ENGAGEMENT SESSION ADVICE
LOCATION, TIME, WEATHER
Location
Choose a location that feels like you. Pick a place that reflects your relationship and how you spend time together. It could be your neighborhood, a nearby park, a local coffee shop, or your favorite landmark.
Timing
The best time to shoot portraits is 1-2 hours after sunrise or before sunset. This applies to any time of the year. We want to capture your photos with the prettiest natural light. Morning sessions are also wonderful if you want fewer crowds and a more relaxed vibe.
Avoiding Tourists
Choosing an iconic NYC location is an amazing idea for your shoot! Having tons of tourists in the background is not so great. To best avoid tourists, I recommend shooting in the early morning.
Entrance and Permit Fees
This may not apply to your shoot, but some parks, gardens, estates, and locations will require an entrance fee or permit. Please research beforehand and make arrangements in advance.
Weather
Cloudy days are actually amazing for photos. If rain is in the forecast, you have 3 options:
1) Move forward, bring positive vibes, and get ready to use the clear umbrellas provided by me!
2) Reschedule, and we’ll find another time that works.
3) Move your shoot to an indoor location.
Be on Time
This is huge! If you don’t allow for traffic/subway delays that could arise, you may easily be 20 minutes late for your shoot. We have to be mindful of sunlight. I will time your shoot for the best time of the day with the most amazing light, so be sure to keep an eye on the clock.
WHAT TO WEAR
Get Dressed Up
Your engagement session is a special occasion. Elevated, timeless looks translate best in photos and will still feel beautiful decades from now. There is no such thing as being “too dressy” for your photos! Here’s some outfit inspiration.
Start with Fancy
Some couples want to wear two outfits, one fancy and one casual (or two fancy looks). This gives your gallery variety and helps you feel comfortable throughout the session. I recommend starting with the fancier outfit so you don’t have to worry about wrinkles.
Coordinate, Don’t Match
Choose outfits that complement each other in color and style rather than matching exactly. Soft neutrals, pastels, and classic tones photograph beautifully and keep the focus on you. A good idea is to have only one person wear a pattern or wear white, not both.
HOW TO PREP
Get your Nails Done
I’ll capture close-up, natural moments of you holding hands and showing your ring throughout your session, so it’s the perfect excuse to treat yourselves to a fresh manicure before your shoot.
Hair and Makeup
This is the fun part! I always encourage my couples to make sure that they feel their very best. If you don’t love doing your own hair and makeup, this may be the perfect opportunity to give professional hair and makeup a shot!
Bringing Your Dog
I love it when pups come along! When dogs are at a photo session, I highly recommend that you ask a family member or friend to come along. We'll capture photos without your dog too so you'll want someone to tend to your dog while we shoot.