Engagement sessions are one of our favorite things. Seriously. There is something about getting to spend an hour or two with a couple before the wedding, just being goofy and relaxed and real together, that we never get tired of. But we also know that a lot of couples don’t really know where to start when it comes to planning one. So let’s walk through it.

Work with Your Photographer First

If you already have a wedding photographer booked, start there. Ask them for location recommendations, a prep guide, what to wear, what to bring. A good photographer will have all of that ready for you. At Moments Captured, we give every couple a full guide covering outfit colors, what to avoid, what to bring, the whole thing.

And if you haven’t booked your wedding photographer yet? Consider doing your engagement session first as a trial run. You can book a photographer for the engagement, see how it feels, and if you love them, book them for the wedding. A lot of photographers, ourselves included, offer a discount when you book both. Think of it as a try before you buy situation.

Pick a Location That Means Something

Pretty locations are great, but a location that actually means something to you as a couple? Even better. Think about:

• Where you had your first date
• Where you got engaged
• A place that reflects the vibe of your wedding
• Somewhere that connects to something you both love

We once had a couple bring their Lego sets because building Legos together is genuinely their thing. We had another couple bring a video game controller and a book and posed back to back with them. Those are the sessions we talk about for years, because the photos actually feel like the people in them.

You don’t have to overthink it either. If you both love willow trees, find a park full of them. If your wedding is in the woods, do the session in the woods. Let the location tell your story.

What to Wear (This Part Really Matters)

Okay, outfit talk. Your photographer should help you with this, and if they refuse or seem clueless, that’s a red flag. Here is what we always tell our couples:

Do:

• Complement each other rather than match exactly. If one of you is in a burgundy shirt, the other could wear black with a burgundy detail. Same palette, not the same outfit.
• Lean into neutrals with some personality. You don’t have to wear beige and white, but you also want the colors to make sense for your location and vibe.
• Think about the setting. A bright, colorful outfit in a dark wooded area is going to fight itself.

Avoid:

• Neon colors, especially neon pinks, yellows, and greens. These reflect onto your partner’s skin and create a color cast that is really difficult to edit out.
• Very fine plaid or tiny checkered patterns. This creates a visual warping effect in photos called a moiré pattern and it looks terrible. It is nearly impossible to fix in editing. Bigger patterns are fine, but tiny ones are a hard no.
• Wearing the exact same color on top and bottom as your partner. You’ll blend into each other.

And one more thing: clean your ring before the session. You want it shiny and sparkly in photos, not cloudy. We actually started keeping a ring cleaner in our bag because of how often this comes up.

Bringing Your Dog? Bring a Friend Too.

Dogs are absolutely welcome and we love them. But if your dog is anything like most dogs at an exciting outdoor location, which means excited and a little chaotic, please bring someone along to be their handler.

Having a friend, family member, or anyone who can hold the leash and keep the pup happy off to the side means you can actually relax and take photos without worrying about your dog. It also means we can get some shots of just the two of you without making the dog feel abandoned. If you have multiple dogs, this is not optional. You need backup.

When Should You Book It?

A lot of couples call us right after getting engaged because they want photos for their save the dates and wedding website. That is a great reason to move quickly. But engagement sessions are also just a fun excuse to get professional photos taken together, whether it is for the holidays, Valentine’s Day, or just because.

There is no wrong time. Just make sure you have enough lead time before you need the photos for anything like save the dates or invitations.

Let’s Plan Yours

If you’re planning a wedding in the Syracuse area, the Finger Lakes, or anywhere across Central New York and want to chat about an engagement session, we’d love to hear from you. We’ll help you figure out the location, the outfits, whether to bring the dog, all of it.

Reach out and let’s make something you’ll actually love looking at.