As many of you well know, the popularity and demand for our engagement sessions has gone through the roof...we book as many engagement sessions as we do weddings and photograph upwards of 10 couples a month! As we grow with our clients we are often asked the exact same questions over and over again. So, with that we've decided to start a common page for all of your questions and our recommendations for your upcoming engagement shoot!!
#1)
Location Matters
If you're planning a beach wedding in the spring, then our recommendation is to think opposite. We'll suggest a cityscape in the fall or winter. You will have so many beautiful and eye-catching photos from your wedding day that for the engagement session it's nice to keep things separate and totally different!
The couple below, Joey and Colleen met and fell in love (even said their first "I love you") at the location they chose for their engagement session...but they're getting married in Atlanta (so it's different)!
#2)
Let's Read Between the Lines
When thinking about how, when, where, why...find places, people, backdrops, colors, with meaning! Think about what matters to you as a couple. What do you like to do together (that we can photograph **wink**wink**)? Where do you like to go? What are you as individuals proud of that you want to bring into your life together? Do you paint? Sing? Does your husband-to-be love football? Video Games? Music? Books? Food? What kind of food? How can you incorporate all of these things into a love story? You might not know, but WE DO...and if we have the information we can design a session to really SEE each of you!
Daniela and Adam went to the University of Central Florida and go to every home football game possible...so we headed towards the stadium for photos...the weather turned bad and we didn't quite make it, but then we were blessed with a small break in the clouds and a rainbow!!
Nicole and Bill LOVE coffee and still have "dates" in their neighborhood Starbucks...so we used that concept and went with it...books...coffee and a beautiful sunset. Their session was relaxed and silly...and it shows!
#3)
What's in a Look?
As with when, where and why, we need to pick clothes to fit the scene. If you like to hunt for antiques and want to bring that into the story, you probably wouldn't wear a slinky black cocktail dress and 4-inch heels to shop...so let's not go there! With that being said...sometimes taking our subjects out of the typical environment (i.e. - slinky black cocktail dress) and putting it on a farm can look REALLY cool. It's about making the "reader" of the photo, think... if just for a second. We like putting the unusual in the usual!
So Lisa and Mike's flannel shirts (below) and jeans looked uber cute on the farm, but then they got dressed up and we found graffiti with a little bit of nature!
If we're sticking with a theme...then let's do it! When we asked Julia and CJ about their favorite things in life...Julia said "shopping" and CJ said "sports"...so we brought both worlds together. We utilized Disney's Wide World of Sports and with some help from our "connections" we got on the sports fields for CJ's shots and then ran with the idea of shopping for Julia! She picked beautiful colors for the shopping photos and coordinating gently :)
If we're sticking with a theme...then let's do it! When we asked Julia and CJ about their favorite things in life...Julia said "shopping" and CJ said "sports"...so we brought both worlds together. We utilized Disney's Wide World of Sports and with some help from our "connections" we got on the sports fields for CJ's shots and then ran with the idea of shopping for Julia! She picked beautiful colors for the shopping photos and coordinating gently :)
#4)
Coordinating Clothes?
It's important to coordinate not MATCH. Please, please, please don't wear the same colors from top to bottom. Let's leave the white t-shirts and blue jeans at home! We often tell our clients to think minimally to make the most impact...a yellow ribbon in your hair can match his yellow button-up...and more than likely we're going to tell you to roll those sleeves up. Even if you opt for dressy, we'll still try to put a "lived-in" look to the selection...it's more real! None of us stay clean and pressed all day :)
In our photography reality, solid colors work best so as a general rule of thumb try to avoid busy patterns (BUT...within reason patterns can look great if balanced with a solid and minimal color) like Julie's sweater dress (below) and Kevin's solid white shirt!
#5)
Be Prepared
If you're naturally beautiful and don't wear much makeup we still always suggest wearing at least mascara and bringing lip gloss!! If you know you might need it, bring your flat iron or curling iron...we'll find someplace to plug it in! Bring lip gloss and a small bag of things you might need for touch-ups here and there! If you're going for two looks maybe hair up for one outfit and down for the other...or a hat or different head band, the small change can really make a big difference!
Dawn and Mike's engagement photos were taken at Walt Disney World Resort and we went to three separate locations on property to get all the shots we planned for! The wedding will be at Walt Disney World at the Pavilion so we did whatever was different then the Pavilion and we walked A LOT! You'd never know it was August because Dawn made sure she had her makeup and flat iron...and she rocked it out!
#6)
When?
Expect around 60 minutes of shoot time...and however long it takes to move from point A to point B. The sessions normally run 60-90 minutes in length including an outfit change. The fact of the matter is with us...we're not going to take a gazillion photos of you...we take GREAT photos to start with and we're adults...our attention spans don't last that long and after awhile you'll get bored and we start to lose the magic...
We'll plan for as near sunset as possible for the photos (to start approximately 45 minutes before sunset). If weather is bad, we will postpone...and sometimes plan B might even be an early morning shoot for sunrise! Believe me, we got into this biz because we're not morning people...but if we have to...we'll do it!!!
Erin and Ted knew they wanted beach photos...on the East Coast...so nature didn't give us a choice and we were there bright and early to pull these shots off!
Kristy and Carter loved the backdrop that Walt Disney World's Epcot resorts could provide...but since it is Disney we opted for an early morning session. If we hadn't we would NOT have been able to get a clear shot of the lighthouse and utilize the big sofa at The Boardwalk Resort! So sometimes getting up early is worth it!
#7)
Kids and Pets?
As you can see in the photos above, Erin and Ted were already proud parents and an "engagement" session didn't fit them well...so we mixed family photos in with it! So yes, we'll photograph your kids (the two-legged ones as well as the four-legged ones).
Jenelle is a horse trainer and knew that her beloved horse wouldn't work well at the Sculpture Garden she's getting married in...so we made the engagement shoot work for her furry babies. We went to her on the ranch and made sure to get photos of their family! Also check out the SLIGHT coordination of colors!
#8)
What box?
Don't be afraid to think outside of the box with us! We're super creative but can meet that creativity with some awesome editing skills! We've made one groom fly away with balloons...
We've recreated a couple's favorite movie scenes for their themed wedding...and believe it or not these were all done at a city park...OUTSIDE!
And even photographed a couple in a cemetery (respectfully)!
Even if you think your idea is too crazy...share it...and if you are coming up with nothing...we'll work it all out with you!
Now, we hope this helps you get some ideas, spark your imagination and ease the logical worries. We, of course, we'll answer any questions you may have in regards to YOUR engagement session so don't hesitate to ask...and if you're nervous...it's normal, but we promise we'll make you feel comfortable and give you direction if that's what you need! Until then...have fun planning! Be creative and fun!
We're looking forward to making you smile!!
Bill & Rachel
Your Photographers for Life
