The Engagement Session Experience
Tips for a real good time
Guiding Principles
01. Be yourselves. More than anything, this session is an expression of your love. My main goal is to curate a space that allows you to be as you are — because who you are is perfect. In that way, these images will preserve the memory of this sacred season of your life.
02. Be relaxed. Even though we take pictures of ourselves all the time on our phones, it can be nerve-wracking to step in front of a camera. But the more natural you are, the better your photos will reflect your unique story. So take a deep breath and be ready for the special moments that arise on their own.
03. Trust me. It’s been my honor to be part of these beautiful moments for the better part of a decade. You have seen my work, and you can be confident that you will come away from this experience with images that you love.
As a couple
Dress for the session you want. There’s no dress code, but you should choose outfits that are elevated and reflect your individual style. Your outfits don’t need to match, but they should go together, like the two of you do. Have some fun showing them off to each other and wearing them together. Your comfort and confidence will show up on the camera.
Dress for the season you’re in. The first step to looking good is feeling good. If it’s spring and summer, make sure you’ll be able to stay cool throughout the session. If it’s winter, remember that you won’t be comfortable or confident if you’re cold.
Be prepared for the day. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready before your session. You don’t want to be rushing to get out the door or to arrive at the first location.
Travel light. Try not to bring anything that you don’t absolutely need. For women, lipstick and a small clutch should be all you need. Because I’m carrying my camera gear, I won’t be able to hold onto extra items for you. If you need to bring a few extra things with you I recommend throwing them in a tote you don’t mind setting down behind us so it’s out of frame.
Ladies
An engagement session is a great excuse to get that dress that’s been in an open browser tab for a couple of months. If you don’t want to buy anything new, Rent the Runway has some excellent options. Take a look at list of of amazing dresses for an engagement session that I put together HERE. I also have a $30 off code you can use HERE.
Photography tends to minimize the appearance makeup, so I'd suggest doing a little bit more than your everyday. Things with color, like blush, lipstick and eyeshadow show up a little bit lighter so add a touch extra.
If hair and makeup isn't your thing, then consider hiring a makeup artist or making a salon appointment. The way you feel will show up in photos. If you're feeling confident and beautiful, you'll look it! For your wedding, most makeup and hair artists offer a trial session. This is the PERFECT time for a trial! Allowing you to test out a look and see how it photographs.
Clean your ring and your jewelry so that it has that extra sparkle that will shine through in photos. Details like jewelry and nail polish go a long way.
It's my goal to find dynamic backdrops, good lighting and incorporate natural movement. Make sure you can walk around comfortably in the shoes you're wearing.
Gentleman
Make sure your suit looks sharp. Iron your shirt, dry-clean your jacket, and make sure to lint-roll everything.
Wear your partner’s favorite cologne. Both of you will be smiling brightly if you smell nice and are snuggling into each other.
If you are ready before your partner, try to make their day more peaceful. Take the initiative to plan a date for afterward as well. The session will go by so quickly, and you should take time to celebrate.
Pets
People ask me all the time if they should consider bringing their dogs to their engagement session, and my answer is always the same: Absolutely!
Pets are an important part of our families, and your session should be a celebration of all the loves in your life. If you’re planning to bring your puppy, below are some best practices.
If you have a friend, a relative or a dog walker who is good friends with your dog, ask them to join us. They can walk your dog around for the first part of the session, so that your dog can get all their smelling and exploring done. This also helps make sure that your very excited puppy doesn’t accidentally get any dirty paws or big licks on your nice outfit.
If you need some assistance, contact the Royal Dog of Honor. They take care your dog during your session and on your wedding day. I’ve worked with them before, and they are wonderful people who will help your session go smoothly.
Bring plenty of accessories: a nice, clean leash (with no poop bags attached); toys that they love; treats that they love; and any cute outfits that they like to wear, like a handkerchief or a sweater
Remember to be playful! As with your session, we don’t want stiff, posed portraits. We want to show the love and care and fun that you share with your dog.
I'm so excited to be taking your photos! The photos that will hang on up on your walls. The photos that you'll cherish together. Thanks for taking the time to read these. Just hit submit below so I know we're all set.