Couples ask me when engagement photos should be taken almost as often as they ask what to wear, and the answer is less mysterious than the internet makes it sound. Here in Los Angeles, my honest answer is this: take your engagement photos about six months before the wedding, on a weekday if you can swing it, starting roughly an hour before sunset. That one sentence covers 80% of couples. The other 20% have a reason to break the rule, and I'll walk through those too.

There are really three clocks running at once when you pick a date. There's the planning clock (how far before the wedding), the season clock (what LA is doing weather-wise that month), and the daylight clock (what time you actually meet your photographer). Get all three roughly right and the session almost takes care of itself.

Clock one: work backward from your save-the-dates

Most blogs tell you a range and stop there. I'd rather give you a method, because your ideal date depends on what you plan to do with the photos.

If you want an engagement photo on your save-the-dates, that's your real deadline, not the wedding. Save-the-dates for a local LA wedding usually go out six to eight months ahead, and eight to twelve months for a destination wedding or one with lots of out-of-state guests. Now count backward:

  • Printing and shipping: 2-3 weeks for most online printers, longer around the holidays.
  • Design time: about a week if you're doing it yourself on Minted or Canva, more if a stationer is involved.
  • Gallery delivery: my couples get their engagement gallery in about two to three weeks, and that's typical in LA.
  • Buffer: two weeks, because one of you will get sick, or it'll rain, or the Santa Anas will blow 40 mph on your date.

Add that up and you need to shoot roughly two months before the save-the-dates drop. For a typical local wedding, that lands your session around eight to ten months before the wedding.

If you're not doing save-the-dates with photos, and plenty of couples skip them now, the math relaxes. Then I aim for four to six months out. That's close enough that you look like you on the wedding day, and far enough that you still have time to use a favorite on your invitations, a welcome sign, or the guestbook table.

Why I push back on "the month before the wedding"

I'll be blunt: shooting engagement photos three or four weeks before the wedding is the one timing choice I actively talk couples out of. It's not that the photos will be bad. It's that you'll be exhausted, distracted by seating charts, and you'll get your gallery back right when nothing is left to put it on.

The bigger loss is the practice. Honestly, I think the most valuable thing an engagement session does isn't the pictures at all. It's the two hours where you learn how I direct, figure out that your partner does a weird thing with their chin when they smile on cue, and stop feeling awkward in front of a camera. That's the whole argument in why engagement photos make your wedding photos better. If the session is four months out, that comfort carries into the wedding day. If it's a week out, you haven't had time to relax into it.

That's also why I like working with couples who book one team for both. At ConneryFilm, photography and film sit under one roof, so the people who learn how you move during your engagement session are the same people behind the cameras at your ceremony. Nobody has to relearn you on the biggest day.

Clock two: what LA is doing that month

Los Angeles doesn't have four dramatic seasons, but it has distinct looks, and after 17 years I have favorites.

January through March: green hills

After winter rain, Griffith Park, Malibu Creek and the Santa Monica Mountains turn a color most people don't believe is LA. Sunset comes early (around 5:00-5:40 PM), which means you can be done by dinner. The risk is rain, so keep a backup date on the calendar.

April through June: flowers, then the marine layer

Spring is gorgeous inland. Late May into June, jacarandas bloom purple across Pasadena, Silver Lake and the Westside. But "May Gray" and "June Gloom" are real at the coast. A Malibu or Santa Monica beach session in June can mean a flat white sky all day. It's soft, flattering light, but if you pictured orange sunset over the water, pick a different month or go inland.

July through early September: heat

The Valley and downtown can sit at 95-105 degrees. I still shoot in summer, but I'll steer you toward the coast, where it's often 20 degrees cooler, and I'll start later. Nobody looks romantic with sweat running into their collar.

Late September through November: my favorite

If you asked me to pick one window, it's mid-October to mid-November. The marine layer has mostly burned off, the sun sits lower so the light turns warm earlier, and it's comfortable to wear real layers. The catch is Santa Ana wind days, which can make hair unmanageable and fill the air with haze. I watch the forecast the week of and will happily move you.

If you're still deciding between times of day, not just months, I wrote a full breakdown of sunrise vs. sunset engagement sessions.

Clock three: the hour you actually meet

This is where most of the quality in your photos is decided. For a sunset session I want to start 60-90 minutes before sunset and keep shooting about 15-20 minutes after it. Real golden hour in LA is shorter than people think, often around 25 minutes of truly warm, low light, so the time before it is for warming up and the good stuff comes at the end.

Rough sunset times so you can plan:

  • December: about 4:45 PM, so start around 3:30
  • March (after daylight saving starts): about 7:00 PM
  • June: about 8:05 PM, so start around 6:45
  • September: about 7:15 PM early in the month, closer to 6:40 by the end

Sunrise sessions are the underrated option. Starting 30 minutes before sunrise at El Matador Beach or the Arts District means empty locations and gentle light. It's a 4:30 AM alarm in summer, though, and I only recommend it to couples who are genuinely morning people.

What I steer everyone away from is midday. Between about 11 AM and 3 PM the sun sits straight overhead, and you get raccoon-eye shadows and squinting. If midday is the only option, we go somewhere with open shade: the north side of a building, a deep porch, or a thick grove of trees.

Weekday vs. weekend

Most photographers won't say this, but a Tuesday session is often better than a Saturday. Popular spots like Griffith Observatory, the Venice canals, or the Santa Monica Pier are packed on weekends, and you'll spend half the session waiting for strangers to clear the frame. On a weekday, traffic on the 101 or the 405 is still bad, but the location is yours. Many photographers also have more flexibility midweek, since Saturdays are wedding days.

When I'd tell you to break the rule

Here's what I'd do if it were my own wedding, for the situations that don't fit the six-month answer:

  • Short engagement (under five months): shoot as soon as you've booked your photographer. Don't skip it just because the timeline is tight.
  • Long engagement (18+ months): wait. Shoot 6-10 months out so you look like yourselves on the wedding day, or do a quick session now for an announcement and a proper one later.
  • Growing out hair or working toward a fitness goal: schedule for when you'll be there, then book your hair appointment one to three days before the shoot.
  • Destination wedding: shoot earlier, 9-12 months out, because those save-the-dates go out sooner.
  • A specific season matters to you: if you love fall color or winter green hills, it's worth shooting a year out to get that exact look.
  • You want it in the same place you got engaged: pick the month the location looks its best, then work the wedding timeline around it.

If you're unsure how early to reach out to a photographer for all this, my rule of thumb is to book the wedding first and schedule the engagement session in the same conversation. I cover the longer booking timeline in when to schedule engagement photos.

A quick checklist before you lock the date

  • Is the session at least eight weeks before your save-the-dates need to print?
  • Does it avoid a week with a big work deadline or travel?
  • Have you checked sunset for that exact date and built the start time from it?
  • Does your chosen location need a permit? Many LA parks and gardens do for professional shoots.
  • Do you have a backup date within two weeks in case of rain, wind or heat?

Frequently asked questions

How many months before the wedding should engagement photos be taken?

Four to six months is ideal if you're not printing them on save-the-dates. If you are, shoot about two months before the save-the-dates go out, which usually means eight to ten months before a local LA wedding.

What is the best time of day for engagement photos in Los Angeles?

Start 60-90 minutes before sunset and finish 15-20 minutes after. Sunrise works beautifully too if you can handle an early alarm. Avoid 11 AM to 3 PM unless you're shooting in open shade.

What is the best month for engagement photos in LA?

Mid-October through mid-November gives the most reliable warm light and comfortable temperatures. January through March is best for green hills, and late May into June for jacarandas, as long as you avoid the coast's marine layer.

Is it too late to take engagement photos a month before the wedding?

It isn't too late, but you lose most of the benefit. There's no time to use the photos on stationery, and you're shooting during the most stressful weeks of planning. If a month is all you have, keep the session short and relaxed.

Can we take engagement photos after the wedding?

Yes, though by then it's really an anniversary or couples session. It's a lovely idea if you ran out of time, but you miss the practice run that makes the wedding day feel easy in front of the camera.

If you're planning a Los Angeles wedding and want help picking the right date, season and time for your engagement session, I'd genuinely love to hear what you have in mind. I'll check the light for your date and location before we lock anything in. Call or text 818.749.7039, or take a look at our photography and films at ConneryFilm.com.

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.