100 Creative Ideas for Engagement Photos (2024)

FAQs

Is 30 minutes enough for engagement photos? ›

We usually recommend a minimum of 1 hour for any surprise marriage proposals due to the complexity of the planning and the added element of surprise. Some of our favorite occasions are: Fall mini sessions.

1. Choose light, soft, neutral tones. This is totally a personal preference, but my style of photography lends itself best to lighter, airier tones — like white, beige, and taupe — and pastels — like dusty blue, blush, etc. I find that neutral outfits are so romantic and timeless, and help to keep the focus on you!

For an hour long engagement shoot I would probably expect around 50-150 images depending on the experience level of your photographer and the cost of the session. We personally deliver on the higher end with our goal being to deliver a variety of types of images without duplicates.

Ideally, scheduling your engagement session with your photographer should happen within a 6-9 month window before your wedding day. I've found this to be the sweet spot! Most couples choose to send their save the dates around 6 months before the big day.

The standard price starts at $120 for a 30-minute photo shoot. However, this figure is conditional, because most often customers are asked to print pictures to make a family album. Be sure to add to the cost the time spent on post-processing and printing.

Some couples love an excuse to go all out on a fun, dressed up outfit. Others prefer a more casual, but polished look. It is entirely up to you, but most of my couples choose to wear two outfits at their engagement session. One “us on a cute, casual date” outfit and one more formal outfit.

If you're photographing in secret: use a long/telephoto lens and photograph from an obscure spot; or masquerade as a tourist or landscape photographer if there's nowhere to hide! If you were booked to make “portraits”: pre-arrange a signal with the proposer, so you'll know when he or she is about to propose.

For a natural but polished look, try a shade or two darker than your lip color, apply lip pencil, smudged lips a bit and use a little gloss or lipstick. **Additional makeup tip: Apply a lighter lip color or gloss only to the center of lips to enhance a pouty look.

Getting Hair & Makeup Can Make You Feel More Confident

Not everybody spends a ton of time in front of the camera, so having these beauty treatments done can give you a sense of confidence. If you are camera shy, getting your makeup done can make you feel more comfortable being photographed at your engagement shoot.

Don't wear any heavy jewelry or clothing near your face

If you wear anything too busy or heavy it will distract. Keep your earrings simple, like studs or dainty hoops. And don't wear shirts, jackets, or scarves that are too bulky around your neck.

What is the 3 1 rule in photography? ›

What is the rule of thirds? The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open. While there are other forms of composition, the rule of thirds generally leads to compelling and well-composed shots.

Usually it's right after sunrise or before sunset so that the sun is on the horizon line which provides more flattering light for portraits. The worst time of day I'd midday, like 2pm, because the sun is harsh and casts shadows on your face.

Here's where romance meets reality: When it comes to engagement photos, you can expect to pay anywhere from an understated $200 to more than $3,000. We know — that's a big range. There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to how much you'll pay for your engagement photos.

This'll vary depending on your photographer, but most engagement sessions usually last between an hour and an hour and a half. With the couples I work with, I like to start around two hours before sunset (or at sunrise), as this is when the light is best.

Session Duration

Some photographers are quicker than others and are more experienced. The more experienced photographers usually can shoot closer to 30 mins and still get just as much done as those who take an hour. In general though it's good to expect right at an hour for most photographers.

It's important to note that my usual turnaround time for engagement photos is around two weeks but it can be up to four during wedding season. If you would like to use the photos for a guestbook, canvas or other printed item you should also factor in the producing company's delivery time as well.

In short, it all depends on the couple. The average length of an engagement tends to last between 15 months and 18 months. This makes sense if you consider that wedding venues often book about a year in advance, or sometimes even longer. But couples may wait as long as two or three years or as short as a few months.