While all of our couples cite beautiful wedding day photography as one of their top priorities, having a photographer shadow you for the day can feel unnatural and a bit intimidating. As with most things, practice makes perfect, which is why we suggest scheduling an engagement photo session to get comfortable in front of the camera whenever possible.
To get an expert’s take, we chatted with Kelly Kollar of Kelly Kollar Photography about the importance of engagement photos, location, wardrobe and how to set the stage for a picture perfect engagement shoot!
Q: How did you become a wedding photographer?
I always loved photography growing up and would spend my free time in the dark room at my high school, mostly developing overly dramatic black and white photos of horses and barns in rural Virginia. I applied directly to the photo program at NYU and graduated in 2009, not sure of what I wanted to do with my degree. I dabbled in photojournalism and photo editing for magazines (all while waitressing at night), but I never loved any of it. I was lucky enough to answer a craigslist job posting for a wedding photography assistant in Brooklyn, which was my first serious experience with weddings. I quickly grew to love it and started booking by own small weddings. A few years later I quit the magazine, stopped waitressing and began to photograph weddings full time.
Q: Why do you recommend that couples take engagement photos?
Earlier in my career I didn’t really like engagement sessions because I had seen so many cheesy ones and didn’t realize what was possible. But over time I learned that what truly makes a photographer great is the ability to put their subjects at ease and capture their unique personalities, and in the case of engagement sessions, the couple’s connection with each other. I now recommend engagement sessions because they give your photographer a chance to get to know you as a couple. It’s also a perk for you to realize that it’s actually really fun getting a little snuggly and celebrating your relationship! Beyond that, it’s an unparalleled way to capture a little slice of your life when you are young and in love, which I think is really cool.
Q: What makes the fall such a popular time for engagement photos?
Fall is really popular for two main reasons. The first is obvious – the fall foliage in the North East is stunning. The second reason is that a lot of couple’s will book their photographer in the spring or summer, but then not quite get their act together for an engagement session until the fall, when they realize that winter is coming and don’t want to shoot in the middle of the freezing NYC winter!
Q: What time of day do you suggest couples schedule their engagement session?
The key to beautiful engagement photos is lighting. Soft light makes all the difference and you can find this light either at sunrise or an hour before sunset, known as the “magic hour.” Mid-day sun is directly overhead, creating harsh shadows which most photographers can’t stand. To get those dreamy, soft tones, stick to when the sun is much lower in the sky, either as it’s rising or setting.
Q: How formal should couples dress for their engagement photos?
Generally, I suggest one more formal look and one slightly more casual. I usually describe the perfect formal look as what you’d wear to an expensive, new restaurant in the city or maybe to a friend’s backyard wedding. You want to look like yourselves on a really awesome date night. When I recommend a second more casual look, I don’t really mean that casual…you still want to look stylish and put together. Think about what you’d wear to a trendy brunch in SoHo or a Hampton’s BBQ. You want to love both of your looks and feel excited about getting to wear those outfits!
Q: What should couples keep in mind when selecting colors to wear?
As a really loose rule, I tend to recommend neutrals as they always photograph well. That said, rules were made to be broken and some of my favorite engagement session looks have been bold red dresses or even a funky pattern. What I don’t recommend is playing it too safe. If you are going to wear neutrals, make sure the outfit has some flare, whether that be bold jewelry or a statement shoe. A lot of brides-to-be also think they have to wear white for the engagement photos and they definitely shouldn’t feel that way. White can be lovely but it’s also the color you’ll be wearing in all of your wedding photos, so it can be fun to mix it up!
Q: How do you suggest couples achieve a cohesive look without twinning?
I think the key here is making sure your outfits match in terms of formality and overall style. If the bride-to-be looks preppy, then their partner should as well. Likewise, if her style is more bohemian, the couple should both be dressed in that general vibe. Same with formality level. In terms of colors, if one person is wearing a bold color, the other needs to make sure their outfit is more reserved so no colors clash. Alternatively, you could pick a general color tone (like warm autumn tones or light beachy neutrals) and stick to that.
Q: Any tips on how to stay stylish while dressing for chilly temps?
I generally don’t recommend scheduling your engagement session for the dead of winter since overcoats are pretty hard to style. That said, as it turns to late fall, a cute skirt and sweater combo or a stylish boot will look great! If you are shooting on a colder day, it’s better to embrace the season and dress weather appropriately than to freeze so you can relax and enjoy the shoot!
Q: Regardless of the season, what is your number one rule when dressing for an engagement session?
I have two very important rules for dressing for an engagement session (sorry, I can’t pick just one!). The first is to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing. If you are pulling at your dress or concerned your outfit isn’t flattering, those anxieties will show in the photos. The second is to have fun with it! Some photographers will tell you that timeless looks are always best, but I honestly think it’s ok to embrace trends and pick an outfit that makes you excited to be photographed. It’s supposed to be a fun experience, so wear what makes you happy!
