How to Plan Your Engagement Session with a Photographer

Apr 1

If you’re planning your wedding and starting to think about your engagement photos, you’re in the right place—especially if you're getting married in Denver, Colorado or the surrounding areas.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing the perfect location to feeling confident in front of the camera. As a Denver engagement photographer, my goal is to help you create a session that feels natural, meaningful, and truly you.

Do you really need an engagement session?
What to wear for your engagement session
How to Choose the Perfect Location
When to schedule your engagement session
Adding personal touches to your engagement session
Final Thoughts

Hi, I’m Lori Mack. I offer wedding, elopement, family, couple, and motherhood photography with a nostalgic, storytelling approach—capturing real, meaningful moments with intention and authenticity.
I’m a Denver-based wedding photographer, currently booking for 2026 and available for travel wherever your love story leads.

Do you really need an engagement session?

The short answer is yes—but not just for the reasons you might think.

An engagement session is so much more than just having beautiful photos for your save-the-dates or wedding website. It gives you space to slow down, connect, and get comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day. For many couples, this is the first time being professionally photographed together, and that alone can feel intimidating.

Working with a Denver engagement photographer before your wedding allows you to build trust and familiarity. You get to understand how your photographer guides you, how you naturally interact as a couple, and how it all feels to be documented in an intentional way. By the time your wedding day arrives, you’re no longer wondering what to do with your hands or how to stand—you’re simply present with each other.

What to wear for your engagement session

This is one of my favorite parts—your style.

There are so many “rules” out there about what you should or shouldn’t wear for engagement photos, but the truth is that most of them are just myths. You don’t need to dress a certain way or wear heavier makeup to look good in photos, the most important thing is that you feel like yourself, whether that means soft, romantic outfits or something more casual and playful, what matters is that it feels natural to you.

I always encourage my couples to choose outfits that move with them, that feel aligned with the setting, and that allow them to fully enjoy the experience without constantly adjusting or overthinking , If you find yourself constantly fidgeting with straps, hemlines, pants riding up, itching etc. consider wearing something else. Make sure you check yourself out in all angles so there are no surprises and have some friends that you trust give you honest opinions! We could have THE BEST time (and we probably will) on our shoot and you could feel great, but if you get the pictures back and there is some “unflattering” aspect of your outfit, you probably won’t be happy with the images. So make sure you love how you look and feel in the clothes that you pick out! That goes for you too men!

How to Choose the Perfect Location

The best location for your engagement session isn’t necessarily the most popular or the most “Instagrammable.” It’s the one that feels true to you.

If you love quiet coffee dates, a cozy café or downtown Denver street might feel perfect. If you’re drawn to nature, the mountains just outside the city offer breathtaking views and a sense of calm that translates beautifully into photos.

The only place that doesn’t work is one that doesn’t represent you. If you choose a location just because it looks good but doesn’t align with who you are as a couple, it will feel disconnected in your photos.

Your engagement session should feel like a reflection of your real life together, just captured in a more intentional and elevated way.

When to schedule your engagement session

Timing matters more than most couples realize.

If you’re planning to use your photos for save-the-dates or invitations, you’ll need to work backward from your wedding timeline. A professional photographer typically needs a few weeks to deliver your final gallery, so it’s important to plan ahead.

If your wedding is a year away but you want to send invitations in six months, your engagement session should be scheduled with enough time to receive and use your photos without feeling rushed.

Adding personal touches to your engagement session

Your session can be as simple or as expressive as you want it to be.

Some couples love bringing small elements that make the experience feel more celebratory and unique to them. From popping a bottle of champagne to planning a cozy picnic after the session, these details can add a layer of meaning without taking away from the authenticity of the moment.

BE PREPARED

If you’re considering working together, I would be truly honored to document your story in a way that feels genuine, personal, and lasting. You’re warmly invited to visit my contact page for more details or to reach out to me directly at—I’d love to hear more about your vision, your story, and what matters most to you. Get in touch

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