Engagement photoshoot ideas: poses, places and the ring

Engagement photoshoot ideas for natural poses

Couples who are new to the camera relax faster when they are doing something together. Poses that rely on action rather than holding still:

• Walk slowly towards the camera, holding hands and talking.
• Forehead to forehead, eyes closed, for three slow breaths.
• Slow dance without music, then with a twirl.
• Hug from behind, chin on the shoulder.
• Whisper something only your partner will laugh at.
• Piggyback or a lift for a less serious frame.

For camera-shy couples, look at each other rather than the lens, and keep talking. The first ten minutes are usually the stiffest, so start with a walk and leave the close portraits for later.

Ideas to show the ring

• Her hands crossed over his shoulders during a hug, ring towards the camera.
• Two hands linked, photographed close against a plain shirt or a jacket.
• The ring held in an open palm or resting on a book or a leaf.
• A hand on his chest or cheek during a kiss.

A clean, manicured hand and a plain background make the ring easier to see.

Location ideas by type

• Beach: Bloubergstrand puts Table Mountain across the bay; Llandudno has white sand and granite boulders. Walking in the shallows works in any season.
• Vineyards and farm roads: rows of vines, dirt tracks and open veld give long lines and warm tones.
• Gardens and forest: paths, benches and tree trunks, with open shade on bright days.
• City and architecture: old doors, steps, walls and quiet streets.
• Your own place: a coffee at home, cooking together or the couch with the dog.

Check with the venue or landowner before you plan a shoot around a particular spot.

Ideas with a personal meaning

• The place you met, had your first date or got engaged.
• A shared hobby: a hike, a surf, a bike ride or a game of tennis.
• Your dog, on a lead, with a second person to hold it.
• Recreating an old photo of the two of you.

Small objects help too: the coffee mugs you use every morning, a picnic basket or a favourite book. One or two are enough.

Seasonal engagement ideas in the Western Cape

• Spring: wildflowers on the West Coast and fresh green leaves in the vineyards.
• Summer: long evenings on the beach, or an early start before the south-easter picks up.
• Autumn: vine leaves turn yellow and red after the harvest, and the wind usually drops.
• Winter: these are the Cape's rainy months, so pick a dry spell or a covered spot, and use the soft, even light of an overcast day.

A season can also match the wedding: a spring shoot for a spring wedding gives save-the-dates the same colours as the day.

Outfit ideas for an engagement shoot

Plan two looks: one casual, one dressed up. Coordinate colours without matching them exactly. Solid colours and textures such as linen, knit and lace photograph better than logos or small checks. A long skirt or dress adds movement in the wind. Bring comfortable shoes for walking between spots.

Match the outfits to the setting. Linen and light colours suit a beach, earthy tones such as olive, rust and cream sit well in vineyards and veld, and darker, tailored clothes suit city streets and old doors. Iron everything the day before: creases show in close-ups.

Light and timing

The hour before sunset gives the softest light. In Cape Town that hour begins at roughly a quarter to five in midwinter and around seven in late December. In summer, early morning is often calmer than the afternoon south-easter.

With the sun behind you, light rims your hair and the background turns bright and soft. With the sun to one side, faces gain shape and texture. On a bright midday, open shade under trees or beside a building gives even light without squinting.

Using engagement photos

Engagement photos are often printed on save-the-dates, shown at the wedding on a welcome sign, or used in a signing guest book. Leave time to print and post save-the-dates after the shoot. An engagement shoot is usually covered by a wedding photographer in Cape Town as part of the wedding package or on its own. Costs are listed under photoshoot prices in Cape Town, or you can look through everything Lee-Ann photographs on the Cape Town photographer page.