ENGAGEMENT SESSION
PLANNING YOUR
Index
- Welcome
- Timing and Logistics
- Seasons
- When to send save the dates
- Location Ideas
- Destination Sessions
- Pets
- Posing
- Props
- The Ring
- Weather
- Selecting Your Outfits
- How Many Outfits to Bring?
- Tips for her
- Tips for Him
- What Colors look best on Camera?
- What to Avoid
- Schedule an outfit consult with Alison
- Session Plan
- Date Night
- Receiving Your Images
- Recap
Welcome
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Your engagement session will be a beautiful prelude to your wedding day. You will gain some experience being in front of the camera which will help reduce any camera anxiety either of you may have, and it will help you become more comfortable in front of the lens. It will also elevate the portrayal of your story and share a little glimpse of who you are as a couple.
Furthermore, this iconic milestone will help us get to know one another. It will help you realize that you can trust me to take the most stunning photographs of you on your wedding day as I evoke your unique romance and discover your personalities as well as the angles that suit each of you best. My goal is to help you relax so that on your wedding day, I’ll be able to capture you candidly and in a relaxed, effortlessly romantic way.
Your engagement session is a time where you can let your creativity fly, with no barriers. You won’t have Mom giving her input on whether your dress is too low cut, the limitations of a Grandparent who can’t travel to certain places, or bridal party members chiming in with their two cents about…well, everything.
This is your time to let it rolllll and have some fun. So let’s start by getting in the right mindset, shall we? When deciding on how to approach your engagement session, here are a few questions I like this ask:
What activities bring you both the most joy?
Is there a place, local or not (more on that later) that holds a lot of amazing memories to you or that you dream of going together?
When you look back on these photos 20 years from now, what do you want to be reminded of? How do you want to feel? What memories and emotions do you want stirred up?
Once you have the answers to these questions, we can start dreaming and scheming. An engagement session in a field of wildflowers is pretty, but unless you regularly picnic in fields of wildflowers, I say to choose a backdrop that represents your here and now, and this unique stage of life you’re in.
I will always suggest a specific start time based on the location that we mutually agree on, but if you’re curious how I determine where the light will be best, I use the app Lumos. It’s free and can help you with planning your wedding day as well, if you’re choosing to do a lot of it outside.
Some time soon, if you haven’t already, we will schedule your engagement session. Depending on how far out from your wedding we are, we may have ample options for seasons, or we may be a little more limited. Here are a few things to keep in mind when we schedule your engagement session:
- If you want to do 2 locations, consider that light is paramount. I usually try to keep it to one location or, if two are desired, two locations that are within 5 minutes of each other. Otherwise, the light at your first location will likely be more harsh if we aren’t close enough to sunset.
- If you are choosing to have your engagement session in a heavily populated area, sunrise will likely be your best bet. Trust me, it will be worth it to get up suuuuper early to get ready if it means you won’t be dodging crowds or having a lot of people in the background of your images.
Timing and Logistics
Finding the Light
While I shoot most of our engagement sessions between April and early November, sessions can take place all year. Most of our couples choose a season based on the location where they want to shoot.
A few things to keep in mind during each season:
Seasons
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Winter
snowfall, hot cocoa and cozy coats
If you’re planning to take your engagement photos during the winter, keep in mind that if your session takes place in the evening, we could begin shooting as early as 2:30pm to catch the sunset. I recommend dressing in layers so that in between photos you can warm up. Make sure you bring a little extra makeup and tissues in case your nose begins running.
Summer
walks through town hand in hand
In spite of the heat, I'm a big fan of summer sessions! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 6pm. If you’re taking your engagement photos during the summer, we recommend bringing extra makeup, water and a few towels to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session.
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If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding.
If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, I recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.
Save-the-dates
Locations
Indianapolis ENGAGEMENT LOCATIONS
The location we pick for your engagement session will have a huge impact on the colors in your photos! My favorite places for engagement sessions are locations that are filled with light and natural reflectors. Some examples of natural light reflectors are paved steps and walkways and neutral (beige, white, light grey) colored buildings. This is what creates that light feel to my images. Locations that are heavily wooded or surrounded by red brick or asphalt pathways will create the opposite effect and your images will look darker.
How to pick the best location for your engagement photos
Newfields ($50)
Best on Thursday or Friday
Cox hall Gardens (Free)
Laurel Hall ($150)
Weekdays 9-5 only
Engagement Session Location IDeas
Indiana World War Memorial and Library (Free)
Holcomb Gardens (Free)
Holliday Park (Free)
These locations photograph beautifully and work really well with my fine art photography style! They all have wonderful natural reflectors to help fill your images with lovely light. Click on the images below to view more photos from each location.
Destination Engagement Sessions
If you should know anything about me, it is that I love to travel. If you have ever, for even a moment, desired to do your engagement session somewhere that isn’t local, just know that I am here for it and would love to travel with you! Dancing in the desert? Strolling through your favorite vacation spot? Paris in the Fall? Wherever you dream of having an incredibly romantic engagement session, I would love to chat with you about making it happen.
A pre-wedding trip could be the perfect escape for you if wedding planning is becoming stressful. It doesn’t have to be a long, luxurious vacation, but hopping over to a special spot for a long weekend could be the exact break you need.
Our dogs are a huge part of our family, which is why I love when couples choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location.
I recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and then either dropping them off or having a friend take them home. We won’t use your pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold him or her in between shots.
If you’re going to bring a pet, we recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
Pets
When it comes to posing for your engagement session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I'll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because we know it’s going to make the two of you laugh - and that’s the photo we’re actually looking for.
Throughout your session, I'll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
"What do I do with
my hands"?
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
Props
champagne is always a good idea
Props can be a nice way to give you something to do during your session. They can be especially helpful if you are nervous about being in front of the camera. Champagne, bouquets of flowers, picnics, bicycles and classic cars are all wonderful props to include. Just be sure to let us know ahead of time that you'll be bringing them so we can plan for them.
When I can, I always try to take a photo of your ring during your engagement session - so it’s a good idea to have it cleaned or clean it yourself before your shoot! To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
Ring Cleaning
Inclement Weather
what to do if it rains
It’s typical for us to schedule two engagement session dates. A primary date and a rain date. Having two dates helps us make sure that your photos happen in a timely manner. Coordinating schedules can be tough and I've found that the best way to make sure our couples get the look they have in mind for their photos is to schedule two dates at the same time.
I'll check in the week of your engagement session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. I know it takes a lot of time to get ready for engagement session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain. Let me know what works best for the two of you - but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, I typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance.
Your our outfit choices are one of the most fun parts about an engagement session. You have the options to go wild with fashion or to keep it basic. Have you ever dreamt of walking the red carpet? This may be a good time to purchase or rent a designer dress.
Do you love the idea of being as chic and sexy as Carrie Bradshaw or Emily from Emily in Paris? Girl, ROCK THE FROCK. Go big or go home.
Maybe you have always loved the equestrian scene and the idea of frolicking horseback on a mountainside valley dressed like you belong in Ralph Lauren is a distant dream of yours. Let's do it.
Selecting Your Outfits
Selecting Your Outfits
Wardrobe
How Many Outfits?
Most of our couples will bring two outfits to their engagement session. This allows you to get a bit of variety in your images. You could go for a casual look followed by a dressier one. Or wear two dressier looks if that's more your speed. We'll be sure to schedule time in your session to allow you to change. Just be sure to let us know in advance that you'll be wearing two looks!
Heels lengthen legs but if your heels aren’t comfortable for walking, bring an extra pair of shoes to slip into in between shots.
I love the way larger patterns photograph - just be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. I love bright, neon dresses, but we don’t love the neon reflection they add to your complexion.
Wardrobe Tips
for her
Where to Shop
Where to Shop
It can be overwhelming to know where to begin when it comes to selecting outfits for your engagement session. So we've put together a list of our favorite stores below. We've also created this Pinterest board with links to exact looks we think would photograph beautifully.
I cannot more strongly recommend having your hair and makeup professionally done. This is a great opportunity to do a trial for your wedding, but even if you’ve done that, I still recommend having them do it again. It will give your photos a polished look.
Hair and Makeup
Some Thoughts On
Manicure
There will probably be times during your session when we’re shooting your hands holding or the engagement ring on your hand - which means it’s a good idea to clean up your nails before your session (this applies to the guys too!).
I get it. Having your picture taken for 1-2 hours might not be in your top-10 favorite things to do during your downtime. And at first you might feel sort of awkward being in front of the camera. But I think you’ll find that by the end of the session, it’s a lot easier than you thought, and you even had a little fun. I look forward to it because it’s a great opportunity for us all to hang out a bit before the wedding day.
The Guys
A NOTE TO
Wardrobe Tips
Over the years I've noticed that certain things just look better on camera. But that means that some things just simply... don't look as good as others!
For a classic feel for your photos, avoid selecting busy patterns, plaid or flannels.
Sweaters and solid color dress shirts really go a long way! These can be worn as is, or add a vest, blazer or suit jacket to elevate the look!
for him
Banana Republic Factory
ASOS
Express
J.Crew
Bonobos
Indochino
Suit Supply
Abercrombie
Bespoke Post
Madewell
State and Liberty
Peter Millar
Kenneth Cole
Where to Shop
Where to Shop
It can be overwhelming to know where to begin when it comes to selecting outfits for your engagement session. So we've put together a list of our favorite stores below. We've also created this Pinterest board with links to exact looks we think would photograph beautifully.
for him
Pairing Colors
When picking outfits I recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if the groom-to-be is wearing a blue pastel shirt, the bride-to-be may want to choose a long, soft pink dress. I encourage you to pair two colors that complement one another or choose “color-families,” such as pastels or neutrals. Here are some examples of colors that pair well together.
Blue and Pink
Sage and Lilac
Cream and Brown
Navy and Blue
Cerulean and Sage
Pink and Cream
Selecting Your Outfit Colors
Examples of Colors that work well together
Blues
Pinks
Greens
Browns
Neutrals
Purples
Neons can add a fun pop of color to your engagement photos... and we love color over here! But one thing to keep in mind about neons is that they can reflect onto your skin and cause color casting, which isn't always totally removable in editing.
If you'd love to wear neon, select a fabric that is less reflective! Or schedule an outfit consultation with me to discuss ideas!
Neons
What to Know About
Things to Avoid
- Outdated fashion
- Patterns Smaller than a Quarter
- Pockets with keys and phones
- Spray tans
- Neon colors
- Baggy or loose clothing
need more help?
If you're stuck deciding between two outfits or aren't sure how a certain dress or suit will look on camera, let's schedule an outfit consultation! We'll hop on a zoom chat and go over everything together!
Schedule an
Outfit Consult
After you submit the "Getting to Know You" questionnaire, I will start putting together a session plan for you. I'll send detailed outfit ideas, location suggestions, timing and ways to make your session special to you. We'll schedule two dates on the calendar so that if rain does decide to invite itself to your session, it won't set us back in the slightest.
Session Plan
Creating Your
Date Night
If you’re anything like Zach and I, you probably don’t get dressed up all that often. Which means that the day of your engagement session is the perfect occasion for a date night (or brunch if your session is in the morning!)
The engagement session is another part of celebrating your love and heading off to dinner is a great way to end the session!
As soon as possible after your session is complete, I'll get started on editing your session. Unless we have a holiday closure, you can expect to receive your engagement photos thirty days after your session. Your gallery will be delivered through email so please be sure to keep an eye on your inbox!
When to Expect Your Images
One casual look, one formal
Soft, pastel or neutral colors
Long dress for formal look
Avoid small prints or patterns
Heels for her, jacket for him
Don't forget to accessorize
A location with natural reflectors
WHat I reccomend most:
Alison's Engagement Session Picks
We know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your engagement session! However if there is something we missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email
alison@alisonmaephotography.com
THANK YOU!
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