engagement session guide
SCROLL TO BEGIN
CHAPTER ONE:
WHY STYLING MATTERS
CHAPTER TWO:
PICKING YOUR SESSION OUTFITS
CHAPTER THREE:
PICKING YOUR SESSION LOCATION
CHAPTER FOUR:
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR SESSION
CHAPTER FIVE:
YOUR PACKING LIST
CHAPTER SIX
THE POST-SESSION PROCESS
table of
Contents
Why does styling play a huge role in absolutely loving the final gallery of photos from your session with me!!!??? Yeah, I know. I didn’t believe this at first either. BUT IT’S TRUE!!! When I first started my photography career, I had NO CLUE how much 'style' played a role in creating beautiful images. Now I’m not talking style as in “this skirt, to that jacket”…no, no, no, no…
Let’s get on the same page now, shall we? When I say, style, I’m talking about color.
Color is the true genius behind beautiful images. Our eyes are drawn to colors that live in a world of cohesiveness vs colors that just don’t go well together and makes you look out of place when wearing them.
Depending on where your photo session takes place, its best to fit into the tones of the background your being photographed in. If your session is taking place at the beach, wearing darker earthy tones to match the water, sand rocks, etc will help you blend into the image but ultimately make you STAND OUT.
Q: why does styling/planning your outfits matter?
A:
Think earthy, nature tones, especially if your photo session is taking place outside - blacks, browns, greens, blues, oranges & whites
To ensure you receive the same happiness in your own photos, I suggest drawing ideas for outfit choices from the earthy tone color palette when you start trying to decide on what you’re going to wear!! Check out my pinterest, specifically my engagement outfit board for even more ideas if you need them!!!
In my experience, minimal/simple outfits work best!!! But please, bring as many options as you’d like, and I can most certainly help you narrow down your choices before we even start taking photos :)
Again, my favorite 'earthy' colors are greens, browns, blacks, whites, blues, and any neutral family member. Please do not feel limited to only choosing within this color palette. these are your photos after all, and if anyone needs to ABSOLUTELY love them…it’s you!!!!!!!
But you've fallen in love with the images you've seen in my portfolio, and that means you've watched as my own past couples have followed this system in creating beautiful images! It really works :)
Q: Why Earthy Tones?
A:
check out my amazon favorites here
more stores I love...
lulus, hello molly, shein, bohme, h&M, zara, showpo, princess polly, tilly's, abercrombie & fitch, BALTIC BORN, target, amazon, forever 21
shop till you drop
let's start brainstorming...
check out some of my fav spots, and ones on my bucket list
what locations speak to you
Picking your session location might seem difficult at first, because you may not know where to start. But no worries, I got ya covered!!! All I want you to do, is think about what makes you and your bae happy. Is it the ocean? The mountains? Or maybe a grassy field that reminds you of home. Maybe its your favorite Tuesday night sushi date, or staying at home in your pjs. Whatever that happy place is for you guys, THAT IS WHERE WE SHOULD DO YOUR SESSION.
Nothing makes you feel more awkward than feeling out of place. So if the city isn’t your thing, but the mountains are, then we will shoot in a mountain, and not a city…make sense??
If you’ve never taken professional photos together, it might already be awkward (even though it won’t be with me…but we’ll get to that later!!!) so why pick a location that doesn’t help you instantly feel more comfortable and relaxed??
wa state/CA/OR/pnw location list
click here
click photo
So you’ve never done a professional photoshoot before…
Well, wait... You've never had a photoshoot with ME before... ;) Yayayay!!!! I get so happy and excited to shoot with couples who have never been photographed before I love giving my couples an entire EXPERIENCE vs. just a photoshoot. We are going to laugh, run, jump, and have thee best time EVER. So prep for the shoot with some energy drinks, your favorite kinda liquor or fav candy before we get started!!!!
“I’m like soooo awkward in front of the camera”
But really, who ISN’T?!? I can tell you with 100% certainty that this awkward, anxious, nervous feeling you may have before the shoot will be out the door 10minutes into our session together. TRUST ME. If you come open, and ready to have a good time, you’ll be suuuuuper comfortable in front of the camera by the end of our session!!!
Q: “I’m like soooo awkward in front of the camera”
A:
packing list for
+ WATER (LOTS)
+ IF YOU PLAN ON WEARING AN OUTFIT THATS MORE REVEALING OF YOUR SKIN, BE CAREFUL OF TAN LINES OR BRA LINES LEADING UP TO OUR SESSION
+ CASH & COINS FOR PARKING
+ WALLET & ID'S (NATIONAL PARKS)
+ COMFY CLOTHES TO CHANGE INTO AFTER
+ SPANX/NIPPLE COVERS/SLIP/NO LINING UNDERWEAR
+ ASSORTMENT OF DIFFERENT SHOES FOR THE SESSION (I CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE WHAT TO PICK)
+ TONS OF SNACKS
+ BLANKET(S)
+ BABY WIPES/MAKEUP WIPES
+ MOUTH WASH OR GUM (YOU WILL BE KISSING EACH OTHER A LOT HEHE)
+ HAIR BRUSH (IF ITS WINDY, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER)
+ MAKEUP BAG FOR TOUCH UPS
+ A ZIPLOCK SOS BAG
TYLENOL, TUMS, ALLERGY MEDS, SAFTEY PINS, BOBBY PINS, HAIR TIES, HEADLAMP/FLASHLIGHTS, BATTERIES
*you may not need everything on this list - depending on your shoot location - but its better to be over prepared, than under!*
your engagement session
The first step after your session will be you two eating dinner or going on a date night together. if this is your engagement session, your in the midst of wedding planning, and yall really deserve a night out. i’m not talkin’ in n’ out either. go somewhere fancy and spend the night just the two of you and really soak in this season of being FIANCÉS!!!
Step two is that I go home with some taco time (a very important step to my creative process) and I backup all your photos into my backup hard drives and begin to cull. Culling means I’m pulling the best of the best images from your session to edit for you before delivery day!!! There is no proofing or needing to select images from your session, I’ll do all the magic and hard work for ya!!! ;)
DRUM ROLL PLEASE...step three is delivery day!!!! I aim to deliver all my couples sessions/engagement sessions two-three weeks post session. the session album will come in an email and i’ll be super excited yelling through your computer screen “your photos are ready!!! your photos are ready!!!!”. Once images are DELIVERED to you, you may download them to as many devices as you’d like, and you’ll have full printing rights to print your photos wherever you’d like!!!
