5 Tips For Planning an Epic Engagement Session

Recently engaged? Not sure what to do next?
Start with the engagement session!

This session is all about you two. Engagement sessions are no longer bound to studio lights and prom poses (goodbye to the days of saying cheese at the camera). You can truly do anything! 

Take time to think about what you guys absolutely love to do. Whether hiking to a mountaintop or sipping a beer outside your favorite local brewery, you can craft a shoot that's totally in-tune with your style and relationship. Pretty amazing, right?

There are a few key pieces that go into crafting your dream shoot. As an elopement and wedding photographer, I’ve got you covered! Let's break them down:

1. Location, location, location.
Better yet? Make it an adventure.

Step one: think about your own interests and what represents your relationship. If you have a specific place already in mind, great! If not, I'm always ready and willing to scout out some new locations. We'll start off with the basics - mountains or forest? Glaciers or lakes? Coffee shop or craft brewery? Etc, etc, until we've found and chosen a spot that uniquely fits you. If that means hiking 5 miles into an epic overlook spot that you two love, do it!

2. Light (time of day)

This is where magic happens. Typically, shooting two hours before sunset onwards makes for the best glowy evening light. Or alternatively, you can wake up before sunrise (probably with a strong coffee in-hand!) and shoot for those hours right after the sun goes up. If the day just doesn’t serve up some sunshine, don't fret! Overcast & foggy skies (especially in moody, mountainous settings) can look absolutely gorgeous.

3. Wardrobe

There’s an entire outfit guide on this page, but the gist of it is that simplicity is key. Solids or "quiet" patterns + neutrals and earth tones always photograph well. Or if you're more of a color lover, soft pastels work wonders.

Long, flowy dresses and skirts look seriously amazing in that glowing light or when they catch the wind. More of a denim and cozy sweater type of gal? Keep it casual in your favorite combination. Guys! Plain tees, flannels and button-downs, pants with a proper fit, etc are a safe bet.

Try to stay away from overly baggy shirts/pants, "fancy" attire (if that's just not your normal vibe), and logo shirts. Don’t even get me started on logo shirts!

Let’s talk shoes. You’ll definitely be wandering, so either wear a pair of kicks that you're comfortable walking in for a while, or bring a pair separately. In the winter, strongly consider bringing Yaktrax or something similar to prevent slipping around. Traction, traction, traction!

The bottom line: always remember the location that you've chosen, as well as your everyday style. These images are a representation of you!

Need a better visual? I've pulled together a style board for inspiration: check it out here.

4. Hair & Makeup

Similarly to clothes, if you prefer a fresh-faced look with minimal effort, then rock that for your shoot. Or, if you're always wearing eyeshadow and have your hair curled, then that's your style, and you should capture it! It's probably not the best idea to try out fake tanner for the first time the day before, or to experiment with a heavy black cat eye if you plan on jumping in the lake (unless it's waterproof, of course).

5. Mood

This means more than just happy! Get in the right mindset for your session, and come into it with an open mind. This is so much easier if you also trust your photographer!

The night and/or morning before your session, do something that you guys enjoy together and that causes no stress. Unwind over a beer, go grab a bite at your absolute favorite restaurant - just have an awesome date night! Then, you’ll head to your engagement session in a totally different mood. In addition to all the "getting ready," you'll be mentally prepared too.

Ready to do this?

I'm so excited to talk details with you! Let's meet up over coffee or drinks and chat about your dream session. Whether you've planned part of it or are starting entirely from scratch - don’t worry, I’m here to help through the entire process! Click the button below to reach out.