Need some help deciding when to schedule your engagement photos? I’ll help you pinpoint the perfect time for your session.

Decide on outfits & locations first

Choosing the right outfits and finding the perfect spots should be first on your to-do list. That’s going to help you pinpoint the right time because you might not be able to comfortably wear a cocktail dress outdoors in the middle of December, or a cozy sweater mid-July.

When do other couples schedule their engagement photos?

Traditional advice says about 6-9 months before the wedding day. In my experience, that’s pretty typical. Truthfully, if you don’t have any plans for your engagement session, you can really schedule it whenever you like before the wedding day. If you have more plans, read on!

So, what time is the ‘right’ time?

If you’re using the photos for more, let’s allow that ‘urgency’ guide your scheduling first.

Are you using them for Save The Dates? Then try booking your session close to 9 months before the wedding day. That gives you plenty of time to prepare, shoot, receive your photos, create your cards, and mail them at least 6 months prior to the wedding.

Are you having a wedding guest sign-in book? Then you want to have your session at least 4-5 months before the wedding day. This gives you enough time to plan, shoot, receive your photos, design your book, and receive it before the wedding day arrives. (Our books hail from Italy, so that ship time matters.)

Do you also have your heart set on a season? This is a really important reason to not wait, and book your photographer as soon as you can so you can get on the schedule ASAP!

Choosing the Day

Sometimes it’s tricky matching up schedules with your fiancé, so be sure to let your photographer know all of your available times. If possible, plan on taking a weekend off, so you can at least have 1 day as a rain check.

If you have your heart set on the ‘golden hour’ of sunset, but you’re only available on Saturdays, you might be in a pinch if your photographer has a busy wedding season (August & September weekends are always completely booked for us here). But, it doesn’t hurt to ask!

Speaking of sunrises and sunsets, be sure to check this calculator to get a good idea of when your golden hour will be if you’re planning months ahead.

Remember that you can also shoot at sunrise, too! And friends, that is just as romantic.

So, to Recap:

• Decide on outfits, then locations, first.
• Let urgency decide next. (Save the dates? A sign-in book?)
• Pick your favorite season.
• Take a weekend off so you can have a rain check, too.
• Decide what light you like. (Golden hour? Sunrise? Not picky?)
• Off-season can be better for your photographer. (Summer weekends can be really packed for us!)

• Bonus: plan a date night for after your session! (After all, you’ll be all fancied-up!)

And there you have it, friends! Easy advice that’ll help you decide when to schedule your engagement session photos. Be on the lookout for more wedding & engagement session planning tips & advice here on my blog!

Ready to get together? Click here to set up a time to meet with me in my downtown Fort Atkinson studio office!