Hi I'm Nazlee. I am the director of Offley Place. I have managed over 1,000 weddings and now I would like to share my industry knowledge with you.
I am recently engaged. An Iranian and my partner is Swedish. So I will also be sharing the ups and downs of planning a mixed culture wedding.
In this blog post, I talk about engagement photoshoots. I will cover some of the do's and don'ts of engagement photoshoots. As well as some tips and tricks to help make your photoshoot even more fun and special!
Why should you do an engagement photoshoot and is it worthwhile? You may not be sure if you want to do an engagement shoot. I loved mine so I may be a little biassed. They are moments and photos I will treasure forever.
I had some hesitation about the cost and whether I thought it was worth it. But it was fun and made me feel at ease and practised for my actual wedding day.
Below I have listed a few do's and don'ts I would recommend if you are going to have an engagement photoshoot with your partner.
Do's - Engagement Photoshoot:
Make a mood board
When I first started planning I had one hundred ideas and needed to focus. I went onto Pinterest which I use for my wedding planning. I created a mood board and searched lots of keywords so I could get an idea of the possible location, poses and outfits.
Location, location, location
After you have created your mood board it would be good to come up with a list of places you would like to have your photos taken. I actually had my photoshoot in Primrose Hill, London. As it was where my partner proposed so it was a special place for us both. Remember to take weather into consideration. Our shoot got postponed because of the heatwave in London. I am glad I didn't end up with sweaty pictures.
Find a photographer you love
This may be a little easier said than done. Luckily I have a contact list of photographers that we use at Offley place so I knew what to expect from the day. I am actually going with a different photographer on my wedding day. I will share at a later date how I chose them. I would definitely recommend having a chat with them first to see if you get on. You want to feel as comfortable as possible so you can get some natural and happy photos.
Set a budget
Going into it I had some very grand ideas. Yet I decided to set a budget before I made any big plans. I made sure I didn't get too excited and go over budget.
Research poses
This was something I am definitely glad I researched. I was worried about how to pose or stand. How to stand with my fiance and how we could get the most out of the day.
Be prepared
Be prepared for the weather to change suddenly (especially in the UK) Be prepared for…..
Plan your outfits
This is a no brainer. You want to make sure you feel nice as well as comfortable as you will be spending some time in the outfits standing still. Remember to iron your clothes and try them on before.
Pack a suitcase for all eventualities
Here is my little checklist of things to pack in your suitcase for the day:
Change of clothes.Change of underwear- avoid VPL
Safety pins
Double sided tape
Flat shoes
Lint roller
Snacks - The shoot may be longer than you think.
Water
Scissors
Schedule for the day
Inspo photos
Accessories or props if that's part of your plan
Don'ts - Engagement Photoshoot:
Don't go wild with your outfit.
I would advise against logos or any on trend pieces. You want your pictures to be timeless and special. Choose outfits that compliment each other.
Don't overthink it
It will take some time to relax into it but don't panic too much. Your photographer will make you feel at ease and give some tips along the way.
Don't be late
You have probably only booked a certain amount of hours. So you don't want to waste any of yours or the the photographer's time.
Don't leave it too last minute
It is a little more work than you may expect so being prepared and organised is super important.
Make sure you ask to see the first few photos before you carry on. I had my bra showing and no one told me. That would probably be the only thing I would change from the whole experience!
I hope this has helped you plan your wonderful engagement shoot and congratulations on the big news!
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