Engagement sessions are some of my most favorite sessions to shoot for many reasons let me list a few below:

• I get to meet my couples for the first time in most cases. The engagement session allows us to get to know each other, it allows you to get familiar with how I work, you’ll learn a few poses & it’ll help get you aquainted & comfortable in front of the camera. So come wedding day you’ll be a PRO!
• No stress, no rush we can have fun & enjoy the adventure!
• Engagement photos are usually done in locations that are special to you in some way or you love their beauty, i.e. the mountains, family farm, etc and this helps show off your personalities and let them shine through in your session! YOU get to include your fur babies!! Whether that be your dog, your horses or even your cattle. Sometimes depending on your wedding venue you aren’t able to incorporate them on your wedding day, BUT 99% they’re able to be in your engagement photos.
• Fashion, engagement photos are meant for some incredible outfits! Flowy dresses, skirts, outfits that YOU love & will make you shine!

Now that I have shared a few of my favorite things about engagement sessions, I’ll share some tips & tricks to help make your session go smoothly & flawlessly.

 All of my couples receive a Bridal Guide in their welcome package with these tips & MORE!

1. CLEAN that Ring! : We want that ring to SPARKLE!! I will be photographing your gorgeous diamond! This means that this would be a perfect opportunity to have your ring cleaned so that it’s clear of dirt and other build up that may be visible through a macro lens!

2. TIMELINE :  Arrive EARLY! Engagement photos are typically 1-2 hours long and personally I prefer to shoot them around golden hour 1 to 2 hours before sunset! That’s when you get that golden glow! I’m always a few minutes early to engagement sessions so that I can scope out the location and find light that will be flattering on my couples! We are racing the sun and cannot shoot after it has set, I recommend leaving 15-30 minutes earlier than you originally planned just to be safe! (Ever been on the Blue Ridge Parkway during leaf looker season?! It can be BUSY so arrive early to make sure you can park)

3. TAKE A DEEP BREATH!: I promise this is going to be fun, and you’re going to be amazing models! The couples who are usually most nervous are the couples who totally rock their session! So don’t fret! I have worked with EVERY personality type and EVERY body type,  so don’t WORRY! INSTEAD get excited! ( It’s also my goal to make the groom’s at ease because as a wife of someone who isn’t a big fan of photos, I totally understand the struggle it can be for them & it’s my job to put them at ease! )

 

 

Okay NOW for the fun part the OUTFITS!

OUTFIT INSPIRATION: I recommend a maximum of 2 outfits for your engagement session to ensure that we have plenty of time to capture both looks before sunset! I typically will photograph your ring during your outfit change!

– Neutrals are always a go to blushes, creams, tans, light pinks & blues as well as pastel colors will always result in more of a light and airy look to your images. These colors photograph softer! However, I love reds, navy blues and greens in images as well, these will make your inages more vibrant & rich. The colors just need to coordinate and mesh well together. Try to stay away from certain black fabrics as it can show lint and sometimes won’t photograph as well.

– I recommend a flowing, maxi-length dress or skirt! The movement of this type of fabric photographs beautifully! Long dresses & skirts also give you something to play with in your sessions!  Hats are also super fun whether it be a trendy hat for the bride or a cowboy hat for the groom!

– The KEY is to COORDINATE outfits instead of MATCHING! I also recommend avoiding both of you wearing WHITE as a top. White doesn’t allow for any contrast in your images.

– Guys, try to avoid patterns that are smaller than a dime! These small patterns can create strange visual effects in a digital camera. Close-toed shoes photograph well, and we recommend avoiding graphic tees and tennis shoes!

– Ladies, wear something that flatters the parts of you that you love the most and also allows you to be extremely confident! If you are uncomfortable when you look in the mirror, then that probably isn’t the best outfit choice for you. I want you to be really confident in your outfit, because I know that you will love your portraits so much more if you’re not worrying about how your clothes fit!

You can get ideas for engagement session outfit inspiration HERE

I want y’all to feel/look comfortable and confident so wear what you love!

LOCATIONS:

 

I always ask my couples if they have a particular location or style in mind. Some already have a location in mind they want to shoot at their farm or a nearby garden. Some of my couple’s don’t have a location in mind and that’s totally fine I always ask “what are you looking for in your photos”, “is it a mountain setting?”

If it’s a mountain setting then I’ll provide my couple’s with a list of different locations that I know will be perfect for their session & let them choose which one they prefer. Destination engagements are also encouraged going on vacation in Montana, the coast, and want your photographer to capture your engagement photos there? Let’s do it! Coming to North Carolina for vacation and want me to capture your engagment photos? Email me and let’s do it!!

On another note keep in mind that any locations that incur a fee to shoot there most photographers will require the client to pay that fee. For example The Biltmore in Asheville requires a $60 entrance fee and the clients must cover that for their photographer, (unless it’s specified that it’s built into the package).

 

Weather:

The weather can be a problem like with any session, and it tends to be even more unpredictable in the mountains. But no matter where we shoot if the weather is a problem no big deal we will postpone and reschedule for another day.

Sometimes the weather can be beautiful even when it’s inclement weather, who doesn’t love a snowy engagement session or a light rain, then we will pull out the clear bubble umbrellas & have some FUN!

 

Follow these tips & your engagement session is bound to be everything you’ve imagined!!