You’ve said yes to marrying the love of your life, you have your venue booked, and your photographer chosen, so next you need to take your engagement portraits to announce to the world to save-your-date!!

Getting behind the camera can be nerve-wracking! I photograph others for a living, but get stressed anytime it’s my turn to have a photo or two taken. So, I understand the way you’re feeling!! Rather than stress out the whole time, try to relax and have fun! If you’re uptight and not showing your real self, your photos will mirror that. It’s my job to help you relax behind the camera, so here are a few tips that I think will help:

01. Plan Your Outfits In Advance

There is nothing more stressful than trying to find the perfect outfit to wear the MORNING of your photoshoot. Just don’t do it!! At least a month before your session, go shopping and find something (or more than one thing) that you feel comfortable and confident in. Guys are easier to dress, just have them throw on some neutral colors and they should match whatever outfit you have picked out just fine.

The week of your session, try your outfit(s) on again just to make sure you still love the way you look in them and that they don’t have any visible tears or stains. During this time, go ahead and plan your accessories as well to make sure you have everything that you need.

Having a hard time finding something? Check out these cute dresses on Amazon!

White Flowy Maxi Dress , Short Tulle Dress (like the one from this photoshoot), and Long Pastel Pink Dress

02. Prep Your Man

Besides having his outfit planned, you need to prep your man mentally before the session. Sit down for just a few moments and really tell your man how important these images are to you! Show him some sample ideas off Pinterest or my Instagram, to give him an idea of what he should expect during the photoshoot. Honestly, most guys come into their session nervous and uncomfortable not knowing what is about to happen. Educating them on what they should expect, what you expect of them, and how much these mean to you should help the photoshoot go extra smoothly!

03. Treat Yourself

Now is the time to get your hair done, your nails fixed up (there will DEF be close up photos of your ring), your brows done, a facial, anything to help you feel your absolute best! You can even make it a girls day with your MOH and talk wedding plans the whole time.

If you want to get a spray tan, I recommend getting one at least a week in advance. Natural skin color photographs beautifully, and sometimes spray tans can have an orange hue to them that doesn’t look as flattering in photos. But, the choice is up to you! I have some girls who wouldn’t be caught dead having photos taken without a spray tan first and I totally understand.

04. Make A Day Out Of It

This is suppose to be a FUN day and experience! So, take the day off and spend the morning with your fiancé getting ready together, drinking a glass of wine (or beer) to help settle the nerves, leaving in plenty of time, and plan a fun date for after the session. You’re already going to be all dressed up, so you may as well take advantage and go to a nice restaurant that you’ve been wanting to try!

Back to leaving on time, you do not want to be stressed out and fussing at each other on the way to your photoshoot. Instead, leave with 10-15 extra minutes to ensure you’re there on time and not arguing over the fastest route to take!

05. Bring A Fun Prop

Bringing a small prop can add personality to your photos. Something as simple as a hat, some champagne, flowers, or letters to read to one another can really add to your session. You can also plan something elaborate if you want, like a full on picnic or vintage car. The options are endless!

One prop I always keep in the back of my car is clear umbrellas. The weather is very unpredictable down here in the south, so I keep them just in case we divert to taking fun rainy engagement photos!

Overall, you just need to relax and go with the flow. Putting time and effort into planning things in advance will help keep you calm and ready to let your personality shine! Wearing a cute outfit and spending quality time with your fiancé will make all the difference!