your Engagement Session
Some tips to help you make the most of it and really capture your magic!
The two of you are already crazy in love otherwise you wouldn’t be planning a wedding! this session is more about capturing the uniqueness of your love - those subtle little details that you and your partner share with each other. If you follow some of the suggestions below I’m sure we’ll have a great time together and capture some amazing moments.
TIP # 1
TREAT IT LIKE A DATE!
BETTER YET, MAKE IT AN ACTUAL DATE. PLAN SOMETHING FUN TO DO WITH EACH OTHER WHETHER THAT BE A TRIP TO THE MOVIES, A COOL EXHIBIT AT THE MUSEUM OR A NICE DINNER. HAVE YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION BE JUST ONE OF YOUR PLANNED STOPS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THIS ISN’T TO SAY IT’S NOT IMPORTANT BUT YOU’LL CERTAINLY FEEL LESS STRESSED ABOUT IT IF YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO FOCUS ON LATER IN THE DAY.
Tip # 2
Be Yourselves!
This might sound strange but some people get nervous when a camera is pointed at them (really, it’s true. it happened to my friend’s mother’s uncle’s sister’s neighbor a while back). When people get nervous they tend to act differently or tense up which is not what we want for your engagement session. We want this to be fun and light - just an awesome experience that leaves you even more excited for your wedding. It’s very important that you try your best to just be with each other, the way you normally would if I wasn’t there. While I’ll definitely suggest some stances to get us moving in the right direction my ultimate goal is for you to see your final images and say, “this is Us!”
Tip # 3
Dress the part!
with your wedding day being a ways off your engagement session provides a sneak peek of how things will be on the big day. It might be a good time to have your hair and makeup done to try out the look you had in mind. I suggest you wear clothes that are comfortable and fit your personality. Layers are a good choice as they allow you to quickly change things up as the session progresses. If you’ve been wearing your engagement ring it’s a good idea to have it cleaned beforehand so it’s nice and sparkly for the session. Last but not least, don’t be too concerned with buying matching sweaters or anything of that nature. It’s nice to have colors complement each other here and there but you’re both individuals and owe it to yourselves to be who you are.
Tip # 4
Be Ready for some close-ups!
Robert Capa once said, “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” By this, he meant that to create an image of value we have to immerse ourselves in the subject. During our session I will be searching out what makes you - you. Whether it’s the way you play off each other or the interests you share I will be doing my best to expose why you are destined to be together. While this may be the first time we meet in person it’s important that you trust me enough to share those sides of yourselves. I truly believe that this is a collaborative effort so if we’re comfortable with each other everything should fall into place nicely.
Tip # 5
Don’t forget the Light!
The literal definition of the word photography is, “to draw with light.” Photographs cannot exist without light and will be heavily influenced by the amount and quality of light during your session. Because of this you may want to put some thought into the time you scheduled for your session. Noontime is typically not the best for photography since the light tends to be rather harsh. If possible, scheduling your session for early morning or late evening around golden hour will provide a warm glow to the images. Of course, weather doesn’t always behave the way we want it to so whatever time we have for the session we will make the best of.
