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Picture Perfect Dreaming of landing a flawless engagement photo to feature in your invitations, use in reception décor, or simply cherish forever? The five Ws of engagement session photography can help. BY JACKIE MANTEY
Who should you hire? Ideally, the professional who photographs your wedding will photograph your engagement session as well. Many will travel and plan sessions outside of their home city, though Columbus certainly has ample photogenic backdrops. An engagement session is a chance to get to know each other—and get used to posing for photographs—without any pressure. “The engagement session can be a good time to have a practice run so the couples are more comfortable the day of the wedding,” says Nicole Dixon, owner of Nicole Dixon Photographic. “Most couples haven’t had portraits done since their senior photos. An engagement session can put their mind at ease that it can be a comfortable experience.”
When should you have your engagement photo shoot? Engagement sessions happen any time prior to the wedding and capture a very special moment in a couple’s life. It’s important to give yourself or your photographer enough time to book locations if necessary. For example, Hillary Ferguson of Hillary Ferguson Photography recently photographed a dressy engagement session in the lobby of the historic Hotel LeVeque in Downtown Columbus, which needed to be rented beforehand. “I also think surprise engagements are really neat,” Ferguson says. “I shot my first one recently. … He brought her to an overlook along the Scioto Mile and dropped on one knee in front of me ‘reading a book.’ I grabbed my camera from under a blanket and captured some pretty emotional 128
COLUMBUS WEDDINGS SPRING/SUMMER 2020
ABOVE, Tyler Ray and Justin Dehan take a twirl (Nicole Dixon Photographic); BELOW, Julia Cook and Ben Gaskill reflect at sunset (Derk’s Works Photography).
