Ideas for "engagement photos"

annie912

Basically, I wanted to do a test run with our photographer to get an idea of her personality (she's actually a friend of my ex, long story) and give her a chance to see the house since that's where the wedding will be too and she can get some ideas of what she thinks would work in advance.

Anyway, this isn't our first wedding, neither one of us are really "romantic" types, I'm 33 and he's 45. A lot of the really cute engagement photos I've seen are in parks, have props and the subjects are 10 or 15 (or more) years younger than we are. Any suggestions on clothing/poses/etc? I don't want us just sitting straight-faced in front of the fireplace but I don't want us looking foolish either.

Did any of you even do engagement photos the second time?

Opie&Bubbles

Honestly, be yourselves and have fun! Go to a park, if she is really a good photographer she will be able to capture the essence that is the two of you! I didn't do photos the first time around, but I am doing photos this time. I'm dead set on having the wedding I've dreamed of this time. 

My auntie got married last year and they did photos. She was 35 and he was in his 40's, they went to the park with a friend of mine who is an amazing photographer and she got some amazing shots of them. Go somewhere open and where you can have fun. It's always weird at first, but if the photographer is a good one you will relax and have an amazing way to remember your engagement.  

squarepeg72

We did a family/engagement session and had a blast. Our photographer was great about juggling groups(my three kids and his niece) and get someone great shots. Just talk to your photographer about what you want and go with the flow.

annie912

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_ideas-engagement-photos?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:811377de-b739-4d6a-a02e-c2ff46c44dc8Post:db74111f-80df-4e3d-a871-9ff964f4916f">Re: Ideas for "engagement photos"</a>:
[QUOTE]I would make the photo the real you.  Get comfy on the couch the way you would on a Wednesday night, and let the photographer capture it.  Wear your usual clothes, well maybe not your sweats or jammies, but your weekend clothes.  Settle in & let it be.  If the light is wrong, the background puts flowers growing out of your head or the pillows clash with your shirt, the photographer should be able to get a sense of who you are and relocate you to where it works better.  The best engagement photos I have seen 1st or 31st wedding, looked very natural, not posed and captured the joy these two people feel about preparing to be married.  ~Donna
Posted by right1thistime[/QUOTE]

Thanks! This was what I had in mind, except I probably will go out and buy something new - I'm always looking for an excuse to shop. I wanted to do the pictures at home because I didn't want them to feel too posed - kind of like us in real life minus the sweats!  I guess I was just looking for someone to tell me that was okay.

ETA - clarity

right1thistime

Oh, definitely buy new clothes.  I just wouldn't buy matchy-matchy outfits or something that you are not going to be comfortable in.   Putting a flannel shirt and jeans guy in a button down shirt and knife pressed chinos will just make the photo look fake when your friends & family look at it, and to you - down the road when you look back on it.  ~Donna

Opie&Bubbles

Oh my goodness I just re-read your post and didn't realize that you had said the photos are happening at your house! I agree with the PP totally! 

Sue-n-Kevin

We wore white shirts (mine fitted cotton with buttons, his a white polo) and blue jeans.

Not sure what your front or back yard is like, but outdoor pictures with natural light tend to be quite flattering. The reason I say this is because I'd assume although you are getting married in your home, you may have some outdoor pics with larger groups. See how the photographer does that, etc. 

 Do you have a garden swing or bench? Set it somewhere with a nice background in your yard or porch. Or you could think of props from inside your house like a rocker, or toasting champagne glasses, or something like that.

annie912

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_ideas-engagement-photos?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:811377de-b739-4d6a-a02e-c2ff46c44dc8Post:87584e56-6dd5-499d-8919-ba19af0cca71">Re: Ideas for "engagement photos"</a>:
[QUOTE]We wore white shirts (mine fitted cotton with buttons, his a white polo) and blue jeans. Not sure what your front or back yard is like, but outdoor pictures with natural light tend to be quite flattering. The reason I say this is because I'd assume although you are getting married in your home, you may have some outdoor pics with larger groups. See how the photographer does that, etc.   Do you have a garden swing or bench? Set it somewhere with a nice background in your yard or porch. Or you could think of props from inside your house like a rocker, or toasting champagne glasses, or something like that.
Posted by Sue-n-Kevin[/QUOTE]


Great idea!  We are actually get married out in the yard (weather permitting) so some outside shots were part of the plan. And we (FINALLY!) got some snow - I'm kind of excited to get some pictures of us pelting each other with snowballs!

handfast4me

We're weird.  But we did want it reflect us, and our history and heritage.  We did ours in full Scottish 18th Century dress, he in kilt (US army tartan--his history) and me in chemise, bodice and tartan (I'm the Scottish one).   And to make it even better, we did it in an historic cemetery here in Atlanta (Oakland cemetery).  It was a blast, and we have more pictures up around our house of that than from our wedding. 

Make it your own. 

annie912

Just wanted to update - had the pictures done this afternoon and we had a ball! The photographer was very easy to work with and she just emailed me a couple of the pictures. The CD with the images should be done in about 2 weeks. The ones I saw so far look great - we look very relaxed and very much like ourselves. Hope the rest turn out as well. 

Thanks for all the advice!