When should you take your engagement photos?
The short answer is: whenever it feels right for the two of you.
Some couples schedule their session almost immediately after getting engaged. Others wait until their wedding is only a few months away. Some need photographs for save-the-dates, while others simply want an evening together and photographs that capture this part of their story.
There isn’t one perfect month that works for every couple. Your wedding date, plans for the photographs, schedules and Florida weather can all help you decide.
Here are the questions I recommend considering.
Do you need the photographs for your save-the-dates?
If you want to use an engagement photograph on your save-the-dates, begin with the date you want to mail them and work backward.
You’ll need time for:
- Your engagement session
- Editing and gallery delivery
- Choosing your favorite photograph
- Designing and ordering the save-the-dates
- Printing and mailing them
Whenever possible, schedule your session at least two or three months before you want to send your save-the-dates. This gives you some breathing room if the weather requires us to reschedule or you need extra time to choose a design.
If you aren’t using the photographs for save-the-dates, you have much more flexibility.
How far before the wedding should you take engagement photos?
Many couples schedule their engagement session somewhere between six and twelve months before the wedding. That provides plenty of time to use the photographs on their wedding website, invitations, guest book or around the wedding reception.
But that is only a general guideline.
A session two or three months before your wedding can still be incredibly worthwhile. In addition to receiving photographs together, you’ll have the chance to become comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding day.
You’ll learn how I give direction, what helps you relax and which kinds of movement feel most natural. When the wedding arrives, being photographed will already feel familiar.
Consider the Florida season
Florida gives us beautiful outdoor locations throughout the year, but every season feels a little different.
October through April
These months usually bring cooler temperatures and lower humidity (well…sometimes). They are wonderful for gardens, downtown locations, parks and sessions that involve more walking.
Because the weather is comfortable, these dates can also be popular. If you want a fall, winter or early-spring session, it is helpful to schedule it in advance.
May through September
Summer sessions can be gorgeous, green and full of life. They can also be hot, humid and unpredictable.
During the warmer months, I usually recommend beginning close to sunrise or sunset instead of photographing during the hottest part of the day. We may also need to watch the forecast and stay flexible around afternoon thunderstorms.
That flexibility can be worth it. Summer skies can be spectacular, and warm water makes ending a beach session in the ocean much more inviting.
Think about the setting you want
The season may also affect which engagement-session location feels best.
If you picture tropical greenery, a garden may be lushest during the warmer months. If you want to walk through Downtown Melbourne, Eau Gallie or Park Avenue in Winter Park, cooler weather can make the experience more comfortable.
A breezy Melbourne Beach session may feel perfect in spring, while a cozy downtown session might suit a winter evening.
Your engagement photographs do not have to match your wedding venue or wedding season. A couple planning a ballroom wedding can choose the beach. A couple planning a beach wedding can choose colorful murals, historic streets or a garden.
The goal is to choose a place that feels like somewhere the two of you would enjoy spending time together.
Sunrise or sunset?
Most engagement sessions take place near sunrise or sunset because the light is softer and more flattering.
Sunset is usually the easiest choice. You don’t have to wake up before dawn, and the changing evening light gives us plenty of variety.
Sunrise can be a wonderful option when you want:
- A quieter beach
- Fewer people in the background
- Cooler summer temperatures
- The sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean
- An early session followed by breakfast together
The exact starting time changes throughout the year. Once we choose your date and location, I’ll help determine the best time for the light.
Should you coordinate the session with a hair and makeup trial?
You certainly can, but you don’t have to.
Scheduling your hair and makeup trial on the same day allows you to see how everything photographs before the wedding. It can also make the engagement session feel like a special occasion.
On the other hand, there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing your own hair and makeup and looking like an elevated version of yourself. Your engagement photographs should still feel like you.
If you are wondering what to wear, my guide to what to wear for engagement photos in Florida will help you coordinate your outfits without looking overly matched.
What if the weather changes?
Florida weather has opinions of its own.
I keep an eye on the forecast as the session approaches, but I try not to make a final decision too early. A forecast that looks terrible in the morning can turn into a beautiful evening.
If conditions are unsafe or the weather will prevent us from creating the kind of photographs you want, we’ll make a new plan. Sometimes that means adjusting the starting time, changing locations or rescheduling completely.
I once had an engagement session where we were chased off the beach by a huge storm. We rescheduled, waited for a better evening and ended up with a playful session that finished with the couple completely soaked in the ocean.
It was absolutely worth the wait.
Is it ever too late to schedule engagement photos?
No.
Even if your wedding is only a few weeks away, an engagement session can still give you time together, beautiful photographs and valuable practice before the wedding day.
You also don’t have to be newly engaged to book a session. Couples sessions can celebrate an anniversary, a new chapter or simply the fact that you would love photographs that feel like the two of you right now.
So, when is the best time?
The best time for engagement photos is when:
- You can be present instead of rushing
- The season fits the setting you want
- You have enough time if you need photographs for save-the-dates
- You can approach the session as something fun to do together
You do not need to know how to pose or arrive with a detailed plan. I’ll help you choose the location and time, guide you when you need it and leave plenty of room for the real connection between you.
Whether you want tropical gardens, colorful city streets, quiet river views or an evening that ends in the ocean, we can create a session that feels like you.
Liz Cowie Photography offers engagement and couples sessions in Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Vero Beach, Orlando and throughout Central Florida. All couples are welcomed and celebrated here.
Learn more about engagement sessions or contact me to begin planning.
