Every new engagement shoot that rolls through our Mango Studios immediately becomes my new favourite (until the next, and then the next, and the next…) This was no different when Alessia and Andrea graced my laptop screen with this enviable gallery.
Not only was the engagement shoot captured on farm property belonging to Andrea’s brother, but it also featured the sweetest four-legged beauty. Dogs, people in love, and crisp country air… If you can think of anything better, let me know. I’ll just be over here rolling in some grass taking pictures of couples and their dogs.
As I’m currently planning for my own engagement shoot in the next coming weeks, I’ve been combing through galleries looking for inspiration in every moment, movement, and feeling of the photographs.
Inspiration can be hard to come by sometimes, trust me, I’m well aware! As artists, this is something we are always constantly looking and yearning for, even subconsciously.
We also have to be very conscious of our couples as well, because they might not be as easily inspired or imaginative right out of the gate.
I find this bump in the road seems to surface most when it comes to posing. Posing can be really challenging. I mean, we are not all Naomi Campbells here. It might feel akward to be in front of a camera and become vulnarable. How do you look effortless and natural while posing? That is a fine art, my friends, and I think we may have cracked the code. Our dear Alessia and Andrea’s farm-fresh engagement shoot is easy proof of that.
I’m that girl that used to come to a photographer with a Pinterest page full of poses and pictures of EXACTLY the kind of pictures I wanted to be taken. From the windblown hair to the angle of a hand, I had it in my head what my pictures just had to look like.
It’s totally great to have ideas in your mind, but planning out a shoot from start to finish from pose to pose is not the way.
Here are some quick tips for posing/not posing/ and making your engagement shoot calm, cool, and collected.
Don’t be afraid of your clothes/props/furry friends
Utilize these elements to your advantage! Got a flowy dress? Let’s play around with it! Alessia had the perfect breezy dress for this shoot. We were able to use it as a prop to give her hands something to do, but it still looked natural and fun as it blew in the wind.
Don’t look at the camera
Okay maybe you can look at the camera, but only when we suggest you do! The best engagement shoot pictures come from those candid, in-between moments. Nothing’s candid about staring the lens down the barrel. Instead, keep your eyes on your partner. Find your future in those irises, and hold onto that feeling. Your facial expressions and head movements will come naturally from there. You may also cry, sorry not sorry about that! You said you wanted good pictures, right?
Alessia and Andrea’s engagement shoot showcases the best of both worlds when it comes to looking/not looking at the camera. Their goofy, passionate moments are captured perfectly when they’re embracing and looking at each other. Then, the stunning portraits and “looking-back” images of Alessia act as photographs that capture beauty and that Pinterest-perfect pose you’ve always dreamed of, just with a fresh new take.
After their engagement shoot and bridal shower, we’re over the moon excited to be capturing Alessia and Andrea’s wedding day at Evergreen Brickworks in September. No need to worry about posing for their wedding day, we know that they’re total pros.
