Prepping For Your Engagement Photos

By Sophie Fleetwood

Let’s be real ladies; your engagement photos are a big deal. They’re photos that you’ll treasure for a lifetime, photos that you’ll hang or frame in the first house or apartment you share with your new hubby, and photos that will always remind you of the love and happiness that you and your groom share together. Phew! That’s a lot of pressure riding on one photo session, right? Of course, you’ll want to look your best for these special photos. So, maybe you’re wondering, what can I do to prepare for these engagement photos? IndyBride2B has the answers. Keep scrolling for tips and tricks to help you prepare for your photo session. There are several little things you can do leading up to the photo shoot that will leave you feeling radiant when it finally comes time to snap those pictures.

Outfits

First things first, select what you will be wearing for your photo shoot! Most photographers will give you and your groom three outfit changes during a session so make sure you plan accordingly! Give yourself plenty of time to find a few outfits that make you feel beautiful and most like yourself. But, keep in mind that these outfits should match what your fiancé is wearing. The simplest way to do that is to find what you’re wearing first and then have your fiancé match his outfits to yours.

Here are some tips to help you and your future groom match for the photos:

Book a Trial

If you’re getting your hair or makeup done for your engagement photos, be sure to have a trial run with your makeup artist or hairdresser. By doing this before your shoot, you’ll have a clear picture of how you’ll look for the photos. This is also helpful because it gives you the time you need to change anything you don’t like about how your makeup or hair turned out. Then, next time it’ll be exactly how you like it for your photos.

Or maybe when it comes to hair and makeup, you’re like me. I just don’t feel as beautiful when somebody else does it for me. I think it has something to do with the fact that in general, I’m incredibly picky, and I also don’t like change. So, my fear of somebody doing my hair and makeup entirely different from my norm is probably enough for me to want to do my own hair and makeup, no matter the occasion. So, if you aren’t hiring a hairdresser or a makeup artist, get on YouTube, watch some tutorials, and then do your own hair or makeup trial. This way, you’ll have some experience with creating your desired look before the day of your photos which will reduce stress and make the getting ready process a whole lot easier.

Skin

About a month before your photos, enhance your skin care regimen. The last thing any Bride2B wants is an unsightly blemish popping up on the day of her photo sesh. Of course, you’ll have makeup to cover it up, and there’s always Photoshop, but that doesn’t mean that a breakout won’t throw off your mojo when it comes time for the photo shoot. Keep your blemishes at bay my ramping up your skin care routine. Try using a face mask 1-2 times a week and exfoliate those dead skin cells away 2-3 times a week. Every morning you should be using a facial cleanser and moisturizing. Make sure to drink lots of water to keep your skin hydrated. Another quick fix that you can add to your skin care regimen is the pore strip. Pore strips remove those pesky blackheads, leaving your nose smooth, and your pores unclogged. If you keep up with this routine, your skin will be glowing for your photos.

Here's an example of a great, daily skin care regimen:

Photo by Gurl

Make an Appointment

Save yourself the regret of a chipped or smudged manicure in your photos and get them done at the salon. Before your photos, make a mani-pedi appointment for either the day of the photoshoot or the day before. You want your nails to look perfect for this shoot, so you want the day you hit the salon to be close to the day of your photos. The more time you have in between your appointment and your photo shoot, the more time your nails have to get chipped.  And don’t forget those toes, especially if you’re wearing sandals in your shoot! If you’re wearing boots or something that will cover your toes, then you can skip the pedicure, but the manicure is a must!

Sweat It Out

You want your body to look its best for these photos so if you don’t already have a workout routine in place, try adding one into your schedule. Try sticking to an exercise routine for a few months in advance of your photo shoot. Tone up your arms with a few weight lifting exercises using dumbbells. And don’t forget those squats ladies! Another easy thing you can do is just take a walk. You can do this with your fiancé too! Couples that workout together stay together! Take a 30-45 minute walk a few times each week and your body will thank you for it!

Let’s See Those Pearly Whites!

Consider getting some teeth whitening kits for you to try at home. Find a brand that works for you and whiten your teeth for a few weeks before the photo shoot. Your smile will be whiter and brighter so you can flash that gorgeous smile for the camera as much as you want to!

Kissed by the Sun

A porcelain skin tone is beautiful for photos, and no rule says you have to be tan to look good. But, for me, I always like pictures of myself more when I have a little bit of a tan. So, if it’s warm and sunny out, slather on some SPF and swing by the pool to catch some rays. Or you can hit up the tanning bed, go in for a spray tan, or try your own sunless tanner lotion at home. There are lots of great brands out there like Jergens Natural Glow sunless tanner.

Stick to these tips before your photo shoot and you’ll be the best version of you once it’s time to snap those pics! Keep up with your workout routine, skin care regimen, and everything in between and you’ll be good to go for a fabulous photo shoot! Tag us in one of your engagement photos on Instagram @IndyBride2B

Happy Planning!