Tips to make the most out of your Engagement Session
THE BASICS.
POCKETS : Empty your pockets! Guys especially - you don’t want to have key chains or phones showing through.
BAGS : Leave the bags behind so that your arms are free to hug and mine are free to capture. Leaving the "stuff" behind also ensures we have more spontaneous candid moments while walking from place to place.
TIMING : The sun sets quickly especially if your session is not in the summer months. The later you arrive, the less time we have to shoot! Once the sun is set, the shoot will be over.
THE RING : Clean the ring beforehand for that extra sparkle!
FLIP FLOPS : If you’re wearing shoes that are difficult to walk in but look awesome, bring some comfy shoes to change to while we walk to further away shooting locations.
​
DRESSES & SHORTS : If you’re wearing a shorter skirt or a dress with a slit, it is my recommendation to wear spanx or hidden shorts underneath so we have the freedom to pose freely.
​
DEEP BREATHS : Enjoy this time together, and make a date out of it! Plan dinner afterwards and celebrate!
SELECTING OUTFITS & STYLING YOUR SHOOT.
You have so much control over the outcome of your shoot and what it will look and feel like! What you choose to wear is a big decision and it will determine the style and feel of your photos or video!
Lets start by de-bunking some very common outfit myths that a lot of people believe about what they should wear to their session!
​
​
MYTH 1: Avoid neutral colors,
Sure, there are some colors that don’t work for some people, but the truth is, neutrals are often the most appealing color for an engagement session.
​
MYTH 2 : Wear black to look thin!
Sure, black is slimming, but it can easily come across "heavy" during an engagement session. There is nothing wrong with black but if you’re only wearing it to look thinner and you are going for an airier romantic vibe, it may not be the best choice. If you are into a moodier look, dark colors can look really amazing!
​
MYTH 3: You two need to match!
Please, do not try to match your significant other! Instead, coordinate! Coordinating is a completely different concept from “matching”. Coordination means you are choosing different colors that look good together but they are not the same color.
​
MYTH 4: Your location determines the overall look more than your outfit!
False! Your outfit will often have more of an impact than your location. Your location is just a setting in the background but you two will be the main focus of your photo! You will want to make sure that your attire fits in comfortably with the setting for a cohesive appearance.
​
MYTH 5: You have to buy something new!
False! If you know you look great in an outfit that you already have and it fits the style you want for your engagement session, that is a perfect choice!
​
MYTH 5: You have to dress super fancy!
Not at all! Sometimes it's the jeans and a simple top that will give you the most effortless comfortable feel. Wearing pants actually gives us additional flexibility and opportunity to be playful in sitting, standing, running, or jumping "poses." Think about what feeling you want to evoke and wear what you will feel comfortable in.
NEUTRAL or BOLD
CASUAL or DRESSY
CLASSIC or TRENDY
WHAT STYLE DO YOU PREFER?
WHEN DECIDING ON YOUR STYLE, HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON THINGS TO AVOID:​
​
​
COLORS : Avoid bright reds, neons, bright oranges (they reflect color onto skin and can be difficult to edit!)
​
PATTERNS SMALLER THAN A QUARTER : Avoid tiny patterns because they cause something called “Chromatic Aberration” in imaging. This can also apply to men's clothing, and can show up as a "busy" distraction, diverting the attention away from your connection together as a couple. It can show up in photos and is also particularly noticeable during movement in a video.
​
STRIPES : Stripes are very hard to pull off in an engagement shoot setting. I've seen it done but use discretion.
TOO MUCH OUTFIT HEAVINESS : If one of you is wearing very dark jeans, the other may want to wear lighter pants. If one of you is wearing a navy top, the other should not wear a dark/heavy colored top. Alternating the “heaviness” of your outfits can make your photos/video look more balanced. If you are going for a moody feel, disregard. :)
​
MISMATCHED STYLES : It can come across disjointed if one of you is dressed up and the other is overly casual.
​
OTHER THINGS TO AVOID : Tennis shoes, Graphic tees, Bold logos on shirts, Hair Ties on your Wrist, Sunglasses & Baseball Hats.
Which feels most like you?
Vibe 1:
THE ROMANTIC STYLE
If you’re hoping for a more romantic style of session that includes “light” and “dreamy” colors, you can make outfit choices that will steer your session into something softer and more lovey-dovey! It’s important to note that you do not need to implement all of these things to have a light and dreamy style to your photos/video, but the more ingredients you include, the more romantic it will come across:
​
Neutral Colors : Blushes, tans, light pinks, faint blues, light minty teals, creams, grays, and whites will result in more of a romantic and dreamy look in your images.
​
Long, Flowy Dresses vs. Curated Casual : Effortless dresses and skirts with feminine ruffles, multiple layers of fabric and the ability to blow and move in the wind will always capture beautifully! You would be amazed at how impactful moving fabric softens a scene. On the flip side, more casual clothing allows for a cozy romantic feeling that can allow your bond together to look easy and natural. Plus, casual attire allows you the freedom to move and play in an effortless way!
​
Khakis vs. Jeans : If you really want your photos/video to be as bright as possible, consider having your partner wear lighter pants instead of dark dress pants or dark jeans.
Color Inspo:
Vibe 2:
THE BOLD STYLE
Just like the “Romantic” Style, you don’t have to apply all of these options to get a bolder look to your engagement session.
​
Only One Pattern : If one of you has a bold pattern, it’s very important that the other doesn’t. The more bold the pattern, the more important this rule is!
Only One Bold Color : If you really want a bold and bright look but you want to do it tastefully, I would suggest that only one of you have a bright and bold colored outfit and the other stay in a solid neutral palette to avoid over-doing it.
​
Large Patterns Only : If you really want to wear a pattern, my suggestion is that your pattern be on the larger side. Patterns that are smaller than a quarter can be difficult to capture without becoming too busy. This isn’t true of all patterns but it’s a good general rule to go by.
​
Long, Flowy Dresses vs. Curated Casual : Dresses and skirts with layers of fabric and the ability move in the wind also fit perfectly into a bolder style and give us something to play with! Stylized casual clothing has it's perks though (and it's actually my personal favorite)! It frees you up for more playful spontaneous scenes for an approachable "real" vibe.
Color Inspo:
Dress seasonally appropriate.
​
One standout accessory can be great! (Necklace, hat, shoes, earrings, shawl)
Wear clothes, hair, and makeup that feel like you! This is a special occasion but it should still represent you.
Final Bonus Tips:
