Engagement Session Style Guide.

WHAT EVERY BRIDE NEEDS TO KNOW

The enagagement session is one of our favorite parts of our time together becouse it gives you both a chance to be in front of the camera before you get married,which is going to make your day experiance feel so smooth ,seamless and comfortable.Not only that but we get to create something so special together.You’re going to be married for over fifty years,but you only get to be engaged for this short period of time.I’m excited to be able to capture the only time in your life that you’ll be each others fiances.I created this guide for you and packed it with all my best secrets for getting the best out of your engagement session experiance,so let’s dive right in!

CHOOSING TIME & LOCATION

I’m a natural light photoghrapher, I believe that natural light, from the sun and its reflections ,creates photographs that feel fresh, timeless and true to you as a couple. I light to start engagement sessions two hours before the scheduled sunset during “golden hour”, when the light is the dreamiest. remember the sun sets much earlier in the cooler / winter months and much much later in the summer so make sure you factor that in when choosing your engagement session date. Especially if you have to take time off work or have plans afterword. To get the most out of your engagement session ,please plan a buffer when getting ready so you can arrive a few minutes early. I’m only able tp shoot as ling as there’s natural light in the sky,so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down.

QUICK TIP: my weekends fill up first and far in advance ,you can get a fast pass to the front line by scheduling mid week.

SELECTING THE RIGHT LOCATION

This is the time to think outside the box! I encourage you to brainstorm unique locations you might have special access to that most people don’t. For example maybe you or someone in your personal or professional network , can secure permission to a location that would otherwise be off limits, like a beautiful private estate,country club. Maybe its a family farm,upscale hotel or even an airplane hanger.The sky is literally the limit! Spend a few minutes thinking anout it and checking around. You’ll be suprised what you may come up with.

STYLING YOU SESSION

Want your engagement session to be a little extra, more editorial? Bring a little extra something with you! A freshly- picked bouquet for you to hold or fresh flowers to put on something else, maybe a bicycle basket, tree swing ,picnic basket ,car bumper or row boat, it’s a fun way to add a little extra romance to everyday objects. Whether it’s large objects like a classic car, or smaller ones like a blanket or hat. Even incorporating just one extra styled item could be a fun way to make your session more unique.

STYLE TIPS FOR HER:Dress it up

Have you ever thought of rocking a sequined gown, tulle skirt or flower crown but just never had the occasion for it. This is your chance, there is no such thing as “to dressed up” when it comes your engagement session, so have some fun with it! If you don’t want to spend to much money I highly recommend ‘Shein’ they have amazing ,great quality dresses for a fraction of the price you’d pay at some stores.

Remember there’s no such thing as” too dressed up”!

SAY YES TO THE DRESS!!!

Long flowy dresses and skirts look great on camera no matter what size or shape you are, because they bring more movement ,especially when posed with nature. Shorter length dresses photograph beautifully as well. Dresses and skirts tend to photograph better than pants because they really flatter the female body-which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not as many pantsuits! I highly recommend avoiding the pants and shorts and say “yes” to dress or two.

ONE OR TWO ITS UP TO YOU!

Most brides who choose to go with two outfits bring one “wow” dress and then another sun dress or cocktail dress for more of a casual “us on a date” feel. But if you want to bring two “wow” dresses and forgo the casual one altogether, give yourself permission to do it! The camera loves it and so do I!

CHOOSING COLOURS

When choosing colors for our outfits I recommend selecting lighter tones and more muted shades. By avoiding Ultra bright, bold colours it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other. The camera loves soft shades of pink,muted blues,and sage mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather grey,creams,beiges,soft leather browns and white.That softer colour palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor enviroments.

COORDINATIONG THE LOOKS

As you’re coordinating your outfit with your fiance’s ,keep in mind that your outfits will look most cohesive on camera if your colours coordinate ,but don’t necessarily match. You should each aim to both wear a different dominant colour,but stay within a similar colour palette family .Most brides choose their outfit first and put their fiance’s together based on that that’s why I have a section for both of you.

flattering your features

In my experience, every women, regardless of her shape has an area of her body that she’s self conscious about,so recognizing that area in advance is key.Choosing flattering silhouettes and colours that compliment your features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos.Three quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect,so be on the lookout for a longer length sleeve. You could also bring along a cute jacket,blazer, or cardigan along too. Skinny straps or strapless have the opposite effect on arms on camera, so we recommend avoiding those whenever possible if your goal is to have slimmer looking arms. Heels elongate womens legs making them look fabulouos. Closed toe heels in particular look great on camera because they carry out the line of your legs all the way down to your toe. If your toe is showing in a peep toe heel you might want to give your feet a pedicure before your session so you won’t regret it later.These little tricks make all the diffrence.

QUICK TIP: Bring a pair of flats to wear when moving place to place ,your feet will thank you later!

MAKE A STATEMENT

Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images.Big statement necklaces bring an extra pop to the photos, while smaller delicate ones are not as noticeable on camera. Belts ,bracelets and earings bring great visual interest ,so choose on or two that won’t compete for attention.Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be a really romantic touch as well.

GO PRO HAIR AND MAKEUP

Professional hair & makeup is on top of most brides checklist because it looks amazing and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. From lash extensions to blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera and it photographs like a dream. Most brides feel like its “too much” at first, since its more than what they would usually wear on a normal day, especially false lashes,so if you feel that way at the beginning, Don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it just right for the camera – and you’ll love the final result.

A LITTLE EXTRA POLISH : Don’t forget,your ring will be center stage,so give yourself permission the get it cleans and your nails too.

SKIP THE SPRAY TAN

This may seem weird ,but I highly recommend skipping the spay tan before your session, even a few days prior because it photographs very orange even when applied subtly and by a professional. Your actual skin tone will photograph much better.

FOR HIM: Because dapper and debonair never go out of style.

LAYERED LOOKS

Next time you walk by stores like Guess, you’ll notice all the male mannequins and models are always wearing several layers at once.Layers on men look great on camera,so even when it’s hot outside trust me when I say its worth an hour or two of discomfort for photos that will last you both a lifetime.Adding another layer will bring extra dimension and visual interest to your photos.Blazers, vests and coats up the level of any look.If weather permits he could wear a v-neck sweater.Don’t be afrais to get creative with layers.

MIX IT UP

Many guys love to mix a suit coat, blazer or sports coat with a different pant colour. It adds some extra visual interest and breaks up the colour tones.I’m a big fan on this fresh take of this timeless classic.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Brown leather shoes compliment almost every look ,wheather he wearing a full suit or a blazer with dark wash jeans.Belts,tie clips, suspenders,vest and watches are sharp compliments to any outfit for men and boys alike.If you bring two outfits, you can do one look with a traditional necktie and belt then add suspenders and a bowtie for the other look. If all else fails a classic button down with dark washed jeans is a look that never goes out of style ,you can always throw a blazer on top to mix it up.

HOW TO PREP YOUR MAN.

Most men aren’t overly excited to take photos for two hours, because they don’t have any expectation of what’s to come and why it so important to you. take a few minutes to educate and empower your guy.Trust me he’ll light up the camera for you! The most common thing I hear from guys before the engagement session is this: because of a bad experience in the past they don’t like taking photos or they don’t think they’ll be good at it. By the time we’re done though,they can’t believe how fast it went and just how much fun they had!

I hope this has been helpful to you,see you soon!

-Irma