Engagement Photo Basics

Why take engagement photos? You can submit a shot to your local paper with your engagement announcement, use the photos creatively in your wedding decor, or give framed prints to your families. Need a reason to schedule an engagement photo shoot? It's a great opportunity to test-drive your wedding photographer. (Ask your wedding photographer if an engagment photo session is included in your package.) Here are our tips to help you make the most of your premarital mug shots.

Make it Snappy

The best time to snap your paired-up pics depends on how and when you plan to use them. Here's a rundown of photo scheduling options -- choose whatever works for you:

• Day one/two: Commemorate the moment you get engaged -- you'll already be wearing a photogenically (and naturally) happy smile!
• First month: Schedule a photo shoot early in your engagement if you plan to submit a formal engagement announcement with a photo to your local paper. (Check your paper's guidelines for specific pose or print quality requirements, which are often listed on its website.)
• When you set the wedding date: Take a photo for your wedding Web site or save-the-date design. If this trend appeals to you and you're planning to send guests an early heads-up, have photos taken eight to ten months before the wedding, in time to print and send save-the-dates no later than six months before the wedding.
• Six to eight months before: You can also take engagement pictures once you've booked your wedding photographer or when you're narrowing down your final choices (which should occur when your planning countdown hits the eight-months-prior mark).
• Three months before: If you plan to submit a shot with your newspaper wedding announcement, start planning now. Larger newspapers ask for submissions up to six weeks before the event, and you'll want to factor in four to six weeks before that deadline to see your proofs and make prints.
• Two months before: Trying out wedding day looks? Schedule hair and makeup trial appointments the same day as your engagement photo session to capture a preview of your wedding day fabulousness on film (you could do the salon in the morning and the photo studio in the afternoon). Factor in some in-between time for damage control, on the off chance that the salon results may not be as great as you hoped.
• Up to one month before: Planning to feature your smiling faces on the wedding program, the favors, or plastered on the hot air balloon in which you'll be leaving the reception? Schedule pictures in plenty of time to see proofs, select your favorites, and print up everything you need.