Erin and Jeff Youngren are a husband and wife team based out of San Diego, CA, that photographs weddings and engagements all over the country. Jeff shot his first wedding back in 2005 when he was working as a scientist doing cancer research in the biotech industry (yes – he wore a lab coat and everything!), and he immediately fell in love with weddings. Erin picked up a camera shortly after the two got married in 2006, and not long after they knew that photography was what they wanted to do with their lives.
Their business took off faster than they ever could have imagined as they built an emotional and timeless style of imagery that the couples they photographed hadn’t ever seen before. Since then, weddings have taken the Youngrens across the country and around the world, from the beaches of Costa Rica to the vineyards of Tuscany to the streets of Sydney to photograph some pretty extraordinary weddings and incredible couples. The Youngrens have been featured in everything from The Knot to Exquisite Weddings to Destination I Do and their work regularly appears on Style Me Pretty as one of their Little Black Book members.
My fiancé Alex and I are lucky enough to have Erin and Jeff photographing our upcoming June wedding and I cannot wait! I was fortunate enough to be able to sit down with Erin to pick her brain about how to take the perfect engagement photos. Go ahead, collegiettes, and bookmark this page for future reference!
HC: As soon as a young woman gets engaged, one of the first things on her mind is engagement photos! How far from the actual engagement or how far in advance of the wedding do you recommend scheduling an engagement photoshoot?
Erin Youngren: I recommend getting your engagement photos done at least three months prior to the wedding day so that you can receive your finished photos and have time to order any prints you’d like to have before the big day. Beyond that, it’s really up to you! Let your photographer know if you’d like to use any images for Save-the-Dates, invitations, or wedding websites or talk to them about their favorite seasons to shoot. All of those will help you determine the best timeframe.
HC: How many locations should a couple shoot for in order to get a good variety of pictures?
EY: This really depends on your particular photographer and their style of shooting. For us, we do our best work when we shoot at a single location that will embody the look and feel of our couple so that we can minimize the stress of driving to multiple spots. When we get in the groove of hanging out and shooting, hopping into a car can seriously break up the vibe for both you and us! But some photographers thrive on variety and love hitting up multiple locations, so chat with your artist and find out what uniquely inspires them!
HC: One thing that stresses a lot of brides-to-be out is the question of what to wear! What do you recommend?
EY: Wear something that makes you feel HOT. When you feel good, you look good, so pick an outfit that shows off your personal style and accents your very best feature. Love your long legs? Wear a pair of rockin’ heels to shape those calf muscles. Does your honey love your shoulders? Wear an off-the-shoulder blouse with your hair in a side swept updo. Got some serious curves? Show off that shape with a mid-century wrap around dress.
I also recommend solid pieces over patterns and picking colors that fit your personalities. Solid black outfits such as a cocktail dress or a suit will look incredibly classic and timeless (particularly for black and white photographs) and colors will communicate energy and fun.
Lastly, I always recommend a fabulous pair of shoes. Yes, that means you get to go shopping…
HC: How should a bride style her hair and makeup for perfect photos?
EY: This is the perfect opportunity to get to know your makeup artist for the wedding day and hold a mini practice session. They will know exactly how to prep your skin and eyes for natural light photography and make your features pop! While it shouldn’t be a trial run for your wedding day look, it will help you see how your makeup will turn out in photos prior to the big day.
Also, have your hair blown out or styled for the session, avoid fly-aways with a good shine serum, and bring along a brush for mid-shoot touch-ups.
If you’d like to do your own makeup, pay attention to your eyes! Eyeliner is a must! Take extra care on your mascara and really separate your lashes. Your eyes will be the most important factor in many of your images, so spend extra time making them look beautiful!
Wear a little more makeup than usual, use a good blush, and set your foundation with a loose powder. MAC and bareMinerals are great brands. Also, natural color tones (browns, tans, pinks) tend to look flattering on most skin tones.
HC: Should the groom ever wear makeup? What if he has oily skin?
EY: Don’t ever do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable, so if the thought of makeup gives you the creeps, then avoid it at all costs! If a little bit of powder will help with shine and you don’t mind, then go for it!
HC: For all of those brides and grooms not lucky enough to be able to score The Youngrens as their photographers, how do you recommend finding a talented wedding/engagement photographer?
EY: Nothing can beat a great referral from a friend or relative that has used a photographer for their own wedding. The biggest compliment we ever receive is when one of our past couples refers us to a friend, so we make it our number one priority to give every couple a delightfully remarkable experience so that they can’t help but chat about us. I would ask your friends that have recently gotten married if they would recommend their photographer. Or if you inquire with a photographer that is already booked on your wedding date, ask if they have any photographers they would recommend. Word of mouth usually connects the best people!
HC: There are so many pictures of cute engagement photos on Pinterest and it’s all starting to feel a bit repetitive with brides copying other cute poses. How do you strike a balance between being original and getting all of the photos you’ve seen and liked?
EY: The images that you will ultimately cherish are the ones that tell your story the best. Don’t be afraid to share your Pinterest boards with your photographer – they’ll most likely appreciate seeing what inspires you – but then give your photographer the freedom to be inspired by you. In the end, we’re all artists striving to create great work, so when we get to work with couples that invite us into their unique personalities we can create images that are vibrant and remarkable. Those are the ones that everyone else will be copying on Pinterest!
HC: What’s the best time of day to schedule an engagement shoot? What about season or month?
EY: The best time to shoot is typically in the few hours just before sunset when the light is golden and soft and the season depends on your location. In San Diego, October and November are colorful, warm months with golden fields littering the hills around us.
January (believe it or not) usually has the best sunsets and the most beautiful beach settings. May and June are usually gloomy and gray here, so think about where you want to shoot and what time of year offers the best scenery and light.
HC: Should a bride always wear heels? What if the bride and groom are close in stature?
EY: A pair of heels is always a great accessory for shapely legs, but a couple of adorable ballet flats can be equally as cute! When we have couples that are similar in height (or the bride is taller than the groom), then we suggest flat shoes for both and will pose them how they feel the most comfortable.
HC: What jewelry should be worn (in addition to the ring of course!)?
EY: I’m a fan of one statement piece per outfit that pulls everything together. Whether it’s a chunky necklace, a pair of long earrings, or a colorful bracelet, keep it simple and keep it classic.
HC: How do you and Jeff coach a couple through an engagement session to prevent the bride or groom from looking awkward and posed?
EY: We realize that our couples are not supermodels, so being in front of a camera is an intimidating experience! The good news, though, is that you have each other to hang on to, so we have you focus on being connected to each other – both emotionally and physically. It’s easy to be gorgeous when you’re laughing and cuddling with your man!
We also give you plenty of direction – telling you where to look, how to stand, and when you look great so that it’s an easy experience.
Plus, since Jeff and I are a couple ourselves, the engagement session is less like a photoshoot and more like a fun double date, so most of the time our couples forget that there are even cameras around!
HC: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
EY: Even if your photography package doesn’t automatically include an engagement session, I would recommend adding one simply because it gives you the best opportunity to get to know your photographer and feel comfortable in front of the camera. The last thing you want to be worrying about on the wedding day is your photos, so the engagement session allows you to experience their artistic process in action and feel great about their work!
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Be sure to check out some of Erin & Jeff’s amazing work on their website and Facebook page. Stay tuned for updates after my wedding with some of my favorite photos of the day!