Here's the short version: engagement photos are a relaxed 60 to 90 minute photo session of just the two of you, usually shot a few months before the wedding, at a location that means something to you or just looks great on camera. In Los Angeles they run roughly $400 to $900 on their own, and you get the edited gallery back within about two to three weeks. That's how engagement photos work at the highest level. But the reason couples ask me this question at consultations isn't the definition. It's that they've never done a real photoshoot before, and they have no idea what actually happens for those 90 minutes. So let me walk you through the whole thing the way I explain it over coffee.

What an engagement session actually is (and isn't)

An engagement session is not a formal, stiff, say-cheese portrait sitting. I'll be blunt: if your photographer is lining you up like a school photo and telling you to hold hands and smile at the lens for an hour, you hired the wrong person. A good engagement shoot is mostly the two of you interacting — walking, talking, hugging, laughing at something dumb one of you said — while I work around you and catch the real moments in between the posed ones.

The point is threefold. One, you get gorgeous photos of the two of you before the chaos of the wedding. Two, you get to test-drive being photographed so the camera isn't a stranger on your wedding day. And three, it lets me learn how you two move together — who leans in, who's shy, who cracks up first. That intel makes your wedding photos dramatically better. If you want the deeper case for doing one at all, I wrote about why engagement photos matter for your LA wedding separately.

Step one: booking and the planning conversation

Most of my couples get their engagement session bundled into their wedding collection, so there's no separate booking to worry about. If you're buying it on its own, you reach out, we pick a date, and you put down a deposit to hold it. Simple.

Then comes the part people underestimate — the planning call. We talk about three things: location, time of day, and outfits. I'll ask what you two are like. Are you homebodies who'd rather shoot in your kitchen making pasta? Are you hikers? Do you want the city skyline or the ocean? This isn't small talk. The whole feel of your photos gets decided here, before anyone picks up a camera.

Step two: picking the location and the light

This is where Los Angeles spoils you. A few spots I shoot constantly:

  • El Matador Beach in Malibu — sea caves and rock arches, unreal at sunset, but you fight crowds and the tide. Get there early.
  • Griffith Observatory and the surrounding trails — that skyline glow behind you as the sun drops is hard to beat.
  • Downtown LA arts district — brick, murals, moody city texture if you're not the beachy type.
  • Huntington Gardens or Descanso Gardens — lush and green, though you'll need a permit and a reservation.
  • Malibu Creek or the Santa Monica Mountains — golden dry grass in summer, wildflowers in spring.

Now the thing nobody tells you: time of day matters more than the location itself. I schedule almost every session to end at sunset, because the hour before it — golden hour — is the softest, most flattering light you'll ever stand in. Harsh noon sun in July at a Malibu beach will give you squinting, raccoon-eye shadows and blown-out skies. I've watched other photographers book couples at 1pm and fight that light the whole time. Don't. If you're weighing your options, I broke down the tradeoffs in sunrise vs sunset engagement photos — both work, but for different reasons.

Step three: what to wear

Two outfits is the sweet spot for a standard session. One slightly dressed-up look, one relaxed. Coordinate, don't match — if you're both in identical white shirts and jeans you'll look like a mattress ad. Pick a palette instead: earth tones, soft neutrals, one of you in a pop of color. Avoid tiny busy patterns and giant logos; they date fast and they distract from your faces. And wear shoes you can actually walk in, because we will be moving.

Step four: the session itself, minute by minute

Here's what actually happens once we meet up:

  • First 10 minutes: we just talk. I don't ambush you with a camera. You loosen up, I check the light, we walk to the first spot.
  • The middle: I give you simple prompts — "walk toward that tree and tell each other your worst first-date story," "hug her and don't let go." You react, I shoot. This is where the honest laughing frames come from, and they're always everyone's favorites.
  • Outfit change: if you brought a second look, we swap somewhere discreet — a car, a restroom — and reset in a new backdrop.
  • Golden hour finish: I save the prettiest light for the end. The last 20 minutes usually produce the money shots.

A full session runs 60 to 90 minutes. If you want the detailed breakdown of pacing, I get into it in how long an engagement session should be. Ninety minutes feels like plenty. By the end most couples are having genuine fun and forget I'm even there — which is exactly the goal.

Step five: editing and getting your photos back

After the shoot I cull the take down to the strongest images, then hand-edit each one — color, exposure, skin tones, the whole thing. You're not getting 800 near-identical frames. You're getting a curated gallery of the best moments, usually 50 to 100 finished images from a standard session. Turnaround in my studio runs about two to three weeks. Some photographers stretch it to six or eight weeks, especially in peak wedding season, so ask up front. I dug into realistic timelines in how long engagement photos take to come back.

How this connects to your wedding day

Honestly, this is the part I care about most. When you book your photography and your video with the same team, that engagement session does double duty. At ConneryFilm we run photo and cinematic film under one roof — same crew, one shared vision — so the way I learn to shoot you two at your engagement session carries straight into how we cover your wedding. No two vendors bumping elbows, no re-explaining who you are twice. The couple who's relaxed on camera at their engagement shoot is the couple who's relaxed walking down the aisle. That's not a coincidence. It's the whole reason I push couples to do the session even when they're tempted to skip it to save a few hundred dollars.

A lot of couples also use these images with a purpose in mind — save-the-dates, a wedding website, a guest sign-in book. If that's you, tell me during planning so we shoot with those crops and formats in mind.

Frequently asked questions

How much do engagement photos cost in Los Angeles?

On their own, most LA sessions run $400 to $900 depending on the photographer's experience, session length, and how many edited images you get. Many couples get the session included in their wedding collection instead. I break the numbers down fully in how much engagement photos cost on average here.

When should we schedule our engagement session?

I recommend four to eight months before the wedding — early enough to use the images for save-the-dates, and while the weather and season match the look you want. Don't leave it to the last month; you'll be too busy and the good dates fill up.

Do we need hair and makeup done?

You don't need to, but if you want that polished look, book professional hair and makeup for the session. It also doubles as a trial run for your wedding-day glam team, which is a smart use of the money.

How many photos will we get?

From a standard 60 to 90 minute session, expect 50 to 100 fully edited images. That's a healthy, curated set — enough for prints, your website, and social without drowning you in near-duplicates.

What if we're awkward in front of the camera?

Everybody says this, and everybody's wrong about themselves. My whole job is directing you into natural moments so you don't have to "pose." Fifteen minutes in, you'll forget the camera exists. That's exactly why the engagement session works — it gets the nerves out before the wedding.

If you're planning an LA wedding and want your engagement photos and your film handled by one team that already knows how you two work together, I'd love to hear your story. Call or text 818.749.7039 or reach out through ConneryFilm.com and let's find the light that fits you.

Meet the Author: Connery Davoodian Hello, I'm Connery Davoodian, the visionary behind ConneryFilm, and I'm thrilled to share insights from my 17-year journey through the world of wedding photography and videography. My passion extends beyond simply capturing images; it's about artfully weaving your unique love story into a timeless, cinematic masterpiece. My artistic path began long before I ever picked up a camera, deeply rooted in music as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. This diverse background in directing, producing, and editing has cultivated a unique perspective, allowing me to approach each wedding not just as an event, but as a dynamic narrative waiting to be beautifully told. This blend of technical mastery and creative storytelling is the heartbeat of ConneryFilm, ensuring that every frame, every shot, and every film is infused with depth, emotion, and unparalleled artistic integrity. At ConneryFilm, we believe your wedding memories deserve nothing less than bespoke luxury. My philosophy centers on capturing the authentic, unscripted moments – the genuine smiles, the tender glances, the joyful laughter – that truly define your day. While we obsess over exquisite details and sophisticated aesthetics, our true joy comes from making you feel completely at ease, like a "friendor" who genuinely celebrates alongside you. This calm, organized presence allows your true personalities to shine, resulting in images and films that are as real and vibrant as your love itself. Based in the heart of Los Angeles, California, my team and I are privileged to serve couples across the globe, bringing our signature high-end wedding photography and videography to destination weddings worldwide. Through these blog posts, I aim to share invaluable insights, luxurious inspiration, and practical, fun advice to guide you through your wedding planning journey, helping you make informed decisions about preserving your most cherished moments. Thank you for trusting ConneryFilm to be a part of your extraordinary adventure. I'm excited to share my knowledge and passion with you, helping you create memories that will last forever.