Your Engagement Session Guide

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One of the most common questions I'm asked by couples is how they should plan their engagement session. Where should they go, what should they wear, is it ok to wear heels? (The answer is yes!) Over the years it's dawned on me that there needs to be some resource for couples planning their engagement sessions, especially since at this phase of your pre-wedding planning, you're probably just at the start. It's likely this is your first time doing any of this, and there's not really any specific guide or framework to show you how it can be done (well, I've written a few guides on here, but my point is this whole thing is really subjective and up to you).

Hopefully this engagement session guide helps you figure out if having one is right for you, and how to plan one that feels as authentically "you" as possible.

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Your Engagement Session Guide

Engagement sessions are more than just a warm-up for wedding photos, they’re a chance to slow down, connect, and photograph your love. Whether you’re dreaming of golden light in the desert or a cozy in-home shoot, this guide will help you plan an engagement session that encapsulates your story.

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1. Why Engagement Sessions Matter

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• Engagement sessions give you a chance to get in front of the camera before your wedding day and build comfort with your photographer (hi!). I think it's incredibly rare that anyone is truly comfortable in front of the camera, so this is our chance for me to show you it's ok to not know what to do. I'm going to guide you through the whole thing, and it's a great chance to get those pre-photo-jitters out of your system so you feel comfortable on your wedding day. I'll document your connection how it unfolds naturally, so it'll just feel like hanging out with a friend who happens to also have a camera. You can read more about my approach here!
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• This session is a chance to capture your love in a more casual, personal way. No friends or family to perform in front of, just you two in your element with one another. The focus solely on each other and this beautiful journey you're embarking on together.
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• Lastly, your photos are great for invitations, wedding websites, or even guest books or framed photos on the day of. They'll also make a great momento of the start of your journey together to look back on in the years to come.
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2. Choosing the Right Outfits)

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These are all bits of advice from past engagement sessions I've shot, but the thing is, at the end of the day this is all about what you want. Take everything with a grain of salt — if you want to wear polka dots while your partner wears stripes, go for it. I'll be down for it either way.

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• • Coordinating, not matching, tends to be the sweet spot.

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• • Consider two outfits: one dressy, one casual. Works especially well if for example, you want to wear one outfit while we hike to a spot and another outfit once we get to the top of the mountain or wherever we're going.

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• • Avoid busy patterns or logos. Simple colors and patterns tend to work well.

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• • Add some accessories that reflect your personalities (hats, jewelry, etc.). Entirely optional, don't force it. Just wear what matters to you!

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• • Be mindful of footwear, especially if we’ll be walking a bit. Lots of brides will wear a more comfortable sneaker or hiking shoe and then change into heels once we reach our destination. Or, if you want to wear one shoe and change every time we stop for photos, something you can quickly slip on and off like a flip flop or a mule works great, just make sure you're comfy and trail proof if we go outdoors!

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3. Picking the Perfect Location

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• • Somewhere meaningful (first date spot, favorite hike, your home)

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• • Out in nature (desert at golden hour, mountain overlooks, beaches, forests)

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• • Urban and architectural (old towns, alleyways, rooftops, downtown charm)

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• • Studio or in-home sessions for something cozy/intimate

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One thing to note is a lot of couples opt for more than one location! If you want to start at the ice cream shop where you had your first date, and then drive to a park 10 minutes away, we can definitely do that. Or if you want to start in your home with your pets, and then make our way out into nature for the second half of your shoot, we can absolutely do that too. Engagement sessions typically go about two hours, so how we divide that time is entirely up to you.

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4. Props & Personal Touches

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These are entirely optional personal touches that can really add some character to your shoot.

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• • Champagne pop or picnic setup

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• • A blanket for snuggling shots

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• • Your dog (please!!!)

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• • Any sort of additional light sources: lanterns, headlamps if we're hiking, flashlights, car headlights, or anything else you can think of. These get really fun as we get into the evening!

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• • Bikes, vintage cars, instruments, anything unique to you

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• • Bringing a bouquet or floral sprig can be a subtle romantic touch

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• • Consider using the same aesthetic as your wedding if you'd like to carry the theme (ex. for wedding invites)
  

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5. Timing Tips

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• • Golden hour is always a winner (the hour after sunrise or before sunset). If we do sunset, we'll even shoot into blue hour where things get nice and soft.

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• • Weekdays usually have less crowded locations

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• • Be prepared for weather fluctuations and embrace the unexpected (wind, fog, clouds = mood, which I'm personally here for). Also a great opportunity to snuggle up in that blanket you might have brought with you!
  

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6. Final Reminders

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• • Bring a bag with essentials: water, a mirror, wipes, backup shoes, some snacks, etc.

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• • Trust the process. Whatever unfolds will be exactly how it's meant to be, and we'll embrace every moment of it together.

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• • Remember, the whole point of this session is to capture your connection together. At the end of the day, just have fun with it!

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Want to add an engagement session to your wedding package?

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Even if you didn’t book one originally, it’s not too late! Engagement sessions can be added on at any time, and they make a beautiful pre-wedding experience. Just reach out if you’re interested and we'll make it happen!