Welcome to the Alison Mae Photography Engagement Guide! I’m Alison - an old soul with a passion for timeless beauty. Worn out books, fine art paintings, soft pastel colors and European architecture inspire my work behind the lens.
When I’m not celebrating with joyful couples, you’ll find me traveling the world with my husband and second shooter, Zachary. Our favorite travels have included watching the sun set over Florence, Italy at Piazzale Michelangelo, dashing through the rain while clutching shopping bags along the streets of NYC and jumping in waterfalls in Hawaii. I love listening to Elton John and Taylor Swift while I clean the house. I instantly love every dog I see. (Especially my huskies, Willow and Nova) I have a bad habit of buying too many candles. I break for birds and wear my heart on my sleeve. I think there is beauty in letting our walls down and truly connecting with one another because life is short but so very rich.
I feel that I have the best job in the world. After all, wedding photography allows me to combine two things that I love most: genuine connection and timeless elegance. What could be better?
We'll work together before your session to ensure that we capture your dream engagement images! From location to outfit choices, we'll cover it all to make this a once in a lifetime experience!
From my decisions while looking for backdrops to the way I pose you for portraits, every move I make is done with great care for honoring your unique personalities, vision and love story.
I know that getting your photos taken can be intimidating but I'm on a mission to change that! I'll bring a calming presence and a fun energy that will help you relax and feel comfortable so you look your best in your photos.
We love crafting meaningful engagement sessions with our couples - whether the enchanting gardens of Newfields, a sailboat on the lake shore in Chicago, snuggled up at home with your pets, or perhaps even in NYC or Italy if you’re up for an epic adventure! From planning locations to moodboard inspirations, I take great care to help you plan a day that is not only a dream shoot, but also has aspects that document the life you currently live.
It’s truly not just a session. This is a day to reminisce, live in the moment and dream together. And in the end, you’ll have photos that document your life and your love; your every day, raw and real, intimate and genuine, love.
Creating
Resources Included
guides designed for the best possible engagement session
alison mae engagement experience
The Engagement Collection
We offer one collection that includes everything you need:
1000
Engagement sessions take place in the greater Chicago, Indianapolis or Cincinnati areas. For a destination engagement session, contact me for a custom quote.
These high school sweethearts celebrated their engagement at a stunning garden on a warm summer evening. It was a dream of lovely blooms and glittering sunlight.. Click here to view the gallery.
An overcast day on the golf course. We celebrated Lauren and Conner's engagement at th very place they met: Woodstock Country Club. Click here to view this love and links inspired engagement session.
A day of exploring a place that means so much to Maggie and Isaac. Brainard Lake in Colorado set the scene for this picturesque engagement session in Rocky Mountains. Click here to view.
In my years of experience, I have photographed some unforgettable weddings throughout the world and I have to say, there is nothing quite like a destination wedding! From elopements in the Olympic mountains outside of Seattle to small celebrations in the heart of Tuscany we have loved connecting with our couples and following them on their biggest adventure yet. We are right by your side for every step. From your welcome dinner to exploring the area with your friends and family, we are along for the ride, capturing every memory. So pack your bags and prepare to be amazed by all that the world has to offer and rest easy knowing that every incredible moment will be captured! We offer special rates for local couples who schedule their engagement session with us.
I am endlessly inspired by the old world and the soft, romantic and thought provoking paintings of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in mid nineteenth century England. This inspiration can be found through out the photographs I take and is woven into the value I place on truly connecting with you and finding ways to capture your unique spirit and love story in your wedding images in a refined, elegant way.
To capture outer beauty, we must look within.
Inspired By
We recommend booking your engagement session at about two months in advance to secure your preferred date.
How far in advance should we book our engagement session?
Our engagement sessions are 90 minutes long, giving us plenty of time to capture a variety of images in multiple settings.
How long is an engagement session?
We suggest bringing two outfits for variety – this allows for a mix of styles and adds depth to your gallery.
How many outfits should we plan for?
Absolutely! All of our booked clients receive an engagement session planning guide with tips on outfit styling, location ideas, and more.
Do you provide any resources to help with outfit and session planning?
We are happy to provide guidance on locations based on your preferences! We want your session to feel meaningful and unique to you.
What if we need help choosing a location?
Yes! Payments are split into two equal installments. A 50% deposit is due at booking to secure your date, and the remaining 50% is due one week before your session.
Do you have a payment plan for engagement sessions?
You can expect to receive a gallery with an average of 50-75 edited images.
How many images can we expect to receive?
We usually recommend scheduling your session during the "golden hour" (evening or late afternoon) for the most flattering and romantic lighting. This is usually two hours before sunset.
What time of day is best for engagement photos?
We reserve two dates on our calendar after booking to ensure that we have a rain plan built in.
What happens if it rains the day of my session?
Of course! Pets are family too. Just let us know ahead of time so we can plan the session accordingly and select a pet friendly location.
Can we include our pet in the session?
Have a question you don't see? Contact me and let me know how I can help!
Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out to me and learn about the Alison Mae Engagement Experience! If you feel like we would be a good fit, the next step is to schedule a call with Alison by clicking the button below and sending me a quick email.. From there, we will set up a time to video chat and get to know one another to see if we are a good fit. Congratulations once again!
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