You’ve pictured your lives together and now you’re sharing that news with everyone special to you both. There’s nothing like engagement portraits to commemorate this epic moment in your lives. Seeing how most of us aren’t born camera ready, We wanted to share some easy tips to make your engagement portrait experience awesome and stress-free.

1. Make an evening of it. Start with coffee or a drink before your session so the two of you to connect and unwind before getting in front of the camera. Then plan a great dinner date for after the session. You can take the occasion to celebrate your engagement in a way that’s special for the two of you. And heck, you’re dolled up and looking fabulous, time to hit the town together.

2. Schedule hair and make up for your session. You can do anything from making an appointment at a makeup counter, a blow dry bar or hire a professional hair & makeup artist to do it all. Looking fresh and beautiful will give you confidence for your portraits and your images won’t need retouching if you have had a recent breakout or skin problem.

3. Plan your outfits a few days in advance so you won’t feel rushed the day of the session. Take care of whatever dry cleaning, laundry or shopping that needs to be done. You can take the opportunity to buy a fabulous dress that you can use for a bridal shower, bachelorette party or honeymoon. Want something extra special for your shoot: use Rent the Runway, shop Amazon or Shein or borrow something fabulous from a friend.

4. Chose clothes that fit well and flatter. Baggy and oversized clothing doesn’t photograph as well as clothes that fit a little closer. Chose flattering necklines since many of your photos will be shot close up. And go for outfits that compliment each other or coordinate instead of matching. The 90s fad of white shirts and denim are long, long gone.

5. Budget for prints, canvases and albums. What’s the point in hiring a professional photographer and to never print a single image? You’re hiring us for more than a facebook profile photo. We recommend creating an engagement album – it’s one of the best ways to showcase your favorite portraits from your session. There’s nothing better than holding prints in your hands and framed in your home. Photos are also a perfect gift for your parents or grandparents — it’s one thing they really want.

6. It’s OK to be basic or to be extra: just be you! Don’t feel like you have to trek to the top of the mountain or run through the sand dunes if that’s not your thing. You can do your engagement portraits at your favorite bar, your neighborhood, your home or ask the photographer for suggestions of places they love or they’re dying to photograph.

7. Trust your photographer. If you love their images, then you’ll love your images. They know most people aren’t comfortable in front of the camera, so their job is to set you at ease, to give you direction and to create something beautiful and fun from the connection you and your fiancé naturally share. It’s their job to make you look good and to create awesome portraits that celebrate the start of your family together.

Editorial and Photos: Allison Davis Photography