An engagement session does two jobs. It gives you photos for save-the-dates, your wedding website and the walls of your home, and it gives you a low-pressure rehearsal with your photographer before the wedding day. Couples who do one usually feel much more relaxed in front of the camera when it counts. Here is how to plan a session in North Carolina.
When to schedule your session
If you want photos for save-the-dates, work backward from when you plan to mail them. Leave time to receive the edited gallery and design and print the cards. Our wedding planning timeline shows where save-the-dates fit. Otherwise, many couples schedule their session a few months before the wedding, while the excitement is fresh and there is still time to use the photos.
- Season: North Carolina's spring blooms and fall color are popular backdrops, while summer brings lush green and long evenings, and winter offers quieter locations and soft light.
- Time of day: most photographers prefer the hour or two after sunrise or before sunset for warm, flattering light. Ask your photographer what they recommend for your location.
- Weather: pick a rain date when you book, especially in seasons with afternoon storms.
Choosing a setting that feels like you
The best locations mean something to you or match how you like to spend time together. North Carolina gives you a lot of range within a few hours' drive:
- Downtown streets and murals in cities like Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte for an urban, editorial feel.
- Gardens, campuses and historic sites for flowers, brick and architecture.
- Mountain overlooks and trails near Asheville and Boone for big views. Plan for cooler temperatures and changing weather at higher elevations.
- Beaches and marshes near Wilmington and the Outer Banks for soft coastal light. Wind and tide times matter here.
- Somewhere personal: your favorite coffee shop, the place you met, a family farm or your own home with your pets.
Some parks, gardens, campuses and historic sites require a permit or a fee for professional photography, or limit where you can shoot. Ask your photographer to check the rules for your location before the day, rather than finding out when you arrive.
What to wear
Wear clothes you feel great in and can move in. A few guidelines photographers often share:
- Coordinate rather than match. Choose a color palette that suits your location, and avoid identical outfits.
- Solid colors and simple textures usually photograph better than busy patterns, small prints and large logos.
- Bring a second outfit if your photographer allows a change, such as one casual look and one dressier one.
- Think about footwear for the terrain. Carry comfortable shoes for walking to the spot, and change for the photos.
- Consider professional hair and makeup. Many couples book their engagement session for the same day as their trial, so they can see how the look photographs.
Making the session feel natural
Most people feel awkward for the first few minutes, and good photographers expect that. They will give you simple prompts, like walking together, whispering something to each other or sharing a laugh, rather than stiff poses. A few things help:
- Plan for an hour or two, and do not stack other plans tightly afterward.
- Bring a meaningful prop or activity, like your dog, a picnic, a favorite game or your morning coffee.
- Tell your photographer what you love and dislike about photos of yourselves, so they can work toward what you will enjoy.
- Treat it as a date. The more you focus on each other, the less you notice the camera.
Questions to ask your photographer
- Is an engagement session included in my package, or is it an add-on? How long is it, and how many edited images are included?
- Do you have favorite locations in our area, and will you check permits and rules for the place we choose?
- How long until we receive the gallery, and can we print the images or use them on save-the-dates?
- Is there a travel fee if we choose a location farther away, such as the mountains or the coast?
Our guide to choosing a wedding photographer covers styles, packages and contracts in more detail, and if you want motion as well as stills, see whether you need a wedding videographer.
Using your engagement photos
Once your gallery arrives, choose a favorite for your save-the-dates and wedding website. Our guide to wedding invitations and stationery covers timing and design. Engagement photos also work well for a welcome sign or a guest book. When you are ready to find a photographer, you can browse wedding photographers by city or search the directory.