Hi friends! I am so excited to finally be able to share some of our favorite photos from our engagement shoot! When I was looking for a photographer I had a certain style I was looking for and we definitely had a budget! I must have asked about 15 photographers their prices (photographers are expensive, to be expected honestly) but I ended up with Lexi from Lex Photo and Film who had the right price but more importantly had the exact look that I wanted! I really loved more of that muted, moody look and she had it! Not only is Lex so talented but she also has the sweetest heart!
Planning the location of where we were going to take our engagement shots was a toughie! I am so naturally indecisive but Lexi was so patent with me and helped me make the perfect decision for us! Both David and I made the decision to have our pictures taken here in Queen Creek Arizona and it was the best fit! Because picking the location, outfits, etc. is a lot of work I thought I could share my experience and advice with you all!
H O W T O C H O O S E A P H O T O G R A P H E R.
This is probably the hardest part when it comes to your engagement pictures but the most important! To know what kind of photographer you will want, you need to know your style. Do you like more moody pictures like I do or do you like more light and airy?
Tip #1 Do your research on Instagram by searching hashtags. I used #azweddings #azphotographers #azengagementshoot #azweddingphotographer
Tip #2 When you think you like a photographer, follow their Insta page to make sure you still like it in a few weeks.
Tip #3 Email or message them and ask their prices and what it includes.
W H E R E T O H A V E I T.
I knew that I wanted my pictures to be in Arizona because, believe it or not, it is much more green and pretty than Las Vegas! From looking at different photographers and also where Lexi was shooting her couples I had a good selection of places in Arizona that I could choose from. I also looked on Pinterest for "Arizona Engagement Shoot Locations" and that gave me some pretty good options! Once I started talking to Lexi and sharing my vision with her she gave me a few great suggestions and I kept going back and forth about where to have it but after seeing this location, I was absolutely sold!
Tip #1 Ask your photographer for some of her favorite places to shoot
Tip#2 If you ask your photographer about locations she/he loves, you know they will be just as passionate about it as you are!
H O W T O C H O O S E O U T F I T S.
For our outfits, I wanted to make sure that we weren't too dressed up. I really loved that casual, comfortable look (this will also help you act comfortable and natural during the shoot!) For our first outfit I wanted it to look like it was Fall and to be fair it was in October but it was 90 degrees in AZ so that was not fun! I rarely am wearing clothing with color so for our engagement shoot, I really wanted it to feel like us on a normal day because those pictures are timeless!
Tip #1 Think of the vibe you want, and wear something to reflect that
Tip #2 Wear something that you are really comfortable in and can be yourself in
Tip #3 Pick two outfits for him and her (this will give you really good variety)
Tip #4 Pick 1 casual outfit and 1 fancier outfit (but remember you still want to feel comfortable in it) Think also of what your two outfits and his two outfits will look like together. Try to coordinate with both outfit changes
Tip #5 Think of your location and the scenery and pick outfits that will match nicely
E X T R A E X T R A.
I just wanted to add a few last tips you may need when planning and taking your engagement pictures.
Tip #1 Have fun, be natural, and let loose! It can be kind of intimidating and awkward having someone capture some of your most intimate moments with your fiancé but remember you will have these pictures for the rest of your lives and you want to remember the fullness of your love for each other so don't hold back!
Tip #2 Start to build a relationship with your photographer. The engagement shoot is a perfect time to do that! Have fun with them and joke around because the looser you are with them, the more fun and laid back your wedding will be! As soon as I started talking to Lexi I knew she was the sweetest ever and so awesome! I cant wait for her to be apart of our wedding day and I totally trust her eye and her vision!
Well, I hope these tips were helpful for you and if you have any questions please reach out! I love wedding talk! If you have any additional tips please leave them below!
Shop our outfits down below. Jumpsuit is from Bohme.com
