up next. Take a looksee below to check out some GREAT Save The Dates, and see how your engagement shoot can be used!

Lauren Ross Photography

Gina Zeidler