ENGAGEMENT GUIDE
why engagement sessions?
Majority of our couples have not done any sort of photo shoot before, so this is a great opportunity to get you comfortable in front of a camera vs your wedding day. You’ll get to learn how we communicate, get familiar with our prompts and poses, and it’s also a learning opportunity for us to see how you two interact as a couple. This gives us an idea of what to expect on the wedding day and how we can dial in to your personalities! Lastly and most importantly, it’s incredibly fun! There’s less time pressure and we’re able to do more fun activities since the session is typically more casual than your wedding day.
what to expect
“We’re super awkward in front of the camera...”
“We don’t look good on camera...”
These are phrases we constantly hear from our couples. If you’re thinking this, you’re not alone! As a way to produce a natural look, we love incorporating movement into our sessions. This allows the attention to be focussed on the prompts we give, rather than the camera. Be prepared for some running, jumping, lifting, and laughing. We like to keep the first part of the session casual, before we integrate other poses.
keeping it fun
We always encourage our couples to incorporate an activity or props that bring meaning to your relationship. Whether its your shared love for pizza & wine, coffee, bikes, music, or just your love for lounging around at home etc., let us know and we can incorporate it into the session!
Style Guide
- stay true to who you are. choose an outfit that speaks to who you are as a couple!
- bring two outfits: casual & formal. we like to start casual.
- throw-on pieces are easy for variety
e.g. blazers, jackets, sweaters, scarves
- avoid too matchy-matchy. Pick different shades that compliment each other. we’re big fans of neutrals or muted shades (whites, pastels, creams, browns etc.)
- tie your outfit with a consistent color scheme that matches the location enviornment. avoid ultra-bright and bold colors.
- avoid large distracting patterns, graphics or logos
style guide
- choose a more timeless and classic outfit
- choose clothing with movement. allowing your dress flow in the wind keeps the image fun and dramatic
- incorporate accessories. a floppy brimmed hat, simple necklace, or scarf can act as natural subtle props and add interest
- more makeup is okay! Makeup doesn’t show up as evidently on camera vs real life, so don’t shy away from a little more
- select clothing that flatters your body type
- be prepared for your hair to be flying! being outdoors can be windy (especially in the mountains).
- heels elongate legs, making them look amazing. bring a comfy pair of shoes to move in, your feet will thank you later (if you choose to wear them!)
- give the ring a little polish right before the session for more sparkle
- pack a bag with extra blankets (for the cold ones), touch-up makeup and hairspray, accessories, bug spray (for those nights)
style guide
- a pair of brown dress shoes goes a long way. they compliment almost every outfit, even the casual outfit
- solid colors are recommended. avoid heavy repetitive patterns or logos, as it takes away from the image.
- a simple layered look can bring extra dimension and interest.
eg. throwing on a fitted blazer, bomber jacket, or sweater over a dress shirt, is an easy way to layer
- long sleeved shirts and pants typically look better than short
If you’re stuck on ideas, you can’t go wrong with this:
fitted chinos or dark jeans, solid white button up, brown dress shoes, and a fitted navy blazer
look who you are
at the end of the day, these are just some tips and recommendations to consider. even if you’re a t-shirts and jeans kind of couple, and that’s all you see yourselves in, we love that and want you to express that in your session.
we want you to feel comfortable in the outfits you choose. you should still look yourselves, but at your best
additional topics