You’ve just got engaged- congratulations! But now you might be asking yourself “Now what?” Being engaged is a crazy process- trust us, we just got married in October- and it can be a whirlwind experience from shopping for vendors, to scouring bridal fairs and magazines and keeping it all in budget. With everything going on it can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind which is why we recommend doing an engagement session.
Engagement sessions are a great way to slow down and really capture this moment. Beyond being a fun experience for the two of you, you can also use the photographs for things like your wedding announcements, save the dates, invitations, guest books, posters, etc. We’ve created this quick guide to answer some questions and get you amped up and ready for your session!
WHAT TO WEAR:
Finding something to wear can be an agonizing process if you don’t know what you want out of your photographs. You may want to bring something that highlights the theme of your wedding. For example, if you are having a vintage wedding, you might want to wear something that has that same vintage feel. Is your wedding more bohemian or is it formal? Is it on a beach or is it a backyard wedding?
We recommend bringing 2-4 different outfits ranging from casual to formal. Having a multitude of outfits gives you a wide range to choose from. If you are stuck, just think of something that you would wear to dinner with your family and something more formal like what you would wear to a wedding. Just remember to try on the outfits together before the session to make sure the colors and patterns compliment one another.
The best clothing combos are usually neutrals with a pop of color or simple patterns. The more complex the pattern and the mix of color, the more it will detract from showcasing the two of you.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION (& TIME)
There are two things to consider- the location and the timing of your session. We always schedule our sessions during Golden Hour for the best lighting. Golden hour is the hour before and during sunset or sunrise. Without getting too much into the science of it, the angle of the sunlight during sunrise or sunset is much more flattering and less severe and creates a softer glow.
Location can also be a factor when it comes to Golden Hour. If you want to do a shoot in the woods, for example, the light will fade much faster and you would need to start your session earlier.
If you are stumped when trying to find a spot, just let us know. We’ve got plenty of spots picked out around the bay area where we’ve shot before. We are both Bay natives and love sharing our favorite spots. Already got a spot picked out? We love finding new spaces to create art!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Feeling jittery about your shoot? Unless you are a professional model, you’ve probably never done this before and that’s okay! We always schedule extra time to your engagement session in the beginning so we can meet up with you about 15-20 minutes before the session officially starts. We like to spend that time checking in with you and teaching you the basics of posing. We use a few simple poses that anyone can do and will transform the way you pose in any photograph.
Once we get to know you a little better, we will start your session. Don’t worry if the first 15 minutes feels awkward- it does for almost everyone. Most likely you’ve never spent that long in front of a camera and it can be a totally new experience.
Since we teach you the poses ahead of time, you can just relax and snuggle up with your sweetheart. Also learning some posing techniques will make you feel more relaxed the day of your wedding because you will have it in your muscle memory. That’s one less thing for you to stress about on your wedding day.
Your session is about showing off the two of you and telling a part of your journey together. We love it when we are able to capture something the two of you like to to do together. We will guide you through the easy poses but also let the moment unfold naturally for the two of you so you never feel rushed.
ENJOY THE MOMENT:
Getting married is a huge milestone in your life and what better way than to capture it and preserve it through a photograph. When you come to an engagement session, the most important thing is celebrating the two of you and the journey that you are embarking on.
The best photos are the ones that look real, so just relax and take the moment to enjoy your partner’s company and let us take care of the rest!
Looking for some examples of our previous engagement sessions, be sure to check these ones out:
Lisa & Brian‘s rowboat session at Lafayette Reservoir
Chere & Michael’s session in the flowers of Heather Farms
Leila & Calvin‘s dreamy session in the Oakland hills
We can’t wait to continue the conversation with you! Drop us a line to get your engagement session set up today!
