A lot of clients share the same anxious concern with me before their engagement session: What if my fiancé doesn’t enjoy it? What he’s really not feeling the whole PDA thing and what if he’s got a cheesy half-smile pinned to his face the entire time and then our photos don’t turn out?

These questions come as no surprise to me and they are certainly not unfounded. I totally get it, because I had the same slight concerns about my own engagements! I wasn’t sure if Jacob would really have fun, and that’s what I wanted more than anything. Grooms are usually a little less comfortable with the concept of a professional photographer snapping pictures of them while they try to casually snuggle with their baby doll.

Luckily, I have lots of experience communicating with and photographing grooms in a non-intrusive way so they feel comfortable and the photos turn out exactly how you were hoping. Today I wanted to post a few tips that brides can share with their shy fiancé to help ease his concern about what to expect and how to have a successful photoshoot.

Eat enough food before the session. Make a whole date night out of the evening of your engagements! Likely we’ll be shooting right around dinner time, but you should grab a bite to eat before heading over to your session. Don’t gorge, and opt for water instead of soda, but make sure your boo’s belly is full. It will keep hunger pains from causing any crankiness.
Let your fiancé participate in the outfit choosing. I understand the desire for a cohesive color palette (trust me!), but there is also something to be said for the comfort and confidence you can feel in a favorite clothing item. Talk to your fiancé and allow him to choose the items he wears. Communicate your desire for a cohesive look and finalize your outfit choices together so you can both wear clothing that is comfortable and flatters your shape. Pro tip: if you’re struggling to pair certain colors or patterns, opt for a neutral match or base! Neutrals always look good together and on camera.
Tell me a bit about your groom before the session. I’d love to make sure your main man is as comfortable around me as you are -- after all, I’m going to be there during some of his most memorable life moments, and I want him to feel safe and secure with me there to capture those special times! Tell me his favorite teams/hobbies/his major and I’ll handle the small talk from there!
Prepare him beforehand by communicating about your expectations. A lot of tussles and small arguments are avoided simply by recognizing that you’re setting yourselves up for discord by not communicating your expectations (and that goes for your marriage, too!). By communicating what you want out of this session in advance, your fiancé can have a chance to hear you and ask questions before the shoot, where he might feel put-on-the-spot if he’s learning for the first time he’s expected to kiss you in front of someone else repeatedly. You might want to show him a few engagement sessions you really liked from your favorite photographer so he can have a visual of what you’re after.

I hope these tips will help you both prepare for your shoot so our potential for a successful session is unmatched! I can’t wait to capture your love soon!