WELCOME
The engagement session is one of our favorite parts of our time together because it gives you both a chance to be in front of our cameras before you get married, which is going to make your wedding day experience feel so smooth, seamless and comfortable. Not only that, but we get to create something so special together. You’re going to be married for over the rest of eternity, but you only get to be engaged for this short period of time. We’re so excited to capture the only time in your life when you get to be each other’s fiances. We created this guide for you and packed it with all our best secrets for getting the best out of your engagement experience. Our goal is to create images that are natural, candid, fun, and represent you as a couple.

DRESS RENTAL
Our light & airy photography and artistic style has a lot to do with what you wear! Chances are you're here because you have the same love for dreamy pictures as us and want your images to turn out soft and beautiful too! We ask that all of our clients wear more formal, light, neutral colored clothes, that blend nicely with our shooting and editing style. We have partnered with a rental gown company that supplies dresses for epic magazine shoots. After working with them in Paris they've agreed to rent to us and we pass this opportunity on FREE to our clients as a supplement to your own wardrobe! Take your pick and feel like a princess while we create gorgeous light & airy, dreamy pictures of you! 

STYLE TIPS: FOR HER

DRESS IT UP!
Have you thought about rocking a romantic gown, tulle skirt or flower crown but just never had an occasion for it? This is your chance to do it up! Remember: There is no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your portrait session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement in the images.
No matter the length, dresses or skirts are a good choice for pictures look most stunning because they really flatter every female body, especially on camera!
Three-quarter length sleeves create a slimming effect on all arms. You could also bring a cute jacket, blazer or cardigan along, too. Super short sleeves have the opposite effect on arms on camera, so we recommend avoiding those when possible.
Heels elongate women's legs, making them look fabulous. Closed toes heels, in particular, look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, don’t forget to paint them! These little tricks make all the difference!
Paring an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images, and be a nice tie-in when you’re coordinating with a group. Belts, bracelets and earrings bring great visual interest, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention.
Floral crowns can be a really romantic touch!
You can bring more than one outfit if your session is long enough. Most clients who choose two outfits will bring one “wow” dress, and then another slightly more casual dress that has a “date night” feel.

HAIR & MAKEUP
This is the time to treat yourself! Nice hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera. Apply makeup in natural light, if possible, since that’s the type of light we’ll be shooting in, and it’ll give you the best expectation of how it will translate on camera. Engagement pictures are a great time to have a trial with a hair and makeup artist if you plan to use one on your wedding day. 
Avoid all fake tanners before pictures! They make look natural in person, but on camera they pull very orange and splotchy and make your fiance look ghostly. Lotion tanners are the worst because you can see them in the creases of your fingers and nail beds. Hold off on tanners until after your wedding and use them on your honeymoon when your portraits are over instead!​​​​​​​​​​​
Make sure your eyebrows are freshly done! We'll be doing a lot of close ups, so manicured eyebrows for both of you, full eyelashes, and white teeth will be noticeable! Make sure your nails look nice and your ring is sparkling clean for those ring closeups!
 Leaving your hair long and soft will frame your face and be the most flattering in your final portraits. Play with loose braids and hair accessories for some added interest!

CHOOSING COLORS
When choosing colors for your outfits, we recommend selecting softer, lighter tones and more muted shades. By avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. That softer color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments and can easily be paired in so many different ways. See our Pinterest page for outfit and color inspiration! As you’re coordinating your outfit with your fiancé, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palette and wardrobe pieces coordinate, but don’t actually “match.” In fact, we recommend that you avoid thinking about “matching,” and instead think about what “fits” together. This will create more visual interest, and allow each personality to shine through. The goal for coordinating is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not both wearing the same color on top and bottom. Most brides choose their dress first, and then build her fiancé’s wardrobe based around that.

STYLE TIPS: FOR HIM

Matt Says I should just write,
"Bro, you gotta dress up"
and leave it at that! But stay with me here boys, I promise it'll be worth it to you!

Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on his handsome face! So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts and sandals at home, as well as any pants that are loose or baggy. Fitted dress pants, fitted colored pants, or fitted jeans work best on camera. We are huge fans of a nice fitted beige or light grey suit! It photographs the best! Solid shades of gray or tan are a strong compliment to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye. We recommend staying away from all graphics and logos.

Layers on men look great on camera, so even when it’s hot outside, trust us when we say that it’s worth an hour or two of discomfort for photos that will last you both a lifetime. Adding another layer will bring extra dimension and visual interest to your photos. Suspenders, vests and coats up the level of any look. These also help him feel less awkward in front of the camera when he has something to put his hands on (like pretending to button his suit) as well as broadens his shoulders and trims in his waist. If the temperature permits, he could even consider adding a v-neck sweater with a pop of color from a long sleeved collared shirt and tie underneath.

Fresh haircuts are a must!

Brown leather dress shoes compliment almost every look. Ties, bowties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, suspenders, vests and watches are sharp compliments to any outfit for men and boys alike.

Because dapper and  debonair never go out of style!

PREP YOUR MAN
Most men aren't overly excited to take photos because they don’t have an expectation of what’s to come and why it’s so important to you. Take fifteen minutes to educate and empower your guy. Tell him why you chose us and our style of photography. Show him some example pictures you love and explain why you like them and express to him how much it means to you. Trust us, once he knows it’s important, he’ll light up the camera for you! The most common thing we hear from guys before photo sessions is that because of a bad experience in the past, they don’t like taking photos or don’t think they’ll be good at it. By the time we’re done, though, they can’t believe how fast it went and just how much fun they had!

Since you’ll already be dressed up, some couples pick something fun for a treat after the session. But it’s also good if your bellies aren’t empty when you come for your session.

TIME OF SESSION
We are natural light specialists because we believe that natural light, from the sun and its reflections, create photographs that feel fresh, timeless and truest to you. We begin most full portrait sessions two hours before the scheduled sunset during “the golden hour,” when the light is the dreamiest. We can also shoot a sunrise session if that works better for your schedule, especially if we'll be photographing in a location that will get crowded with people later in the day. Please arrive on time to your scheduled session so we can get the most out of the daylight! 

LOCATION
For most of our sessions, outdoor, open-air environments are always our first choice. We love shooting in wide-open natural spaces because the light is divine, especially during golden hour. We know you chose us for our bright, light & airy photography style and a lot of this has to do with a clean light background. It’s best to stay away from dark thick trees and greenery in the background. Parking lots and urban buildings are fun to shoot in too! There are great options all around and we’re always up for exploring a new spot together! If you have a special location request that is special to you, please let us know! Travel fees may apply. 

EXTRAS
Want your photos to look more editorial? Bring a little extra something with you! Fresh flowers bring an extra “wow” factor to just about everything, especially when they’re attached to something else, like a bicycle basket, tree swing, tent, picnic basket, balloons or car bumper. Whether you want to incorporate larger items like classic cars or bikes, or smaller ones like blankets or hats, even planning for just one extra styled item could be a fun way to make your session more unique.

ONE FINAL NOTE
We know we just gave you a lot to think about. We gave you this guide to help make your engagement session experience something you’ll look back fondly on for the rest of your lives. This is definitely not a rule book. At the end of the day, the location you choose and outfits you select won't matter nearly as much as the memories you make together. We want you to relax and enjoy your engagement session. Laugh a lot. We will take care of the rest!
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PORTRAIT SESSION CHECKLIST
             Schedule your date, time and location with us
             Review guide for style tips
             Schedule hair and makeup appointments if applicable
             Choose your outfits
             Pack a bag with:
             Flats or flip-flops for walking between photo spots
             Second outfits (if you’re doing two)
             Touch-up makeup & mirror
             Water bottle (for warmer sessions)
             Coat or cover-up (for colder sessions)

ENGAGEMENT PHOTO DELIVERY TIMELINE​​​​​​​
Within 4 weeks
Personal online gallery with all of your final, retouched, high resolution images with print release available to download and print.