Why should we book an engagement session?

Shooting engagement sessions is one of our favorite things about working with wedding clients.  The engagement session gives us a chance to get to know you as a couple away from the business of your wedding day.  We often tell our clients that shooting an engagement session with us is kind of like a double date :-)  It’s a time when we can talk to you one on one (well, it’s actually more like two on two) and hear all about how you met, what you love about each other and all the other things that make up your love story.  In addition to getting to know you personally, it also gives us a chance to find out what you’re like in front of the camera so we can make the very most of our portrait session with you on your actual wedding day.  When we show up on your big day, it will feel like we’re old friends – not a couple of crazy paparazzi chasing you around with cameras all day – and we’ll already know how to make your photo experience the very best that it can be.  Not to mention the fact that you’ll have a lot of fun snuggling with your honey and you’ll get a ton of beautiful photos out of it!

How do we choose a location?

The location is entirely up to you!  The most important thing to keep in mind is that we want YOU to be a big part of the process!  We want you and your spouse-to-be to have a great experience and end up with photos that reflect who you are and tell your story.  When we start to brainstorm ideas for a location we will ask you things like, “what do you do together for fun?”, “are there any places that are significant to your relationship?”, “what type of settings have you seen in other photos that appealed to you?”, “what do you consider your personal style, individually and as a couple?”  We can make lots of suggestions based on areas where we like to shoot, but our ultimate goal is to come up with a place that fits YOU!

How long does it take?

We tell our clients to allow about 90 minutes for an engagement session.  (If we shoot at more than one location, plan for a little extra time.)  We typically kick things off about an hour before sunset and shoot for about half an hour after the sun goes down. We’ll spend time walking around together to get a variety of shots with different back grounds.  Overall, we like to be able to take our time and have fun together – you’ll have plenty of time to relax in front of the camera and we’ll have plenty of time to get to know you.

What should we wear?

Wear something that reflects YOUR personality and style!  You’ll be looking at these photos for the rest of your lives so putting some thought into what you’ll be wearing in them is a MUST.  Good or bad outfit choice can make a big difference in how much you love your photos. No matter what you wear, we’ll do our best to give you direction that will help you look your very best, but it’s also important that you wear something you feel and look good it.

Here are a few general tips:

• Choose two outfits each to create variety – Most couples choose one more formal outfit (such as a dress or skirt for gals and a button down shirt for the guys) and one more casual outfit (like jeans and a more casual top). Just make sure the level of formality between you matches so you don’t end up with a girl in an evening dress and man in shorts and a t-shirt. Ha ha!
• Coordinating vs. matching colors – Wearing different shades of the same color looks great in photos, but an exact match can be problematic! When both people wear the same color (especially black) and stand close together, they kind of look like a big blob. The “blob” look is not really flattering for anyone so we recommend you avoid wearing the exact same color.
• Wear something that flatters you – As a general rule, no women’s favorite part of herself is her upper arms. Because of this, sleeveless tops/dresses tend not to photograph as well. Keep this in mind for other parts of the body too. If you love it – flatter it! If you hate it, do your best to choose clothes that will minimize it.
• Choose something you can move in – Make sure you’re comfortable sitting in and moving around a bit in any outfit you choose. There’s a good chance you’ll even be sitting on the ground at some point, so be prepared for the possibility.
• Patterns can be tricky – It’s a good idea to avoid tops that have a really strong pattern that would draw a lot of attention away from your face. For example: plaid shirts are great, but smaller plaid patterns sometimes look off when photographed so it’s better to choose a large pattern over a small one. Also, if one of you wears something with a lot of pattern, choose a solid for the other person so the image doesn’t get to busy.
• Accessories are encouraged – Not only are your clothes important, don’t forget to think about your accessories too! Everyone looks more put together with some fun extra pieces to add character – cute jewelry, a flowing scarf, a special headband or a snazzy watch for the guys. These details will definitely show up in your images so be prepared to express your style.
• Make shoes a priority – Make sure you pick shoes you LOVE the look of, even if they aren’t something you’d wear for everyday. We will be doing some walking ladies, so if you’re rockin’ some awesome heels (which we LOVE) we also encourage you to bring along some comfy flip flops or athletic shoes to move in between locations if you think you may have a hard time walking long distances in the fancy ones. Obviously, you wouldn’t normally wear heels to hike through the desert or the forest, but it IS a photo shoot so we think it’s ok to stretch the bounds of reality just this once. Ha ha!

Can we include our pet?

Yes!  We are open to including pets during an engagement session, but as they are a bit unpredictable we ask that a family member or friend come along to help look after them.  We suggest that we include the pet during the first half an hour of the session and then the family member or friend can take them back home so we can spend the rest of the time focused on you without any distractions.

When will I get to see my photos?

About two weeks after your engagement session, we’ll post a preview of your photos on the blog.  We encourage you to forward the link to family and friends and share your images with others.  There’s even a comment section under each post where people can leave you messages.  The rest of the photos will be edited within four weeks and put into an online gallery where you can download them, share them on Facebook or purchase prints.

What is a Guest Book Album?

A Guest Book is a great way to showcase your engagement images.  These are modern, lay-flat albums designed with blank space left for your wedding guests to leave you special messages on your big day.  These albums are used in place of a tradition guestbook where guests only have room to sign their names.  After your wedding, the album will serve as a wonderful momento of your engagement session and contain all the love and well wishes from your family and friends.  You won’t want to just throw this guest book in a box with your other wedding keepsakes, it will remain out to look at and share for years to come!