It’s so important to feel comfortable during your couples photo session so you and your partner can be 100% yourselves, be fully at ease, and focus on celebrating your relationship! Here are a few of my top tips for planning for your couples photoshoot from a photographer’s perspective!

Tip 1: Make a date out of it.

I recommend this for a few reasons. If you go into your photoshoot with the outlook that you’re just there to get dressed up and have some photos taken, chances are you may go into your photoshoot stressed out, hyper-focused on your appearance, wondering how to pose, etc. Instead, treat your photoshoot as a part of your date day or date night!

Depending on when you’re having your photos taken, go out for coffee and breakfast afterwards, hit a museum, go for a walk, or grab a drink after your sunset session to celebrate. Making it a date will ensure you and your partner are focused on enjoying each other’s company and your session will seem like more of an experience. A relaxed and playful environment always makes for better pictures!

Tip 2: Choose the right photographer.

Book a professional photographer that knows what they’re doing, and make sure you vibe with their editing style and personality. You shouldn’t have to be the one coming up with poses, prompts, and angles. Your photographer will help you so that you can just relax and enjoy yourselves. If you’re unsure of what editing styles you like, go creep through your photographer’s website and social media. While the subjects and location they shoot will change, and you shouldn’t expect your photos to be a replica of anyone else’s photos, their editing style will likely be consistent. (Is it warm and moody? Bright and airy? Colorful and fun? – What do you like about their photos?). Remember your photographer will have tips for planning your couples photoshoot and can collaborate with you to come up with fun ideas for your date night shoot!

Tip 3: Plan in advance so you aren’t scrambling on the way to your shoot.

Try on your outfits, including undergarments, in advance of your shoot. One big mistake I see as a photographer is that couples will buy brand new outfits for their photoshoot, and then realize once they get to the location that they weren’t aware their dress was see-through in certain lighting scenarios, or their dude’s shirt is a little too tight. This can lead to feeling stressed because they didn’t feel confident in their outfit like they had hoped. Wearing your outfits at least once before your shoot will give you confidence that you like how you look and feel in the moment, resulting in cool and confident photos!

Tip 4: Think about how your outfits will look together, and how they will look in the location you’re shooting at.

First things first: complementary colors. You don’t need to be head-to-toe matching with your partner for pictures to look great, but the colors you wear DO need to complement each other. The colors that photograph well are ‘neutrals’ – aim for earthy tones, beige, denim, cream, black, etc. and avoid any clothing with excessive patterns, graphics, or bright colors, unless that fits the vibe you’re going for! Second: Think through how your outfits will stand out against the backdrop of the location you are shooting at. If you’re taking pictures in a brown, grassy field and wearing all brown clothes, you as the subject probably won’t stand out much from the background. Still not sure what to wear? Ask your photographer to vote on what they think will look best! They’ll know based on experience which colors will photograph better than others.

Tip 5: Don’t do anything brand new to your appearance just for your photos.

Here’s what I mean:

⫸ If you’re getting a haircut before your shoot, make sure you do so at least a week in advance. There’s nothing worse than getting a haircut that you hate and not being able to do anything about it. (I’m sure we’ve all been there at least once before! haha)

⫸ If you don’t normally wear a ton of makeup or curl your hair, don’t wear a ton of makeup or curl your hair just for the sake of pictures. Your photos should reflect the real you, and you will feel most confident if you feel like yourself.

⫸ Getting your hair and makeup done specifically for your shoot? Choose an artist you trust and build in plenty of time to fix anything you don’t like (just in case). Any artist’s goal is to give you the best experience and exactly what you want, so don’t feel bad about being vocal about your vision.

Bonus tip: Last, and most important — HAVE FUN!

Speaking from a photographer’s perspective, the best pictures are almost always on the back end of your photoshoot, when you are both relaxed and are no longer feeling uncomfortable about having a camera pointed in your direction. My biggest piece of advice to my couples during a shoot is to focus on each other and be yourselves! If you are feeling awkward, don’t stress. 90% of my couples have said something along the lines of “I’m so awkward behind a camera!” (Including me!) Then they get their photos back and end up loving them. The recipe for truly great photos is to have fun with it, don’t take yourself too seriously, and focus on why you’re obsessed with your partner.

Want to book a couples shoot with me? Let’s do this!

I love brainstorming unique photoshoot date ideas that will result in fun, epic photos. Can’t wait to document your love story!

XO, Karissa