What to Ex p e c t for Yo u r Eng a g emen t S e s s i o n w i th L auren Ma g g i
Preparing for Your Session What to Wear Tips Coordinate - Not Match We’ve all seen the photos where everyone has on the same color shirt and most likely jeans. But rather than blending together in one big block of color, try to make sure your outfits compliment each other, rather than completely matching.
Mix Solids and Patterns Do a combination of solids and patterns, but try to avoid having too many patterns, or having all the same pattern. Just like with coordinating and not matching, you don’t want too much of a good thing!
Start With One Piece and Work Around it
Pick a Color Palette
Pick one outfit or piece of clothing, then use that to plan the rest of the outfit and your fiancé’s outfit. Working one at a time makes this part less stressful and helps outfits be more cohesive.
Having a palette of 3-5 colors can help you narrow down both of your outfits. Mix and match the colors through out so that your outfits tie in to another’s. Even if it is just an accessory for a pop of color. This will help you be able to narrow down choices as well.
Avoid Neon Colors and Ball Caps
Make Sure You are Comfortable
When someone is wearing a neon or extremely bright color, it reflects onto that person, and those around them. And ball cap style hats can cause very dark shadows on the face.
Being confident in what you are wearing will help you love getting your photo taken. Make sure you both love your outfits to help you relax and enjoy the session!
Make Sure You Are in the Right Mindset Your engagement session isn’t just about getting the photo. It’s also about having an important time to bond with your fiancée in the midst of the chaos that is wedding planning. Don’t think of engagement photos as another check on your to-do list, but rather a time to relax and remember how excited you are to marry your fiancée.
Arrive Early
Give yourself plenty of time to leave and get to the location. This will give us time to talk before we start and get a plan to make sure your session goes perfect!
Just Relax! I want you to have fun at your session! Be goofy with your fiance, give your them a kiss on the cheek whenever it feels right, don’t worry about smiling straight at the camera. I will make sure to get those photos of you both looking ahead for grandma’s fridge, but I promise you will love the ones of you being who you really are the most. Trust me to make sure your photos look great, and you just focus on enjoying the moment.
What To Expect During The Session I usually start with the simple poses and let you get used to the camera. Don’t worry if these ones don’t turn out or you don’t have a real smile yet, just think of these as a warm up! We’ll get all of the posed photos done first, then we get to the fun ones. I usually will step back and let you do your own thing and capture you in your own element. This is when I get the genuine smiles and the love between you. Silly faces and tickling are completely acceptable during this part! Don’t worry though, I also have some fun prompts and games to help you get into the moment, put a real smile on your face, and forget the camera is even there. If there is anything specific you want to try that I don’t usually do, please just let me know! All I ask is that you trust me!
Receiving Your Photos After I finish editing your photos, I will upload them to an online gallery. Once they complete uploading, I will send you an email, like the one to the left, with a link to your gallery. Make sure to read the accompanying email as it will have instructions and helpful tips for your gallery, as well as a few reminders. Your gallery will look a bit like the gallery to the right. It is where you can view, download individual photos or all the photos, share the entire album or individual photos, as well as purchase prints and canvases!
Paying for Your Session When I first email you your contract and questionnaire, at the end you will have paid the invoice either by credit card, or by clicking “mail a check.” To pay for the remainder of the session, you may access that same email, or I will be sending you another email shortly before your session. You may pay in advance, or if you would like to pay by check or cash at the time of your session, simply click the “mail a check” option again. If you have any questions regarding payment, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Ordering Photos While you are more than welcome to print at other places, I highly suggest printing from the lab connected to your gallery. In your gallery, each photo will have a shopping cart icon, or there is a “Buy All” button at the top. When you click the icon, a menu will pop up on the side with the different printing options, and you can pay right from the gallery as well. Then they will be shipped straight to you! If there is a product you don’t see that you have in mind, please just send me a message!
Leave a Review If you love your photos as much as I do, a review will mean the world to me! I love being able to see clients feedback and it also helps future clients! You can leave a review on Facebook or on Google. If there is anything that I can do to help make the experience better, please feel free to send me an email. I am always looking for ways to make your session be an exciting time for everyone!
T h a n k Yo u !
Every client is special to me and I look forward to every session! It means the world to me that you have trusted me to take your engagement portraits. Just know that by hiring me, you are helping me support my family and follow my dreams. I truly don’t think of this as a job, and I go into every session planning on making new friends. So thank you for welcoming me into your family if just for a little while. I hope this guide helps you be more prepared for your session and covered any questions you might have.