Having shot a great many engagement shoots, the recurring mistakes are rarely technical. Almost always, it’s direction and communication.
Leaving a client to figure out what to do with themselves, rather than directing constantly and gently, is the most common one, and treating every engagement shoot the same regardless of the brief runs a close second, since it skips the one question that actually shapes a good session: what the images are actually for. Going quiet after the shoot doesn’t help either.
None of these require more skill to avoid, just more attention to the person in front of the camera.
See also: Do I need to prepare anything before my engagement shoot?.
For everything this post didn’t cover, including current pricing, the Engagement Shoots page has the full picture, or reach out directly and ask.
FAQs
Straight answers below.
What if we feel awkward in front of the camera?
Almost everyone does at first. The session is built around walking and talking rather than posing, so it stops feeling like a photoshoot within the first ten minutes.
Can we use the images for save-the-dates or a wedding website?
Yes, that is exactly what most couples do with them. High-resolution files suitable for print come along with web-sized versions.
Further reading
Related reading below.
- The best time of year to book an engagement shoot in London
- How far ahead should you book an engagement shoot?
- Not happy with your engagement shoot images? What actually happens.
- Editorial vs traditional: which style suits your engagement shoot?
- What actually happens during a branding session, step by step