planning engagement photos

i use an engagement session to get to know my clients and also as a way for them to get comfortable with me and the camera. i love getting to know how my couple interacts with each other, what prompts work best with them, and all that fun stuff.

LOCATION

pick somewhere that is YOU - do you have a favorite spot you visit? local coffee shop or botanical garden? are you a regular at an arcade bar or pizza place? can be as simple or unique as you’d like. if you’re travelling to my neck of the woods and don’t know the area or have ideas, i am more than happy to give you local suggestions and even show you samples of my past work in different spots!

keep in mind light and sun - take some time to scope out the location you have in mind (or ask your photographer to) at different times of the day to see when it looks the dreamiest and when the sun is perfectly placed. usually 1-2 hours after sunrise and 1-2 hours before sunset work best, but all locations are different.

get inspo - we all love pinterest, and i personally love keeping up with wedding blogs and photographers on instagram.  maybe even take it back to the original pinterest and make a mood board if you’re into that sort of thing.

translate clothes to location - if you’re hiking 2+ miles for your location, maybe don’t wear heels.  if you’re wanting an in-home session, maybe don’t wear a formal gown and suit. make sure your attire matches the location you pick.

CLOTHING

and with clothes in mind, avoid matching. it’s a common misconception that you have to match for your photos.  i prefer you coordinate. pick colors and textures that look good together but don’t make it look like you are wearing the same outfit with the exact same colors. layering your outfit(s) also gives you a variety of looks within one outfit. throw on a denim jacket or a scarf - these can be easily removed if they are too distracting but also give you the look of multiple outfits without lugging around extra clothes. guys can and should accessorize too! have a watch you love? maybe a go to hat? bring them along - sometimes adding in those elements makes a photo pop!

make sure to keep in mind the colors of your location too - is there greenery? a red bench you both love? play off those colors and find that perfect balance. i have plenty of cute outfit ideas saved on my pinterest here.

POSES

if you have specific poses you have been dying to try, you can definitely send a couple my way. i will however also give you guys prompts and guides throughout the session that give you a variety of different poses. if you want, grab a drink with your honey before photos, loosen up.