Boost Your Confidence: 8 Tips for an Unforgettable Engagement Shoot

Every couple wants their engagement photos to beautifully represent their relationship, but self-doubt and camera shyness can make this challenging. If the thought of an engagement session fills you with anxiety, this article is exactly what you need. By focusing on 8 confidence-boosting tips, we’ll help you overcome your fears and embrace the joy of capturing this stage in your life. Tailored for those who value authentic, heartfelt moments, our guide will help you relax, be yourself, and ultimately have an amazing engagement session that you’ll cherish forever.

A look ahead at what's next:

Actionable tips so you can show up confidently and ready like Beyoncé for your engagement session.

Guidelines on what to wear so you have an easier time choosing the perfect outfit, which means you don’t have to waste an entire day deciding.

How to prioritize emotion over posing, so you can have heartfelt photos that show the love and connection between you two.

Mindset tips so you can show up as yourself, which means you can enjoy your session feeling beautiful and confident.

Capturing the Magic of Your Engagement
You are embarking on a special moment in your life—you are ENGAGED! First off, congratulations! I'm so happy you are reading this blog right now. You want to start this journey the best way you can, prepared and with the right intentions.
Engagement photos are a special experience because the bond you share with your partner deserves to be celebrated, honored, and beautifully documented. A pre-wedding session is perfect not just to celebrate your engagement but to help you feel more at ease with the paparazzi vibes of being in front of a camera. Think of it as a warm-up for your wedding day in a more private setting. Whether you are having a small or big wedding celebration, this session will be a highlight to remember on this journey.

2. The Power of Being Yourself

Ultimately, you want your engagement photos to feel and look like yourselves. There are many photography styles out there, and you probably have an aesthetic in mind for your photos. However, authenticity is key, so just be you! This might seem obvious, but it can be hard to achieve with a camera in front of your face or worrying that you won’t look “good enough.” This is where hiring the right professional comes into play! Your photographer will know how to bring YOUR personality into your photos. They’ll ensure you look your best and FEEL confident. This requires someone who can get to know you a bit beforehand and capture your personality in your photos.

You want to feel CONFIDENT, look good, and FEEL good. Show up to your session like Beyonce—confident and gorgeous in every way. Be yourself. Seriously, don't hold back. If you are goofy, then be goofy. If you are introverted, no need to be jumping around—you can be chill and still document beautiful moments. The most breathtaking, emotional, and fun engagement sessions I've done were because couples embraced that mindset and let go.

Remember, you are creating art together. Teamwork makes the dream work. Embrace the little moments of creativity and spontaneity, and I promise you’ll be amazed at how comfortable you’ll feel and the results you’ll get.

3. Where to Shoot: Choosing Your Ideal Setting

Don’t choose a session on Mount Everest if you’ve never hiked before—similarly, don’t try to be the cool city couple if you grew up on a farm and love animals and the beauty of nature. My best advice is to pick a place that is meaningful for the two of you. Maybe it’s your favorite spot around town, or a destination engagement shoot at a place where you’re going to vacation and have always wanted to visit. It could be your favorite beach if you enjoy the sunset vibes, or during sunrise if you are early birds.

Choosing an environment that reflects who you are as a couple will play a crucial part in how your session turns out, influencing the mood and essence of the photos. Also, you don’t have to choose by yourself—ask your photographer for advice. They’ve shot in many different environments and will know how to guide you best.

4. What to Wear - Making The Right Choices

Dressing for Success

Here we are, the part you’ve all been waiting for... Am I right? Well, here it goes.

Make comfort a priority when choosing your outfit. Whether you’re going for a more "dressed-up" look or a combo of jeans for a streetwear vibe, make sure it fits you nicely and feels comfy. Why is this important? Because if you feel comfortable, you’re going to look comfortable—and the opposite is also true. I am far from a fashion expert—I grew up wearing chancletas back in the Dominican Republic all the time. However, I do have a special sixth sense when it comes to aesthetics and interpreting mood through outfits and locations.

I’ll break down some guidelines here so it feels natural for you to think about what to wear right away:

Complement the Environment

Locations and outfits go hand in hand. When choosing your outfit, we want to harmonize with the location's tones, colors, and textures. Aim for simple and minimal layers, subtle color variations, no patterns, and minimal accessories. This way, the focus remains on the emotions and the location, without any distractions.

Colors & Patterns

Avoid big, loud, chunky, crazy patterns and logos. The smaller or more subtle, the better! I usually try to avoid pairing too many patterns because it makes the photos feel a little hectic and distracting from your faces and the location. Also, be sure to iron your clothes beforehand so there aren’t huge wrinkles distracting from your faces either!

As for colors, I typically recommend more neutral, earthy tones. The good news is that there are neutrals for every single color. Choose colors that are complementary to your skin tones.

5. What To Have on Hand

I always recommend bringing a few outfit options if you're up for it. Your photographer can help you choose the best ones for each location so everything looks great together. This way, your outfits will complement the environment and keep the focus on you two, not on any distractions (which can sometimes be your clothes!).

A simple change, like adding a jacket, swapping shoes, or going from a dress to pants, can give a different vibe to the photos. If you'd rather keep it simple with one outfit, that's totally fine too.

6. Emotion over Posing - Letting Your Love Shine Through

We’re often unsure about how to strike a pose for photos, aren’t we? Questions like “What do we do with our hands?” or “Where should we look?” can make us feel self-conscious in front of the camera, but there’s no need to panic.

Remember, this is about your love and your special bond. We are using photography to capture that unique connection that only you two share. There’s no need to do anything awkward or uncomfortable that doesn’t align with your personality! Everyone has different comfort levels with public affection. Ease into each moment with the prompts and directions your photographer provides, rather than sticking to rigid poses.

7. Making the Most of Your Session Day

Take it easy that day! You won't be your cutest, most genuine selves after a long, stressful day of running errands. Grab lunch, get a drink, and relax doing something you both enjoy. When you meet for the shoot, you'll be filled with love and excitement for each other, not just ticking off another wedding to-do. And why not make a date out of it after our session? When you look back at the photos, I want you to remember the wonderful day you spent together.

8. Relax and Enjoy the Moment

The last time you had your picture taken by a “pro,” it probably felt really awkward—or maybe it was just to update your 10-year-old LinkedIn profile picture. Well, this time won’t be like that! The first few minutes are for easing into the mood, getting used to the camera, and forgetting about the photos. Let the excitement and emotions flow naturally. Remember, you’re not letting anybody down; your photographer is there FOR YOU!

This isn’t just about taking pretty pictures, but about having a damn good time and documenting this moment in your life like you deserve. So, relax, enjoy the session, and trust that your photographer will capture genuine, beautiful moments.

Enjoy the evening, and remember that this experience is about celebrating your love and capturing it authentically. Embrace the moment, be yourselves, and let the photos reflect the joy and connection you share. You deserve to have these memories preserved in a way that truly resonates with who you are.