Talk engagement session to me.
I want you to know that I’m honored to be your photographer and engagement sessions are such a fun and important part of the pre-wedding process. It gives you a chance to get comfortable in front of my camera so you’ll know exactly what to do and be posing pros by the time the wedding rolls around. Also, it gives you a set of beautiful images that you can use for save-the-dates, your wedding website, prints to display at the rehearsal dinner or reception, frames for your wall in your new home together and so much more! Most importantly, it gives you a way to freeze this special time in your life. My goal is simple: for your session to be as fun and stress-free as possible!
That’s why I’ve created this page just for you! The following pages will help you get the absolute most out of your photos. By the time you’ve read through it, you'll have all of your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session! This page is packed with my best tips, tricks, and insider secrets for scheduling and styling your engagement session. Your only job is to be yourselves, laugh a lot, have fun, and let me do the rest! I can’t wait to get you in front of my camera and I’m so excited to see you soon!
Styling Your Session
Styling Your Session If you want your engagement session images to look and feel a little more editorial, I recommend bringing a few small, simple props with you, like fresh flowers to hold or a blanket to sit on. If you want to set up a picnic or incorporate another special element into your session, just let me know! Maybe you have access to some larger props that have a real “wow” factor, like a boat, classic car, vintage bicycle or hot air balloon. This is the time to dream a little bit and decide what really feels like you! Props aren’t a must by any means. Some of my couples love them and go all out. Some pick one or two items to bring. Others stick with just their outfits –– and that’s great, too! The most important things you need to bring to your session are love and laughter. We'll take care of the rest.
the dress.
There's nothing more romantic than a long, flowy dress. Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! I recommend choosing long, flowy dresses or skirts because they’re flattering on all body types, look amazing on camera and bring extra movement and dimension to your photos. Maxi (or floor length) skirts and dresses will give us the best “twirl factor,” add more romance to your walking photos, and look especially gorgeous when juxtaposed with nature, like the desert, forest, fields or beach. Cute, shorter cocktaillength dresses or midi skirts photograph beautifully as well. My brides who choose to bring two dresses will sometimes choose one of each! I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress (or skirt!) or two! You won't regret it!
Most of my brides who choose two outfits will bring one “wow” dress, and then another shorter cocktail-length dress or midi/maxi skirt for a more casual “us on a date” feel. I also love it when my couples want to do one “fancy” outfit and one very “us” feeling outfit. Which could be barefoot in jeans you name it!
The camera loves runway-esque apparel. If you’d rather just stick to one fabulous outfit, that’s fine, too! One look that you love will be so much better than one outfit you love and another you’re not very excited about. So, whether it’s one or two is really up to you! If you’re having a hard time making up your mind, feel free to shoot me an email with pictures! I’m happy to help you narrow down your options or give you my opinion about what will look best on camera!
Colors. Let’s talk about it.
When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting lighter, neutral tones and more muted shades. Bright, bold, or neon colors are distracting and take the focus away from where it should be: you two and how much you love each other. You can never go wrong with light neutral colors like cream, taupe, camel, or light gray. So many of my brides choose to incorporate white into their engagement sessions and it always goes well! It’s totally saying, “We are getting married! You’ll see a large section of examples at the bottom of this page!
Hair & Makeup
Professional hair and makeup are on the top of most of my brides’ engagement session checklists because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. So many of my brides take this opportunity to schedule their hair and make-up trials for their wedding. Just checking two marks off your list, I’m all about efficiency! Professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. Most of my brides feel like their makeup is “too much” at first since it’s more than they would wear on a normal day, so if you feel that way at the beginning, don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it just right for the camera — and my brides always love the final result. If you haven’t found your hair + makeup person yet, just let me know I will get you connected with some of the best in the business!
For Him.
The same way that a dress is the most flattering silhouette for the female body, a blazer, sport coat or suit jacket has the same flattering effect for men. You can’t go wrong with a dress shirt, slacks and a blazer, or a well-tailored suit.
For colors, I recommend neutrals and soft, warm tones that complement your bride’s look. When selecting your pieces, I recommend choosing a different “weight” for the pants and coat. So for example, navy pants (darker) and a heather gray coat (lighter). Or gray pants (darker) with a soft powder blue shirt (lighter).
Long pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet, and place it where you want it: on the face you fell in love with. So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts and sandals at home. Suit pants, dress pants or colored pants work best. Brown leather dress shoes complement almost every look, whether he’s wearing a full suit, or a blazer and colored pants. Ties, bowties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests, and watches are sharp complements to any suit.
During prep a side note about our guys lol:
I know your man might now be SUPER hyped about taking photos but I promise after almost every session is over, most guys can’t believe how fast it went and just how much fun they had!
