Making sure you are perfectly prepared for your engagement session!
Congratulations on crossing some major milestones in your wedding planning journey—choosing a date, a photographer, and perhaps even settling on a venue! With those decisions in the bag, it's time to celebrate the victories and dive into the exciting world of your engagement session. At Jean-Leigh Photography, we include engagement sessions in all our collections because we believe they are a vital part of the entire wedding process.
Why Engagement Sessions Matter:
Your engagement session isn't just a photo shoot; it's a chance for us to connect, for you to experience our shooting style, and for all of us to create magic together. This session goes beyond capturing beautiful moments—it sets the stage for a seamless wedding day. By understanding how you two interact, your best poses, and how to photograph you authentically, we arrive on your wedding day well-prepared, making the entire experience smoother.
Scheduling and Location:
Your engagement session can be scheduled anytime before your wedding day. To avoid unnecessary stress, we recommend booking it 3-6 months in advance. For optimal lighting, we typically shoot from 5-7 pm in the summer and 3-5 pm in the winter months. As for locations, we have our favorites, but we love it when couples choose places with sentimental value. If you're unsure, we're here to help—whether it's a farm, campus, downtown alley, or even a favorite date spot, we're up for the challenge!
Prep Work Essentials:
Now, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of preparing for your engagement session:
What to Bring:
- Parking Fee and Cash: Plan for any potential cash-only parking fees or tolls to avoid last-minute stress.
- Clothing Options: Bring one or two casual outfits and one dressier outfit. Unsure? Bring all options, and we'll help you decide.
- Lip Color & Hairspray: Touch up lip color and bring hairspray and a brush, especially if humidity is a factor.
- Flip Flops: For those stunning but challenging-to-walk-in shoes, bring comfy shoes for transitions between locations.
Tips:
Dressing up for your engagement session can be a source of stress, but with a little guidance, it becomes a breeze. Let's talk about some tips!
- We Love Neutrals: Neutrals are actually the most photogenic colors for portraits.
- Black: While slimming, black can be heavy in portraits; consider your desired style, if were going moody go for it!
- Coordinate: Coordination is key; matching outfits can be overpowering. This means don’t wear the same exact color just colors that look great together. This is also goes for style, there is nothing worse than when you show up dressed to impress and your other half has on sweatpants or just a completely different vibe.
- Your outfit matters: Your outfit has more impact than your location on the overall feel of the images. I have seen outfits make or break a session, make sure it fits well, that you are comfortable, and that it doesn’t accentuate anything you do not want accentuated. On the other spectrum don’t hide under baggy clothes as you will lose your shape and appear boxy in photos.
- Hire a makeup and hair artist: You don't have to; but it’s a great time to do a trial before your big day to see if you vibe with your stylist! Plus less stress when getting ready.
- Your Nails: we will be photographing close ups of your ring on and off your hand. Make sure those nails are photo ready!
- Layers: I love when couples bring layers to work with. Especially if it’s chilly outside. We can get lots of variety by removing and adding in different things. I love adding in different textures and pops of color. For example, in the fall or winter add some scarves, or mittens to make the images cozy!
Romantic Style:
If you're leaning towards a romantic style, consider these ingredients:
- Neutral Colors: Blushes, tans, light pinks, and soft blues create a light and airy look.
- Earthy Tones: tans, browns, greens, beiges, grays create a organic warmer look.
- Pops of Color: bright blues, pinks, greens, purples, and oranges for my couples that love color opt for this instead of all over bright colors.
- Flowy Skirts/Dresses: The movement that a dress creates can't be beat! of course if your not a dress girl feel free to wear a nice blouse and cute pants!
- Well fitting clothes: I know everyone has their preferences, but this isn't the time for super baggy pants, or really tight clothes! We are going for an authentic but elevated you, so you can cherish these portraits for years to come.
Every location will have a different vibe, so think classy for city, maybe a nice sundress and boots for a farm, or something more casual if it fits! The biggest thing is to make sure you both coordinate and mesh well.
Quick Tips Recap:
- Coordinate Outfits: Match styles, but don't be afraid of creativity, neutral tones are great!
- Rest and Hydrate: Ensure you're well-rested and hydrated for a vibrant look.
- Professional Touch: Consider professional hair and makeup for added confidence.
- Location Significance: Choose a location that holds meaning for a personal touch or ask us for guidance.
- Timing Matters: Aim for the golden hour for sunset glow or about 2 hours before sunset for bright and airy.
- Importance of Outfits: Remember outfits can make or break a session!
In conclusion, your engagement session is an exciting chapter in your wedding journey. With careful planning, thoughtful outfit choices, and a touch of creativity, we're ready to capture your love story in a way that's uniquely yours. Let's make your engagement session an unforgettable experience, setting the stage for the magic that awaits on your wedding day!
