"Always passionate ........... Never ordinary"

Engagement Photography Session

Your engagement / pre wedding photography session can be included with all my wedding collections and is an important part of the build up to the big day. The sessions usually last between 30 and 45 minutes and you choose your favourite to be enlarged and mounted as a guest signing mat.

The session has a few purposes:

A chance to get to know each other so we don’t suggest poses that make you feel uncomfortable because they don’t reflect who you are as a couple.
Simple tips and guidance for the portrait part of your wedding photography.
Calm your nerves if you are worried how you both will look “on camera”
It gives me an insight as to you as a couple. Are you demonstrative, playful, or more quiet and reserved in your relationship?
It provides us with technical information such as if one is a”blinker” or has a “best side”
It is probably the first time you have been photographed professionally and the engagement session gives you a chance to get used to this and to see the results.

Clothing choice is always one that clients seem confused about and the wrong choice could at best mean you cringe when you see your engagement photographs and at worst mean you never have them on display. So with that in mind try and aim for “timeless” which doesn’t have to mean overly formal with jacket and tie, but can just as well be smart casual …….. what it does mean is that you should still dress for YOU and YOUR personalities but avoid overly fashion conscious designs including large logos or too bold colours. You should also complement each other both in style and colour. Don’t forget accessories need to match – so shoes, purses and coats require some thought as they will be seen in the finished pictures.

The main thing is to feel comfortable – so if you are used to being formally dressed – then don’t try and dress casually as you won’t like or recognise yourself in the finished set. The same applies if you are more casual in your day to day lives, don’t try and make yourself wear a suit.

Leave any phones or other bulky items in your car, not in your pockets as these can distract and also ruin the lines of any clothing.

Do consider what you want to convey in the finished pictures and consider:

Purpose

consider if you are going to want other product from the session. All collections come with a beautiful mounted enlargement for a guest signing mat, but do you want a bespoke signing book ? or save the date cards ? DVD Folio ? By thinking before hand if you do want anything else will help us on the session

Style

This could be where you decide to have your session or what you want to do on the session and can include hobbies or places that you love

Mood

We can visit multiple locations or focus on one particular theme for your session. You can choose a favourite beauty spot, museum, park, forest or urban location to make your photos unique and all about you as a couple. Do consider that additional equipment such as lighting may be needed so this is why we need to have a plan.

A few things you might want to do to make sure your session goes well:

Try to get adequate sleep the night before your session.
Drinking a lot of fluids a few days before and on the day of the session will improve your skin texture.
Traditional clothing styles will stand the test of time and keep your portrait looking fresh for years to come.
Stay away from fabrics with noticeable patterns. Solid colors tend to make a more pleasing picture.
If you have light skin, avoid bright reds, oranges, or bright pinks as these colors have such intensity that they draw attention away from your face.
Avoid sleeveless tops or spaghetti straps.
If you are taking full-length photos, don’t forget good shoes, etc.
Do not mix formal and casual clothing in the same portrait.
Apply makeup as you would if you were going to a formal occasion in the evening. In other words, using a bit more than you would during the day.
Don’t forget your necessities…makeup, brush, hair spray, etc.

"always passionate ........... never ordinary"