Our biggest engagement shoot tip: pretend the camera isn’t there. All photographs by Kristi Odom Photography
We’ve frequently touted the benefits of engagement photo sessions on this blog, but we understand that having a photographer take pictures of you while you’re trying to act totally normal (and, of course, remembering everything Tyra taught you on America’s Next Top Model) is a bit of a daunting prospect. So we were quite impressed with Cristina and Pedro’s engagement photos, shot by Kristi Odom of Kristi Odom Photography. They’re not afraid of showing affection, but it looks completely natural. And they’ve got the “smizing” thing down pat.
So what’s their secret?
“Kristi actually had us meet her at an Irish pub to have a cocktail before the shoot to loosen up,” says Cristina. “Great idea.”
The couple walked around Old Town Alexandria as Odom snapped away. They chose the location because it reminded them of their hometowns in Portugal.
“It was important to us to get some urban pictures, but we also wanted some photos with nature,” says Cristina. “We got some great shots along the Potomac.”
When dressing for the shoot, Cristina chose an outfit that would complement her wedding color scheme (a genius idea if you’re planning on using your engagement photos as part of your wedding decor).
“I wore mustard yellow and French navy—I love bright and bold colors!” she says.
Cristina and Pedro treated the shoot as an “adventure,” and tried to just have fun.
“We left our nerves at the pub, strolled along the cobblestone roads, and hiked through the woods along the Potomac, getting eaten alive by mosquitoes,” says Cristina. “But the best part of the day was simply enjoying each other’s company.”
The couple married in late October, and currently live in Fairfax.
