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WHEN TO BOOK

If you don’t have a deadline for your photos and we’ll just be having an awesome session and hanging out, feel free to simply choose the time of year that you’d love to incorporate! Ice cream cones and flowing dresses work well on warm days, bundled plaid layers are best in autumn, and beach and campfire sessions are perfect for warm summer nights.

We’re able to schedule your session Sunday through Thursdays and ideally we’ll be shooting in the early morning or evening. The best light is at sunrise & two hours before sunset! As early as a sunrise session sounds (and totally is), we promise, the light is perfect. Sometimes there’s an early morning fog, and if it’s a mid-summer session, it’s a perfect way to beat the heat.

While it’s not always possible to schedule on a weekday morning or evening, the sidewalks are always a little more cleared out, parks are usually emptier, and we can schedule further out in advance if you’re willing to plan for a weekday.

redhead nature seattle pacific northwest
young man proposes to young woman in Canton, Baltimore near Fells Point in front of the restaurant where they had their first date
young asian couple gets engaged in a romantic garden setting with vine covered columns
young asian couple gets engaged in a romantic garden setting with vine covered columns
romantic intimate couple engagement photos
romantic lighthouse engagement

SAVE THE DATES

Save the Dates are usually sent out about 4–6 months before the wedding. Often, couples will incorporate photos from their engagement session for this annoucement. Our average edit time for engagements is 2–3 weeks, so keep this in mind when planning your session.

ABOUT THE SESSION

These sessions are really about celebrating your love and life together. It’s a chance to capture moments that tell your story, embrace individuality, showcase creativity, and illustrate the love you share.

Our sessions are laid back and stylish with a bit of quirk, which results in photos to share who you are with the ones you love. Aside from having photos of the two of you, this session is when we really get to know each other. Both you, us, and the camera. To help guide things along, we ask you questions to evoke real emotion. Whether that is laughter, tears, or all out silliness, it alleviates nerves and brings you two together. Sometimes we even dig at the important questions like your preference of pizza or tacos.

And for wedding clients, it’s the perfect way for us to learn a lot about each other’s personalities; it’s amazing how much we learn about how couples interact with each other just hanging out for a few hours taking photos. Some couples prefer less kissing photos, sometimes the sessions lead people to finding their “good side,” whatever the case may be. It goes so much quicker and smoother if we’re all comfortable and know what to expect of each other.

After the session, we’re always open to any feedback you may have in case we need to change anything up for the wedding day portraits.

LOSE YOURSELVES IN EACH OTHER

As a couple, we have the unique opportunity to use our own relationship to keep the session comfortable for you. We demonstrate poses for you to mirror and guide you through any variations as we shoot. Don’t worry about being perfect models. All we need is for you to meet us halfway. Embrace one another with goofy laughter and intimacy. Honesty is mandatory.

CHOOSING A LOCATION

It’s important that you choose a unique location that’s reflective of both of you. Think about things that inspire you; consider places that might have sentimental meaning to you or anything that’s fun or different about your hobbies, careers, or passions you may want to incorporate. Make it personal.

Avoid monuments and landmarks, unless it’s part of your story. The best locations are a mix of quirky, obscure and personal. Get together and brainstorm anything that describes both of you; if you’re both coffee fanatics, maybe think about including your favorite local café in your session. If your style is more modern and minimal, you may want to pick a city block with modern storefronts, a building or restaurant with modern flair, a modern art museum, or a parking garage with geometric architecture, an industrial setting, for example. If you’re both foodies, a colorful outdoor market or a picnic may be an option. If you’re both constantly found with your nose buried in books, a bookstore, library, or a study might be right for you. If you’re both earth lovers who want to spend your session in the sun, in the grass, in flowing clothing, pack a picnic or grab some bikes and we’ll make it happen.

Think about the colors and style of any potential locations and how you can compliment them with your outfits. If it helps to include props (or pets!) to help show who you are and what makes you different, absolutely bring them along.

Keep in mind that sometimes the best locations are sometimes in the most unusual places (Empty attics, abandoned lots, a piano graveyard—it’s a real thing!) These are just a few ideas to help you get started choosing a location. Our shoot doesn’t have to be deep and conceptual, but it helps if you love where we are.

And if you have a mood, concept, or a theme you want to incorporate, feel free to talk to us about what you have in mind and we can work together on executing your ideas. I’m always up for helping to location scout to find the perfect spot for you!

PICK AN ENVIRONMENT THAT REFLECTS YOU

We want to make sure you are surrounded by what you love. It will boost your mood and allow your style and character to easily shine through. If you are home bodies, this is a perfect opportunity for an in-home session. More of the adventurous type? We are always willing to strap on some boots and join you in the fresh air. Wilderness backdrops create an atmosphere and story like no other. Whether there’s a chance of patchy morning fog or golden sun rays, we’re down for whatever nature hands us.

WHAT TO WEAR

DRESS LIKE YOUR UNIQUE SELF

and you'll project confidence

Like the location, your outfits should also be a reflection of you. You’ll want to keep the location in mind when you’re planning your session wardrobe.

Primary and secondary colors play a huge part in our photography. A touch of red, yellow, or blue can make any ensemble pop and help you stand out from the background. Even adding a pair of red or yellow shoes, tights, or a bright blue tie will transform your outfits.

Take this as your excuse to buy that dress from Free People you’ve been eyeing and to break out the shoes you look amazing in and just had to buy. And if your shoes are a little more daring, bring along another more comfortable pair so you can walk around with ease.

Try including some accessories—a simple necklace, floppy rimmed hat, bright socks, a pop-of-color belt, a scarf, a set of bracelets, or add some layers that make your look just a little more stylish.

A great, fitted button-up shirt is a good place to start; consider a chambray shirt, suspenders or a tie, and roll up the sleeves for part of the session for something a little more casual (or alternatively bring a blazer for a more dressed up look). If you’re in to hats, bring along a fedora, but please leave baseball hats at home!

Complimenting accessories are important as they’re a perfect way to bring your outfits together. Think about colors that go well together, but please try to avoid matching. Dress as though you are attending the same event; if one of you is dressed for a date at a coffee shop or if you’re planning to go barefoot in a field, match each other accordingly.

Avoid baggy button down shirts, light denim, polos, tennis shoes and sneakers, and logo shirts. There are always exceptions to the rules, but one rule we must insist on—if your shirt has more tattoos than you do, please leave it at home. Also, try to avoid any clothing that may show unintentionally visible bra straps, tags, or semi-transparent clothing that could reveal undergarments. During the session, plan on only carrying the bare minimum. If you can do so safely, please leave purses, bags, cell phones, etc in your car or if you must have an item with you, we can carry them for you.

Remember—confidence is everything in photographs. What you choose to wear should be something you feel comfortable in, something that compliments your physical features, your individuality, something you can move in, and something that makes you feel amazing.

We often recommend scheduling any make up trials on the same day as the shoot—I’ll say it, being dolled up makes you feel a little more ready to be photographed. My favorite photos are always simple eye make up with dark lashes. Giving a little extra attention to your lashes, brows, and eye make up helps to highlight these features and flatter your face’s natural shape.

Try not to forget your nails. Simple polish or, if you prefer bare nails and you’re worried about your nails during ring shots, consider treating yourself to a mani-pedi. It’s doing that little bit extra that will make you feel confident, and, (sorry for repetition, but) confidence is paramount.

Lastly, (and possibly more importantly) rules were meant to be broken. We truly trust your personal style and we know we’ll love what you choose. If you’d just like a second opinion before we start the session we encourage bringing along an extra outfit or two for each of you. We can give our best advice on which to go for and if we have time to change during the session, or in the case one gets dirty, we can give you the opportunity to switch.

If you have any questions as you’re planning for your session, please don’t hesitate to ask. We can’t wait to photograph you soon!

PRE-WEDDING SESSION

In a break from tradition, it’s becoming more common for couples to put on their wedding clothes and shoot a session together before or after the wedding day.

It’s a completely relaxed way to get to explore any areas and locations maybe not feasible to visit on your wedding day. And if you’d like to change the style up a bit (shoes more for hiking, leaving your hair down, sporting different a slightly different look), it’s your chance to wear a different version of your wedding day outfits. This session can be a package add-on or can be used in place of the engagement session itself. And while it’s not a substitution for wedding day portraits, it does help take some of the stress off the both of you during the portrait time on your wedding day.

And a cautionary note—of course, while measures are taken during the pre- or post-wedding session to keep all clothing clean and tidy, we still advise to plan to have your outfits cleaned after the session.

You may also consider a day after session to spend an hour or two exploring locations that were too far or too dirty to go to on your wedding the day before!


NOTE: If you go this route, please remember to bring your wedding rings!

Still have questions?

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