Spring into Engagements: Five Tips to Make your E-Session Shine

Collage of New England engagement photography by Ryan Richardson Photography

Are you ready for your Boston Engagement Session with Ryan Richardson Photography? If you're not quite feeling prepared (or if you've made a terrible mistake and have gone with another photographer), here are some quick tips for getting the most out of your engagement session - from planning to performing.

1. Dress for the Occasion. Think about the season and place as you prepare for your e-session. If it’s summer, make sure to dress appropriately so you and your fiancé aren’t getting sweat stains and red faces during the session (unless your session is themed around getting swole). If it’s in winter, wear bright colors so you don’t blend into the snow. Just be aware of these things so you are comfortable and your photos will look the best they can be. But don't just dress for comfort, remember that your choice of outfit can send a message like if you're casually cute or a sophisticated socialite.

2. Choosing the best session time: Later in the evening are the best times for a session because of the amazing "golden hour" lighting. If you have a session at noon, there is going to be harsh lighting and your photos will ultimately suffer. Technically there's also a "golden hour" in the morning but who feels bright-eyed and bushy-tailed enough to conquer the world at 5:30 AM?

3. Be prepared. Make a list of everything you need for your session – brush, lipstick, extra clothes, accessories, etc. Put them in the car and be ready to go. Along with that, get directions and a GPS, or smart phone, and program in the address of the session. You don’t want to get lost and cause unnecessary stress. Leave with plenty of time to spare. If you're early you can take a quick look around for cute spots you may have missed (or if you're in the city you can struggle to find parking, because that is the bane of every Boston Engagement session)

4. Be excited. This is also part of being prepared. If you’re excited, it can’t help but rub off on your partner. He or she loves you and gets excited when you’re excited. Your significant other can’t help but get excited, too. So build up the hype and let him or her know how important this is to you and how fun it will be. Check out our tips for getting them on board in a previous blog post.

5. Relax. Do not, I repeat, do not, stress out about this. This is supposed to be fun. I know you're worried about what you're going to look like, if the weather is going to cooperate, etc., but the more you stress, the more likely you’ll read stiff or uncomfortable on camera. The more relaxed you are, the better your photos will be. Do what you can to prepare for the session and leave the rest up to me. That’s what I’m here for, so just take a breath and relax. Hey, maybe this is a prime excuse to spring for that massage, or maybe set up your engagement session around a fun activity rather than just gazing soulfully into one another's eyes?

Ryan Richardson is a wedding and engagement photographer serving Boston and beyond; including Cape Cod Weddings, New England Weddings, Massachusetts Weddings and Rhode Island Weddings.