If you’re here, then that means that you are considering an engagement session and this engagement session guide is here to help you plan the perfect session and to know exactly what to expect. Engagement sessions used to just be another formal set of portraits, but the way that I do them, we turn your life into art. I love engagement sessions because I get to spend time with two people who are deeply in love and then I get to capture that love and preserve those feelings forever! It’s an honor to record such genuine feelings, and I help all of my couples plan their own unique and perfect engagement session.
Say Goodbye To Boring Photoshoots
I always tell my couples that they should think of their engagement session as a date night that they just *happen* to have a photographer following them around for. In order to capture your love in an authentic way, I need you both to be genuinely happy and enjoying the experience. We don’t fake smiles here, but we do capture real joy.
Your engagement session is usually broken up into two parts: the formal photos that you can send to your family and the photos that capture your love and life together during this special time. For the second part, I always encourage my couples to plan to either have a fun date night or bring props/elements that are special to you (like a dog, favorite sports jerseys, a special car or motorcycle, etc.)
There’s a really simple formula that I have my couples follow to create a great and fun experience for their engagement session, and it starts with you and what you love to do. I use the following questions to help us find the perfect experience for you:
- If you went on a fun date night, what would you do? (Examples: Go to a new restaurant, go kayaking, take our dog to the beach, go roller skating, hike up a mountain, cuddle under the stars, bake a cake)
- Where was your first date? Or do you have a location that is special to you?
- Is there anything you like to do together regularly as a couple that is a common element of your relationship? (Examples: Eat pizza, play pickleball, play board games)
These questions can help guide you toward having a super fun night full of love and joy (and some incredible photos of you in those moments).
Here are some examples of ways couples can turn their engagement session into something truly unique:
- Bake cookies together in home
- Share craft beers and pretzels at your favorite brewery
- Go on a hike and get photos in nature
- Turn the bed of your truck into cuddly air-mattress fort and stargaze
- Enjoy a day on a boat
- Going to the fair
- Go to an icecream shop and share a sweet treat
- Take a helicopter ride over your city
- Go kayaking in the ocean, a lake, or a spring.
- Take atvs out into the mud and get a little messy
- Go to the roller skating rink and dance the night away
- Building a fort and having a pillow fight
- Scuba Dive or snorkel together
- Go to your favorite hotel and be bougie for the night
- Go to Universal Studios and step into the Wizarding World
- Share a picnic
- Take your dogs, hedgehogs, or other furry (or scaley!) friends out for a night on the town
The options are endless. All that matters is that you are happy and in love, and I help you take care of all the rest. Need help narrowing down ideas? Just send me an email and I’ll you figure it all out.
When To Schedule Your Engagement Session:
Wondering when is the best time to get your engagement session done? The short answer is: whenever you have the chance! Wedding planning can be a crazy season of life. Some people choose to schedule their engagement session right away so that they can use the photos for their save-the-dates, while others do it a few months before the wedding. I always recommend scheduling it at least 3 months before your wedding so that you don’t feel like it is just “another thing you have to do” leading up to your wedding. This should be a fun experience, so I always recommend scheduling it before you are too stressed and busy.
What Time of Day Should I Do My Engagement Session?
Your engagement session is typically 90 minutes to 2 hours. Because of this, I always recommend doing it either 2 hours before sunset or about 30 minutes before sunrise. This is when the lighting is the least harsh and the colors are the prettiest. It is also typically cooler at this time so you can avoid the mid-day heat. However, if you are doing an indoor session then any time of day works! I typically shoot engagement sessions Monday – Thursday. Engagement session scheduling can be flexible depending on your needs.
Choosing the Perfect Location
When it comes to choosing the perfect engagement session location, it is really important to choose a place that feels special or beautiful to you. It is so much easier to feel comfortable during your session when you are in an environment that brings you joy. Choosing your location usually feels a lot easier once you have chosen how to approach your session.
In the first section of this engagement session guide, we talked about how approaching your session as a unique date night can open up so many opportunities for authentic photos of you and your partner enjoying life together. Once you have settled on HOW you want to approach your session, it is often easier to figure out the where. For example, if you want to kayak, we could do the session at a nearby lake.
I always like to encourage my couples to be creative! Don’t be afraid to do something totally unique is it is calling to you. If you are unsure of what might be a good fit for you, I am happy to help you figure it out. It’s also worth thinking about cool places in the area that you may have access to through friends and family like a cool airbnb, a private forest, or even something like a private plane (if you are lucky enough to know a pilot!). Your options are endless, but the whole point is to have fun and get great photos. I’ll take care of the second part, so really, you just need to have fun with it.
Choosing the Perfect Outfits
While choosing outfits for photos can feel overwhelming, my goal is to make it feel easy. The best advice I can give is to choose outfits that feel like you. If you NEVER get dressed up in formal attire, and it makes you uncomfortable, then maybe wearing your favorite outfit is a better choice. Engagement photos are supposed to represent you and your relationship, and it won’t feel right if you don’t like what you are wearing.
Typically, couples choose to bring two outfits to their engagement sessions: one formal, and one more “them.” Below, I have included some tips in your engagement session guide that will help you pick out the perfect outfits for you.
Picking a Formal Outfit
Picking a formal outfit doesn’t have to mean picking a traditional outfit. The photos in your formal outfit are typically the ones used for things like save-the-dates, so the goal is that you are looking like the best version of yourself. That could mean wearing a long black dress, a short white dress, a cute pantsuit, or a stylish blazer combo. The goal is that you feel comfortable but also proud of how you look.
Some example formal outfits ideas for men: a suit, button down with khakis or chinos, pullover sweater with jeans.
Picking a “You” Outfit
The second outfit that you bring, I like to call the “you” outfit. This outfit is less formal and should be whatever you feel comfortable and good in while doing your date night portion of the evening. Some couples choose to wear their favorite tshirts while others choose to just wear something they feel good in. Some couples have even considered wearing T-Rex costumes. But when in doubt, solid, neutral colors are a good option if you don’t have a specific theme in mind. Below, I’ve added some do’s and don’t to this engagement session guide to help you plan your outfits.
Do’s
- Wear something that feels comfortable
- Feel free to add a little “you” to the outfit (examples: cowboy boots, a favorite bracelet, a vintage bomber jacket)
Don’ts
- Wear flip flops
- Wear wrinkled or stained clothing
- Spray tan directly before your session
- Each wear a different pattern
- Where something that is too tight
Styling Tips
- Coordinate, don’t match: While you want you and your partner to “go-together” in the photos, you don’t want to be wearing the same color/pattern! An example of this would be one partner wearing a pattern with a few colors in it and the other partner wearing a solid color that is present in the pattern of their partner’s outfit.
- Color Palettes: I always recommend wearing neutrals over neons unless you are going for a colorful vibe. When it comes to colors, I recommend wearing the colors that bring out your eyes or skin tones the best on a normal day. I generally recommend avoiding anything color that could be turned into a highlighter.
- Don’t Both Wear Patterns: Two different patterns can be clashing to the eye, so if one of you is planning on wearing a pattern, then the other should opt for a solid.
Posing
This engagement session guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning how posing works. The short version is: I take care of making you look your absolute best. I will pose you from head to toe if needed to ensure that you look your best, but I ABSOLUTELY do not believe in a boring and stiff photography session. My goal is to capture the two of you having the time of your lives, joking with each other, and genuinely in love. A lot of my process involves putting you into a flattering position and then encouraging conversation and loving moments between you while I capture the way you interact, the way you look at each other, the real smiles you get from the jokes that you make. The goal is to photograph your real love. Not a forced smile with a stiff pose. We have fun with it.
Pets
I adore it when people incorporate their pets into their sessions. Pets are an important part of the family, and I love being able to capture your love for each other and your love for your pet. I just ask that I am informed that the pet will be at the session in advance so that I can properly prepare and double check that the location we have chosen is pet-friendly. I also recommend bringing a friend to hold onto your pet while you do your non-pet photos.
Inclement weather: What To Do if it Rains
Living in Florida, I am no stranger to pop-up torrential downpours and thunderstorms. We will never photograph when it is unsafe. I will check-in the week of the engagement session with a weather forecast. 48-hours before the session I will check the forecast again, and if dangerous weather seems to be a possibility, we will make a reschedule plan. Some couples opt to do their session in the rain which makes for a very movie-like engagement session that I love. I am fully prepared to shoot in the rain at all times (including a clear umbrella for the two of you!), but I will never put you or I in danger. I try to make the call to reschedule a session at least 24 hours in advance, but Florida weather in particular is unpredictable so I work with you every step of the way to make the best plan for you.
After Your Engagement Session
Receiving Your Photos from Your Engagement Session
After your engagement session with me, you will receive an email from me with your proofing gallery within 4 weeks of the session. You will use this gallery to select the images for your package. Engagement packages are 10 images, 20 images, and the entire gallery. If you would like more images than originally chosen, you are welcome to purchase more at this time as well. Once you have selected your images, they will be made available for you to download.
Purchasing Prints
Many of my couples choose to order prints of their photos to use as table decor at their wedding, wall art, and even guest books for their wedding. If you would like to purchase wall art, prints, or an album, I will take care of the entire design process and make it easy for you to get high-quality heirloom pieces. You will be able to pre-order if you would like or order after you have received your photos.
Save the Dates
For local weddings local, save the dates are usually sent out between 6 and 12 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out closer to 12 months before the wedding so that people can begin planning their vacation arrangements.
If you’re planning to use your engagement photos in your save-the-dates or invitations, then I recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates so that you have to receive the photos, choose the photos, and mail the save-the-dates. Two months usually gives plenty of time for all of that without any rush.
Next Steps:
As always, I am always here if you have any questions at all. If you have your wedding or elopement scheduled with me, then you can expect to hear from me at *just* the right times to help your process feel smooth and easy.
I can’t wait to capture your love story. Thank you for choosing me.
