Hey, lovers! If you’re landing on this page, it probably means you’re ENGAGED, let’s just take a moment to scream together… eeeeee!!! Such an exciting time in your life, and I’ll be your number one fan during the entire process.
Now, let’s dive into how to prepare for your engagement session, so you can share your news with the world and capture the excitement your feeling.
The most important part of your engagment session is that it feels like YOU.
Imagine feeling like your best and most beautiful self in front of the camera, and being able to focus on the moment in front of you because you completely trust that I’ve got you.
Who your photographer is matters more than the photos you receive in the end. It’s more than the trends that will come and go, I want you to fully experience the moment you are in and to capture images that feel undeniably you. Let loose and enjoy this process, and trust that I’m making sure your best self is captured and we celebrate the love between you.
Locations Matter
Choosing the right location is the hardest – and most important – decision you will make for your session. This may feel like a lot of pressure, but hear me out. If you are a couple who loves the outdoors and nature locations, but we took you to a rooftop scene in the middle of downtown, that would NOT feel like you. The photos would be beautiful, but they would not FEEL like you. Think about places that speak to you and your journey as a couple. Whether it’s where you first met, had your first date, or simply a spot you both adore, let’s capture your love in surroundings that feel authentically you. OR, you tell me what kinds of locations you like, and let me help you choose something beautiful!
Engagement Session Outfits
Ah, the fun part! Your outfits should complement each other and reflect your personalities. Mix comfortable with stylish and consider colors that pop against your chosen backdrop. Outfit decisons also completely change the look of the session. This is why this section of this blog post is going to be the longest, most bulky part. Hear me out on these common outfit myths.
Outfit Myths
- MYTH ONE : Avoid neutrals, they wash you out!
Whoever started this myth couldn’t have been further from the truth. There are some colors that don’t work for some people, but for the majority of people, they look amazing in neutrals and those colors shouldn’t be avoided. The truth is, neutrals are the most photogenic color for portraits, especially in seasons where colors are vibrant. - MYTH TWO : Always wear black or you won’t look thin!
Sure, black is slimming, but it also photographs very heavy in portraits that are bright like mine. There is nothing wrong with black, but if you’re only wearing it to look thinner and deep down you’re hoping for light and airy portraits, it may not be the best choice. Black will never look totally black in my photography style. - MYTH THREE – You need to match!
Please don’t try to match your significant other. Instead, try to coordinate! Coordinating is a completely different concept than “matching.” Coordination means you are usually choosing different colors that look good together but are not close to being the same. I have some more tips about this concept in the following pages. - MYTH FOUR – Your location determines youe style more than your outfit!
False! Your outfit has way more impact than your location. Your location is just a setting in the background but you two will still be the main focus of the images. If you want light, airy and an overall romantic look to your photos, you will need to wear lighter, more neutral colors in your photos to achieve this look! - MYTH 5 – You have to buy something new!
False! If you know you look awesome in an outfit that you already have and it fits the style you want for your engagement session, that would be a great choice!
Decide your style
| BOLD or NEUTRAL |
| DRESSY or CASUAL |
| CLASSIC or TRENDY |
These choices represent the three main decisions you will have to make in regards to your outfit choices. There are no right or wrong answers! Maybe you want one outfit to be dressy and the other to be casual. Maybe you want one outfit to be very light and neutral but you want to wear more color in the next outfit. These categories will hopefully help you determine what you’re hoping for in your engagement session. If you’re feeling stuck and can’t seem to determine what you prefer, that’s very normal!
Here are some general “rules of thumb” when it comes to styling during an engagement session. Once you read through these, you may have a better understanding of what you prefer, and you can start planning your outfits. These “rules of thumb” are based on my experience and aren’t concrete rules that can’t be broken. However, if you have questions about one of them in regards to what you want to wear, just email me and we can talk about what would be best!
Things to Avoid:
- Colors to avoid: bright reds, neons, bright oranges (they reflect color onto skin and can be difficult to edit!).
- Avoid patterns smaller than a quarter: Tiny patterns cause something called “Chromatic Aberration” in digital images. Men’s checkered shirts are fine if the “checks” are on the larger side.
- Alternate Heaviness: If one of you is wearing very dark jeans, the other may want to wear lighter pants. If one of you is wearing a navy top, the other shouldn’t wear a dark/heavy-colored top. To a certain degree, alternating the “heaviness” of your outfits can make your images look more balanced.
- Avoid one of you being casual while the other is more dressy: This can look a bit awkward in your photos.
- Other things to avoid: Tennis shoes, Graphic tees, Bold logos on shirts, Sunglasses & Baseball Hats.
Timing is Everything
Let’s talk about lighting – that magical ingredient for dreamy photos. Whether you prefer the soft, glowy hues of sunset or the slow, cool brightness of a morning sunrise, timing your session around the golden hours can make all the difference. This timing helps me to get that sun-drenched, dreamy style that you’ve come to love, and that is the best way to make it happen! Depending on the time of ear, we will set your engagement session around this time frame!
The recipe for the most authentic & joyfilled engagement session experience
By following the Bridal Guide that I’ve built for my clients we will get photos that capture the connection you have and celebrate the love you have found in your other half.
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