ENGAGEMENT SESSION
CHOOSING THE PERFECT LOCATION, OUTFITS, TIMING AND MORE!
WELCOME
I'm so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait for our time together during your engagement session! It’s normal to be a little nervous about your session but I am here to guide you and make you feel comfortable. That leads me into why I think engagement sessions are important for you and myself as a photographer. The time we spend together during your engagement sessions allows us to get comfortable with each other before the big day and for you to get comfortable in front of the camera. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed and understand how I pose my couples. Engagement sessions also allow you to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you.
Save - the - dates
If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding. My turnaround time for your photos after your engagement session is 2-3 weeks.
If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, I recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.
RING CLEANING
I always love to get pictures of your engagement ring during your session so it’s a good idea to have it cleaned or clean it yourself before your shoot!
INCLEMENT WEATHER
We live in Michigan, where we can see all four seasons in one day, which means there could be rain. If this happens on your session date I'll make sure to reschedule you right away. Even if it means moving around things in my own schedule. My own engagement photos got rescheduled FOUR times because of rain so I totally understand how frustrating it can be to have everything planned and having to reschedule.
PETS
My dog Jackson is huge part of my family, which is why I love when couples choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location.
I recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and then either dropping them off or having a friend take them home. I won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold him or her in between shots if possible.
LOCATION
Is there a location that is special to you or apart of your love story? Like where he proposed, where your first date was, a coffee shop that is special to you both. Otherwise, reach out and we can discuss what type of style you are going for and from there we can find the perfect location.
-Classic (downtown, beaches, public parks)
-Rustic (farms & barns)
-Gardens (botanical gardens, flower & tree filled parks)
-Themed (college or picnic in the park)
-Lifestyle (coffee shop or favorite activity)
Engagement STYLE TIPS
Are you feeling overwhelmed just thinking about finding the perfect outfits for your session? You're not alone. Follow these tips for choosing outfits that the camera (and you!) will love! Brides always want to know how dressed up they need to be for their engagement session. My advice? There’s no such thing as too dressed up! Your engagement session is typically an hour long and allows for two outfits so most couples do a "casual" outfit like jeans and a sweater or nice top and then a "dressier" outfit like slacks and a dress. Always feel free to reach out if you would like help planning outfits or opinion on coordinating the outfits.
Coordinating colors
Choose colors that coordinate, but not necessarily match. This could be pink for one person and navy for the other or mint green for one person and dark gray for the other. Keep in mind you can never go wrong with neutrals - tan, black, white, gray. These always photograph nicley!
solids and patterns
Solid colors photograph really well and help bring all the attention to your faces. But patterns can bring an extra element of fun to your photos. You could switch it up for the second outfit. Two different patterns typically don't go well together and can be very distracting. If you decide to choose an outfit with a pattern it is a good idea for your partner to wear a solid.
accessories
Statement pieces of jewelry add extra pop to your outfit. A necklace or a great pair of earring can really tie your outfit together. Heels are not for everyone, but if you like them they are a great option as they can elongate your legs and are very flattering on camera.
Is professional makeup and hair worth the splurge
It's not for everyone, but if you like it I say 100% go for it. I've been in front of the camera myself and can tell a complete difference in my confidence when my hair and makeup are professionally done. Not having to worry about doing this yourself also takes stress off of your plate.