{"id":71973,"date":"2021-08-18T10:00:14","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T14:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=71973"},"modified":"2025-08-28T13:22:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T17:22:59","slug":"engagement-photography-ideas-and-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/engagement-photography-ideas-and-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Engagement Photography Tips for Incredible Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Aside from offering photographers an opportunity to capture incredible couples portraits, engagement photography sessions come packed with benefits. Most engagement session photographers also shoot the couple\u2019s wedding, making engagement sessions an integral part of a wedding photographer\u2019s workflow. As such, engagement sessions allow photographers to break the ice and work with the couple without the pressure of wedding timelines. In addition, photographers can use these sessions to try out new techniques for creating portfolio and award-worthy images. Of course, if the couple doesn\u2019t like the photos, there\u2019s more at stake than a typical shoot. It\u2019s important to make the most of the opportunities given. To help, we\u2019ve put together 10 engagement photography ideas and tips for capturing incredible photos at every session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Engagement Photography?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Engagement photography refers to photographs of couples who have just gotten engaged. It includes capturing snapshots during popping the question, artful couple portraits, and photo sessions celebrating the milestone. Engagement photos usually end as albums, large prints, or collages. They require good lighting, high-resolution image files, and perfect sharpness. However, they also require lots of creativity to avoid being clich\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 Engagement Photography Tips and Ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Open with the W.A.V.E.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I believe the best photos have less to do with technical proficiency and more to do with how well they resonate with clients. The only way to capture meaningful moments is to get to know your clients and understand what matters to them. For this, I created the W.A.V.E., or “wall art vision exercise.” It\u2019s simple to use and it\u2019ll help you deliver photos that exceed your clients\u2019 expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how to do the W.A.V.E.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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  1. During the initial meeting with your client, let them know you want to walk them through an exercise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Start by asking them to imagine a room in their home where they might hang a piece of artwork.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Next, ask them about what they\u2019re imagining. Where in the room would they hang the artwork? How big is the actual wall space (e.g., 4\u2019x5\u2019)?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Then, set guidelines for narrowing down their choice of artwork. Tell them they can only choose one image from the upcoming session, that it will cost roughly $3,000 (it doesn\u2019t have to be this amount, but we\u2019re looking for value), and that they will see and enjoy it every day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Once you\u2019ve explained the rules above, ask your client, \u201cWhat is the one photo from the session that you\u2019d choose to hang on the wall?\u201d You may have to walk them through the shoot and consider where it will be, what they\u2019ll be doing, whether it will look more candid or posed, and so on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. After the client answers, restate and elaborate on their vision.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Ask both people to answer these questions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The purpose of the W.A.V.E. is to uncover what the client’s truly value and desire from their photos.  It also gives you a good idea on what to focus on for the engagement session.  Lastly, it gives you an opportunity to reiterate and expand on their vision, showing that you understand their vision and values.  To be clear, the W.A.V.E. isn\u2019t a sales pitch, but it can lead to print sales down the line. Of all the engagement photography ideas and tips in this article, this is probably one of the most important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Plan Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n
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    \"engagement
    Photo by SLR Lounge<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Like most shoots, there\u2019s plenty to prepare for in advance. Here\u2019s a quick overview of some elements to consider when planning for an engagement shoot with your clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n