Tips for Great Engagement Photos by Kyo Morishima Photography

Kyo and Janna are a husband-and-wife team who run Kyo Morishima Photography, a relaxed, documentary-style wedding photography studio based in central New Jersey. They were sponsors of our 2^nd annual Princeton Wedding Showcase and one of our favorite photographers to work with! Here are their tips for great engagement photos.

Visit your happy place!
Think of a place to go or an activity to do together that you makes you smile and feel happy. For instance, if you love being with your dog, go for a walk with your dog! Or if you love coffee, go to one of your favorite cafes. Or if you love playing games together, have a Jenga match!
Dress to make yourself happy
Don’t worry too much about what type of clothes to wear. There are a few simple guidelines you should keep in mind: mid-tone, plain colors or very simple patterns look best; very dark or light colors or bold, big patterns can be challenging in photographs. But other than that, the important thing is to wear clothes that make YOU feel like you look great and are comfortable!
Cloudy, snowy, or misty weather can be just as beautiful as clear skies
Don’t worry too much about the weather or the time of year. It’s possible to take great photos in most types of weather and at any time of year. But do check with your photographer about his or her policy regarding rescheduling the photo shoot if the weather is TOTALLY uncooperative (like, if it’s raining cats and dogs).
Schedule your photo session when the light is prettiest
The best light for photos is very early in the day when the sun is rising, or late in the afternoon when the sun is setting. We often schedule engagement sessions to begin about two hours before sunset time.
Expect that it’ll take a bit of time to relax
In the beginning of the photo shoot, you’ll probably feel a little stiff and weird. After all, you’re probably not used to being followed around by a photographer (unless you’re a professional model). That’s completely natural. Go with the flow and keep focusing on each other. Treat the photo session like a fun date.
Find a photographer with whom you connect
It’s definitely important that you feel a rapport with your photographer. That’s one of the things you should pay attention to when you first meet each other. Do you have a good feeling about him or her? Can you have a conversation? Do you *like* him or her? If you connect with each other, that will have a big impact on how the pictures turn out. When you get along with your photographer, it will make it so much easier to relax in front of the camera.