An engagement session is an opportunity for the couple to take time out during the rigorous wedding planning process, to spend some time with their wedding photographer that with mark their engagement to one another. You would book this session to celebrate your engagement and also to work with your photographer before the day of the wedding. Sometimes the engagement falls into a flat space of time after the ring has been exchanged but before your life truly together begins. I believe this time should be celebrated, and one way to do so is with photographs displaying your love for one another for many years to come. Also choosing an engagement session as part of your wedding package enables you to get to know your photographer a little better, and discuss any likes or dislikes while getting to know how your photographer works. Once the wedding day comes around, you will be cool, calm, and collected and will have no need to be nervous or shy around your photographer.
The session is typically booked 2-3 months before the wedding date. I love to hear ideas and get their input for the shoot itself asking if there is something they like to do together or asking how the proposal went. This will bring meaning to the engagement photographs and make special memories that will be cherished for years to come.
Once a locations and time has been discussed and agreed upon, we are good to go. I believe the couple should choose a wardrobe that best describes themselves while keeping in mind a few helpful hints:
- I advise not to wear clothing with large logos or heavy patterns, because this can detract the eye from the subjects.
- Have your hair cut a week or so before the session, this allows the hair to settle a little and looks better in the photos.
- Keep your clothing choices cohesive, if you choose a color theme make sure it is carried out through both wardrobe choices without being matchy-matchy. This allows you to keep your individual style while keeping the couple cohesive.
- When applying your make-up, it should be the same way you would apply it day to day keeping your wardrobe and location in mind. Easy day- natural makeup for a relaxed beach session and ‘glam it up’ for an evening city engagement session.
For an engagement session, we will have chosen a location that best suits the the overall feeling you want to convey with your images. I try to make the session as relaxed and as informal as possible. We often start in a simple and casual pace with easy relaxed posing directions. Like discussed in a previous post about Basic Posing Techniques, I take a more informal approach to posing- capturing natural movements and interactions with minimal direction. That really means that I will direct you in a scene to ensure that we have the best light and the most flattering poses so that you both shine. This is done through conversation and basic direction so that it never seems over directed or uncomfortable.
An engagement session is truly a fun experience, and a great way to capture your love and celebrate your engagement. Engagement sessions can be booked with your wedding package but are also offered separately.
