A couple years ago I was photographing a dear couple’s engagement session and as I leaned in a little closer to get the shot of her gorgeous ring (and sign of a forever love), she shied away and pulled her hand off his shoulder. “Oh,” she said, “I totally didn’t even think about doing my nails. I’m so sorry.”

When I was driving home after the engagement session wrapped up, I wondered why she would apologize to me about her nails not being done. And then I realized that I had never clued her in about taking close-up shots of the ring on her finger. Well, that was a communication failure 100% all on me. I made her feel that she needed to apologize for something she didn’t even know to do!

Since then, over the years, I’ve noticed a couple of other things that help make engagement sessions that much sweeter & effortless experience.

So, I’ve boiled it down simply to 5 details/tips that I think help make your engagement photos extra special.

(if you’re wondering where to take these photos, check out the best Chicago engagement session locations and other tips on where to take your engagement photos)

1. Make a special evening out of it!

I love to do everything I can to make your engagement photos a special experience for the two of you. It’s a set-aside time where from my end, I limit the wedding-related talk so that the whole focus is on the two of you and your relationship. Try to enjoy the process of getting ready for the session together (I know this time can be stressful as you put everything together!), and be sure to give yourself the time you need in order to do so. Taking the day off of work, if possible, helps make the day even more special and stress-free. I also highly recommend making reservations for later in the evening after our time together. It’s just another excuse to enjoy time together while you’re dressed up and leave the wedding planning talk alone for an evening.

2. Get your hair and makeup done.

Leaving your hair and makeup to a professional makes a big difference in how you enjoy your engagement photos. It not only takes this added stressor off of your plate but also means that your makeup will be done in a way that translates the best on camera. It’s a win-win!

3. A brief bit on what to wear!

Not too long ago, my husband and I had our anniversary photos taken. I was agonizing over what to wear and spent many hours scouring Nordstrom and Rent the Runway and now I have an even greater understanding of picking out your outfits for your engagement session. Getting in touch with a bridal stylist is such a help (Gabbi is a fabulous resource!). But, in general, if it makes you feel beautiful, then that beauty will come through and you will photograph beautiful (not grammatically correct, but you get the picture)! How you feel wearing something plays a HUGE part in how you photograph and the emotions that you have as you look at the photos for years to come. I also wrote a two-part series all about what to wear to your engagement session and you can find part I and part II linked!

4. Pay attention to your nails!

As I mentioned, above, if you like to get your nails done, then before your engagement session is a great time! A beautiful neutral or bolder color that corresponds to your outfits is a perfect choice! A good file and a swash of clear polish alone can do wonders and make your beautiful ring pop even more.

5. Make sure you’re on time.

Finally, this might be the most important of them all, arriving on time for the session is key! Since I prefer to shoot engagement sessions in natural light, we are limited by the sun. So, if we lose 15 minutes at the beginning of the shoot, we lose 15 minutes of shooting with the sun and you can’t exactly make up that time. I want to make sure you’re able to relax, enjoy the experience, and get all the time we’d planned for without rushing against the sun.

Engagement sessions are dear to me because they can uniquely showcase who you are as a couple without all the demands of a wedding day timeline. So, hopefully, these 5 tips for your engagement photos help make it even more endearing.

Click below to peruse some of my favorite engagement sessions:
Lake Michigan Sailboat Photos
Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Engagement Photos
Romantic Beachside Engagement Photos