ENGAGEMENT SESSION TIPS

CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement!

This is an exciting time in your life, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. Your engagement session is a wonderful opportunity to capture this special time in your relationship and create memories that will last a lifetime. These sessions are my absolute favourite because I love all the one-on-one time I get with you! This session also allows you to get comfortable in front of my cameras. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed and understand how I gently guide my couples into natural poses and also allow them to candidly be themselves. Timelines can be pretty tight on weddings days and 30 minutes may be all we have for portraits - which is why I've found that wedding day portraits turn out so much better when couples do engagement sessions ahead of time.

I have put together this guide to help you prepare for your engagement session and ensure that you look and feel your best in your photos. I hope you find this guide helpful and informative. At the heart of this guide is the idea that your engagement session should be a reflection of your unique love story. I encourage you to have fun, be creative, and make this experience your own. Whether you choose a formal setting or a casual outdoor location, what matters most is that you and your partner feel comfortable, confident, and connected.

No pressure, just relax and be YOU! This is going to be easy & fun!

MY GOAL IS TO MAKE YOU FEEL

CONFIDENT & PREPARED

Location, Location, Location!

The only wrong place for an engagement shoot is somewhere where you as a couple would not normally go. So if you wanted to have your pictures done at a basketball game but neither of you are interested in the sport, that would be a wrong location. If you wanted to take pictures while on a hike but both of you hate being outside, that would be a wrong location!

You can choose a very picturesque location, a place that’s meaningful - perhaps where you had your first date or first kiss or in the new home that you both just purchased, or some place where you pursue your hobbies…country club (golfing), movie theatre, pottery studio, amusement park - the location possibilities are endless.

WHAT TO WEAR

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

You might be REALLY tempted to go out and buy a whole new outfit (believe me, I’m all for an excuse to buy new clothes!) but you might consider wearing some of your favorite pieces that you already have! Feeling comfortable in your clothes is going to make such a huge difference to how you act in front of the camera. Wearing something that you already know you love will give you that boost of confidence that you might need!

If you do decide to go get something new, wear it around the house first, maybe to a girl’s night or out on a date with your hot fiance! Make sure there is nothing annoying about the clothes that you fell in love with at the store. If you find yourself constantly fidgeting with straps, hemlines, pants riding up, itching etc. consider wearing something else. Make sure you check yourself out in all angles so there are no surprises and have some friends that you trust give you honest opinions! We could have THE BEST time (and we probably will) on our shoot and you could feel great, but if you get the pictures back and there is some “unflattering” aspect of your outfit, you probably won’t be happy with the images. So make sure you love how you look and feel in the clothes that you pick out! That goes for you too men!

When choosing what to wear for your session, there are a few essential guidelines you should follow…

Think about the location. It might be hard to maneuver through a waterfall in heels! Make sure you’re dressed in a way to make it easier to move (there will be a lot of moving around!). If your signature look is a pair of heels, remember to bring a pair of sneakers or slip ons in case we are going on an adventure to get to our location!
This isn’t the time to try out a new style. Wear something that you would normally wear. If dresses are not your thing and you hardly ever wear one, don’t feel pressured to wear one if you want the photos to look sophisticated! There are other ways to achieve that look without going outside of your comfort zone! You want to look like yourself in these pictures. Remember, feeling comfortable and confident is key!
Solid color outfits tend to look better than prints, which can be distracting and overwhelming. If you do go with a print, make sure it’s not too loud! If you are a bold person, opt for a super fun pair of shoes or showcase it with your accessories, rather than a bold print!
Start with a neutral base and build from there. Neutral tones are typically more flattering and cohesive than bright colors. Pick two or three neutrals to start with and then add little accents of color if you want!
Avoid tight fitting clothes that might highlight areas that you’d rather not have highlighted. For example, I have a mommy tummy, so I stay away from really tight shirts when I wear low riding pants, or I layer with blazers or cardigans/sweaters, and tend to tuck my shirt in on one side.
Consider the weather! Make sure you’re prepared with a cute coat if it’s cold or snowy!
Do not match. Avoid wearing the same outfit (especially the classic white-t-shirt look with jeans). Instead, try to coordinate. Mix and match the base neutrals that you picked out. You should also both look like you’re going to the same place. If you are all fancy, and your future spouse is wearing flannel and denim, you will feel that disjoint in the images.
If you’re still stuck, head to Pinterest for inspiration and you can send me pictures of your outfit(s) if you want my opinion! When in doubt, ask!

BE PREPARED

You might be thinking, “okay, we’ve got our location and we know what we’re wearing, what else is there to know?” There are a few things you can do to prepare so that our session goes smoothly and we can all have a great time and get great pictures!

Avoid foods the day before your shoot that make you feel bloated (fast food, foods that are high in salt or fat or sugar). Trust me, being bloated is not going to make you feel pretty during your shoot!
Make sure everything is all ready the day before so you aren’t scrounging up your clothes in the morning, you don’t want to be flustered before your shoot!
Don’t get your hair cut/colored right before the shoot, the best time to do it is about a week to two weeks before.
Don’t underestimate the power of a manicure! Since these are your engagement pictures you know I’m going to want to shoot that bling! Gents, having your nails groomed is also a good idea!
Clean your ring! We want it all pretty and sparkly for the pictures!
Try on your outfit a couple days before the shoot, you want to make sure that you still feel great in it. If you don’t feel great, change it up!
If you have any questions about your session (that isn’t answered in this guide) send me a message!

What to Bring

I’m a better-bring-it-just-to-be-safe kind of person. Here are some handy dandy things that you might end up needing!

Water bottles (especially for those summer sessions, it gets hot!)
Snacks that are not messy. This is the only time I will not be encouraging the eating of chocolate. Unless of course we are doing a chocolate shoot!
A brush, hairspray, and/or gel. Don’t trust your hair to stay how you want it for the entirety of your session.
On that same note, bring a little makeup bag for touch ups. Make sure to include some type of towel in case anyone gets too sweaty.
Please don’t bring gum! But definitely bring tic tacs or something. Nothing kills our romantic moods like bad breath!
A change of clothes. You might want to switch it up (and you are more than welcome to - just let me know on your questionnaire if you’re doing an outfit change). It helps to have a back up in case you fall into a puddle or something.
Comfortable shoes!

THERE’S MORE?!

Okay, now that you are ready for your photo shoot, I have some great extra tips and tricks for you! This will help you with my shooting style and give you an idea of how your session is going to go.

I do my very best to make sure your pictures don’t look “posed.” Instead, I will give you gentle direction and tell you what to do, if needed, and then you make it your own. I won’t be telling you exactly how to stand or to move 2 centimeters to the right, etc. but I will help you look your best and if you’re at a lost, I will help you with where to place your hands, where to look, etc. My gentle assistance allows you to pose naturally and leaves you free to be yourselves! Plus, I don’t need to tell you guys how to be a couple, you’re already a pro at it!

Never. stop. moving. Seriously, the more movement you give me, the more pictures you are going to get. When I give you a direction and you stand still, you are going to get one shot from that pose. But if you take my direction and move around, you’ll get so much more variety. Don’t worry though, you’ll get the hang of it while we’re shooting!

I really want you to get handsy with each other. This sort of goes hand-in-hand (ha! Did you see what I did there?!) with the whole movement thing. Just always be moving your hands all over each other or even playing with each other’s hair. Kissing is always encouraged, feel free to take any liberties with any direction that I give you when it comes to embracing, kissing, laughing, joking, and being silly. And flirty. So much flirty-ness. Be sappy and romantic. Whisper some crazy (or naughty, wink!) things in your partner’s ear to make them laugh, be touchy-feely, or even forget that I’m there. Be you!

Treat this time more like a date instead of a photo shoot! I’m just here to capture you two being your authentic selves with each other and visually document the love, laughter, smiles, and joy between the two of you.

If you are uncomfortable in any of the poses, stop and adjust. If you’re uncomfortable then the pictures look forced and we do not want that!

Be yourself! Remember, these are pictures of you so don’t try to be like that person from Pinterest. We will try a number of shots and not all of them will turn out and that’s okay. The ones that do turn out will be the most natural and beautiful versions of you and your love!

Another cool thing to do is to include items that are important to you or that you can have fun with. For example, if you have a motorcycle, bring it. If you have a Harry Potter Gryffindor hat, wear it. If you have a cute dog, bring them (location permitting). If you have an idea for your wedding invitation pictures, let me know so that we can make sure to make that one perfect!

And what do you do if you need more information?! Send me a message! I’m here for all of your needs!