HEY THERE!
Ready to rock your engagement session?!
Engagements are some of MY FAVS 👏🏽 They’re hella fun + just a good time for us to meet, get to know each other, + create fun mems. Also, who doesn’t want a few new #profpics + photos to hang on the wall?
It’s gonna be FUN!
First things first, let’s talk clothing.
Full disclaimer, I know nothing about fashion. I wear the same 3 things all. the. time. What I’m going to suggest are what I’ve found that tends to photograph well + complement each couple. These are suggestions, not rules! I’ll be happy to hang out with y’all no matter what you’re wearing.
I want you to look like yourself. I don’t want you to dress up in an iron buttoned down + flowy dress if it doesn’t represent you. I love those outfits, they’re super cute + fun, but if you don’t like to wear those things, I don’t want you faking it for the sake of engagements. You’ll be super dressed up for your wedding day, so why not be super chill + representative of your day to day style for engagements? Bring clothes you normally wear, stuff you feel great in. I want these images to feel like you.
The deets
Bring options. To get the best results, I’ll help pick from the options y’all bring to change into for each spot we shoot at. I’ll be looking for outfits that complement the environment + surroundings so the focus is on you two + not any distractions. Don’t go overboard + think you have to bring a million outfits to choose from. Most couples will bring 3-4 pairs of bottoms and 4-5 tops each. You can also bring 1-2 dresses, accessories, jackets, and all the goods. Just remember, you might be changing in your car if you will be changing! If you don’t want to, we can totally just plan on one outfit.
Work with the environment. If we’ll be walking through the woods, bring shoes that work well in dirt, on trails, etc. If we’re on a small beach, you’ll be barefoot! If it’s cold outside, bring layers, like warm socks + boots. If it’s hot out, make sure the fabric you choose is breathable.
Movement. You’ll notice by looking at my portfolio, there is a lot of movement in my photos. You won’t just be standing around doing nothing for your session. You’ll be running around, jumping on each other, cuddling, etc. So don’t bring those super restricting jeans when your favorite broken in jeans fit so much more comfortably. You won’t want to be tugging on a super short skirt or tight fitted shirt to make sure it’s covering an area you don’t ~love. Also, I’m obsessed with the wind blown look. Fabrics that allow for movement + to catch the wind are so great because it adds energy and another dimension to the photos.
Colors. Neutrals + earth tones are always a solid bet. Neutral doesn’t just mean grays and browns, neutrals of every color are awesome (think mustard yellow, forest green, navy blue, burnt orange, etc). Stay away from bright colors and pinks, bright orange, or red. If you have a darker or olive skin tone, light red or orange could work, but sometimes those colors can just cause a pink/red cast on your skin.
Patterns. Let’s forgo the louder, chunky patterns and go for subtle patterns or solids. Louder patterns distract from your faces + don’t usually go with the environment. Also remember not to pair too many patterns together because the photos can feel a bit hectic and distracting from your faces + location. Don’t forget to iron your clothes so there aren’t any distracting wrinkles.
Props. When I say props, I don’t mean the typical Pinterest props like chalkboards + other cheesy props. Hats, sunglasses, scarves, + jewelry are always a yes. Props don’t have to be cheesy! Though your pizza picnic could be 🙌🏽 Other non-cheesy ideas are: pets, motorcycles, skateboards, a campfire, a bouquet, etc etc.
In Home Sessions. Most of the same rules apply, except the more skin showing, the better. It looks way cozier if you two are comfy + in something you might really wear around the house.
Hair + Makeup. If you’re wanting to have your hair + makeup done, I say go for it if it’ll make you feel best! I want you to look + feel awesome + confident! Plan to have your hair + makeup done at least an hour before you have to leave for the shoot so you aren’t stressed for time. If you’re wanting to get a spray tan, definitely try an airbrush spray tan vs a salon/tanning bed!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! You can always shoot me a pic or two of what you’re thinking go wearing, also feel free to check out this Pinterest board HERE. It has tons of wardrobe inspo for a bunch of different locations. Here are a few outfits from the Pinterest board - none these images below are mine!
Choosing Location
Where the heck should we go?!
I'm a big fan of staying in one location, unless the second desired location is close by! We can totally do two locations that aren't too close, but your session will need to be at least two hours! Personally, the last thing I want is to be too worried watching the clock when I'm really wanting to capture you two + create authentic moments between you. This is totally a personal preference, but when I get on a roll, I don't like to stop unless there isn't any sun left!
1) Consider what you two do for fun! A majority of my sessions are in a field/in the woods somewhere. I'm obsessed with the field vibe + I always suggest it. But if you don't like being outside or just want to try something else, consider: a bar, your home, the lake, a fair, downtown, a mountain top, midtown, heck even another city! I'm always up for traveling for engagement sessions.
2) Consider the season you're taking your engagement photos. If you're wanting to take them in January, you might want to consider an indoor session, at home or at a coffee shop!
3) All in all, the location, just like the clothes, don't matter as much as the love between you two! You don't have to pick an EPIC location. Shelby Farms, your front porch, or a rooftop are perfect options. The main thing is YALL. So don't stress if you can't think of something "creative" enough.
What To Expect
“We're seriously not photogenic AT ALL, I hope you get a few good ones.”
OK. NOPE. If I had a dollar for every time a couple said that to me, I'd have a lot of dollars.
Seriously, HANDLING THIS IS WHY I LOVE MY JOB SO MUCH. I'm not yelling, I promise, I'm just excited. Do not worry about this. I'm going to give you direction. Behind every smiling/laughing photo you see, is me saying something weird or making weird noises at the couple. It's not natural to be in front of the camera, I promise! That part is my job. It's ok, I gotchu.
Just to give you a heads up of what to expect, I'm going to tell you to do silly things like walk swinging your arms and booty bumping, you miiiiight have to lick your boo’s nose, you'll probably play tag at some point, maybe even jump into each others arms. Make sure you have at least one joke on hand + don't forget your best dance moves at home. I’ll get yall to be super silly, but I’ll also have you two get sweet + snuggly + get those intimate shots. It’s totally your vibe though, I won’t force anything that doesn’t come naturally to you! If you’re really worried about being too nervous or stiff, bring a 6 pack (or other drink of choice) to your session if we don’t have time to have a drink beforehand. Even just a few sips can get the most nervous person to loosen up and have a blast!