Having a professional engagement shoot is a MUST for several reasons. The main reason for me is to develop a rapport. Getting comfortable with your photographer may sound cheesy and/or unnecessary while you’re planning thing, but this person is to going to follow you around ALL DAY. Getting to know each other a bit before your wedding day makes it easier and less stressful. You’d rather have a friend with you around all day than a total stranger, right? Not to mention that you can use your engagement photos for your invitations, guest book, slide show, website… and other various things in the planning stages.
So, what do we do for your E-Session?? Here are my top 5 ideas!
1. Location! Locations! Take the opportunity to shoot at locations different from your wedding. Like: the beach where you two lovebirds met, downtown where you had your first date, or the countryside with your dog!
2. Clothes! If you’re like most couples, you don’t have many photos of the two of you together. Have 2-3 outfits prepared so that you have variety to make up for it. Jeans and t-shirts in one location, sexy little dress in another. Co-ordinate your outfit with your guy’s so that you’re not matchy-matchy but not clashy-clashy either.
3. Props! Balloons, funny hats, pinwheels… whatever. You guys have little inside jokes… little things that make you giggle… bring ’em!
4. Play! Piggy-back rides, tickles, dirty jokes, etc. During an engagement session, I sometimes ask one person to whisper something into the other’s ear, and see if we can get him or her to blush.
5. Get schmoopy! Look, I got into this business because I’m all for displays of affection. Smoochy, nuzzle-y photos are going to be some of your favorites. Don’t be shy!
The bottom line is that the session should be fun and reflect your relationship. For photos that are as goofy, playful and schmoopy as you two are, be unabashedly yourselves during the engagement session.
When was the last time you had a good photo taken of you or the ones you love? I mean a really good photo, a photo other than the pictures where you or your loved one was posed uncomfortably, smiling nervously and dying for the experience to be done with? For my clients, those awkward memories are a thing of the past…
I am a photojournalist. I don’t pose you and I don’t make you smile for me. We just find a spot that works for you and I tell you where the good light is. And then you play..you play and I “work.” I can have my big lens, 40 feet away, and by the time we’re done, you’re left with a wonderful memory of just having fun and I have gorgeous photos for you to frame, hang, email, what-have-you.
My approach is a fun documentary style, capturing the spirit of the occasion in an elegant and loving way. I catch details and emotions that create a story that is unique to each person and event. And I pay close attention to any and all special requests; after all, the story is yours, not mine…
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