6 Easy Tips for a Stunning Engagement Photo Session

Here are my best engagement photo tips and things I learned as a bride-to-be from my own engagement session!  

My now-husband Nick and I took our engagement photos at Goose Creek State Park in Washington, North Carolina with Montana Burkett! 

It was such a fun engagement photo session. Spoiler alert: we took photos in the river! It was completely unplanned but SO worth it. Below are some of my favorite photos from the shoot with a few ideas for your next couples' shoot or engagement session. 

1. Make use of natural light

Natural light is best when it comes to photography. Avoid incandescent lighting or indoor shoots without windows nearby if possible. Even if you are not able to shoot outside, you can still shoot inside in a space with a lot of natural light coming in through windows!

While natural light is great, too much of a good thing can still be a bad thing. No one likes having to squint due to bright sunlight. Schedule your shoot in the early morning or evening to avoid the sun beaming down on you! Plus, sunrises and sunsets can make for a beautiful backdrop for your photos.

2. Use a prop or sign

I used my "wedding dates" sign by Simple & Sentimental for our engagement session, but we'll also have it on display at our wedding! The sign shows the date we started dating, the date we got engaged, and our wedding day.

Signs or other meaningful props can add a fun twist to your pictures. If you are using some of your pictures for your save the date, consider making a sign that says "Save the Date" with your wedding date on it!

But signs aren't the only option! People have also used other items as symbols of marriage, like a rope with a knot in it as well as incorporating the engagement ring into different shots. 

3. Try walking, dancing or even jumping!

Don't just stand there! It can be tempting to let your photographer pose you for each shot, but try to act natural and move around. Truly candid photos can only happen when you are comfortable and interacting with your partner. Walking, dancing, jumping or having your fiancé lift you up can give your photos a more natural, unposed look. 

4. Location

When thinking about how to get the best engagement photos, it's important to pick a location that suits the style you are going for. We chose Goose Creek State Park per our photographer's recommendation. If you aren't sure where to start, your photographer is a great place to start.

5. Make it personal

During our shoot, our photographer asked us to talk about some of the "highlight" moments in our relationship. For example, she asked us to remember our first date, our proposal, or even the first time we said "I love you". 

It sounds simple, but it really reminds you why you're there taking photos. The pictures also show your emotion and how much you care for one another!

6. Get out of your comfort zone

This tip honestly made our photoshoot stand out in my opinion! As you can see, Nick and I took a few photos in the water at the end of our shoot. This was not part of the plan, but the water is warm and we thought it would be cool!

Not only did the pictures turn out great, but I'll never forget that moment! It was so fun and something you don't do very often.

Details of our Shoot

Location: Goose Creek State Park

Photographer: Montana Burkett Photography!

Dress: Altar'd State

Jewelry: Francesca's

Tell me about your photoshoot!

I hope these tips help you have the best engagement photo session! Want to see your photos featured on our blog? Send them our way by emailing the details and 30 of your favorite engagement photos to us at hello@simplesentimental.com