MoscaStudio - Engagement Session - Advice for Couples

YOUR Engagement Session!

Part 1 : THE (LIFESTYLE) ENGAGEMENT SESSION !

!

While we feel that everyone is beautiful inside and out, we understand that some of you may not feel confident being photographed. Not problem at all! Engagement sessions are a great way to break out of that photo-funk, and to see first hand how it feels to be captured on camera.

!

What we strive to do with our engagement sessions (which are more like lifestyle sessions, than anything else) is to let you be YOU by helping you be as confident as possible, without forcing you to do anything you wouldn’t normally/naturally do. It’s our trick for capturing the REAL you, without making you feel “weird” and “awkward” on camera. This of this as a

practice run for your wedding day! Once the big day comes, you’ll feel so much more confident and comfortable with cameras around that you’ll know exactly what to do.

!

There is strategic posing when necessary, but there is a whole lot of casual and genuine photography in the mix, too. The best way for you to show your true personalities and the love for one another, is to be left to be yourselves. We will observe you as you walk down the street, as you sip on a delicious coﬀee together, as you watch the sunset, or hike to a waterfall, or ride a cruiser bike, and as you flirt and hug and squeeze each other, too.

!

Everything you do in front of the camera, during your engagement session, should be what you usually do as a couple. That way, you’re not forced into strange situations that don’t reflect your personalities. That way, you can show oﬀ your love for each other, as naturally as possible. We want you to see the images and say: “That is SO us!”

!

Read this brief but detailed mini-guide, to prepare for your own session. See you soon!

Engagement Session: DRESS CODE

Engagement Session: MEANINGFUL LOCATION

It’s really not a “dress code” per se. What is most important is for you to be comfortable with how you look, to match your partner’s style, to feel confident (from every angle), and to be and feel like yourself. Don’t mask who you are… enhance it!

We can easily suggest locations for your engagement session… but not before asking you if there are any places that really truly mean the world to you, as a couple.

! !

Choosing a rustic barn setting, for example, encourages a more relaxed feel. Boots, sun dresses, sandals, big straw bag, a colorful blanket to lay on, maybe your doggie! All of these things come to mind, and all of them would look perfect for that environment, especially in the evening, when the sun is about an hour away from setting. Gorgeous warm light & beautiful long romantic shadows to play with!

!

If you were to choose a more urban location (such as downtown Portland in the afternoon / early evening) then dressing up with heels and evening make up and more city-like attire, would be perfect. Consider your nicest pair of jeans with fabulous shoes and a great bag as an accessory (we might hit up a coﬀee shop or even a bar, as a fun setting!).

!

A soft and romantic beach setting or an outdoorsy National Forest/waterfall hike will have completely diﬀerent clothes requirements… It’s a mater of feeling GOOD in anything you wear that is appropriate for your chosen location. Don’t worry! We can help.

! !

Do you love to hang out at a local caﬀe’ or city park? Do you love to hike waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge? Are you a lover of snowy winters and spend lots of time on the mountain, maybe at Timberline? Do you love dramatic cliﬀs and sand dunes and ocean sunsets?

!

We are fortunate to be living one of the most diverse environments in the country. The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful region and MoscaStudio is always thrilled to explore. The Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area; the National Forest with Mt St Helens; the vineyards, the high deserts of central Oregon, the beautiful bridges of downtown Portland, the historic Timberline Lodge… there are so many possibilities! Truly something for everyone. Choose what means the world to you and we’ll organize!

!

For our destination wedding clients, your engagement sessions will be more specific to you, especially if we won’t see you until your wedding week. Don’t worry! We will organize with you in other ways ;)

Real Engagement Image: Ramona Falls, Mt Hood Oregon

Engagement Session: PREPPING WITH PRO MAKE ! UP AND HAIR

Engagement Session: BRING PROPS + YOUR FOUR ! LEGGED FRIEND!

Many brides only think of this for their wedding day… but why ignore the engagement session? Besides your wedding day’s photography, an engagement session is most likely going to be the only other professional shoot you will participate in in a while. Get PAMPERED for it!

It might sound a little silly, but if your hands are occupied with carrying a gorgeous bag, or holding on to a fabulous wide-brimmed hat as the wind tries to whisk it away, or riding a tandem bike together in the countryside… the images will be even more fun (and much more easy for you to experience).

Go to your favorite salon and have a professional hair stylist wash, condition and style your hair. Getting spruced up for a photoshoot makes all the diﬀerence in the world to your attitude and your confidence in front of the camera. I’d stretch this to include getting professional make up done too… You can think of it as a wedding trial run!

MoscaStudio’s engagement sessions are more of a lifestyle shoot, than a portrait shoot. This means that the images will be active and full of movement, with less posing than you would think… so having an activity to do (or an object to hold) makes the look more complete.

!

What is most important is for you to feel your best. These photos are yours to keep for life and most times, they will end up in the wedding albums too. Why not get pampered for your engagement session as you would for your wedding? Light make up, nothing fancy nor extreme, just enough to even out your skin tones and accentuate your eyes and lips… there are amazing techniques that are perfect for each person who gets this done. A professional will be able to hear your requests and make them happen. Email us for referrals! Some are listed at the end of this Style Guide, and more are available upon request too. You’ll love your look!

!

! !

Each couple is in love, so each couple will inevitably hold hands, walk away into the sunset, sit embraced under a gorgeous tree, etc. But what about including a something that means the world to you? How about bringing your doggie to include in part of your shoot? How about an old VW bus that you two always camp out in? Maybe you can bring items that you love to include when you two have a picnic at a park (like a blanket and a basket with a bottle of wine)?

!

Infinite possibilities here! It’s just a matter of brainstorming and planning for it. We are open to just about anything, in order to make your photoshoot as unique as you are, so let’s brainstorm!

MoscaStudio is not only your wedding photography expert; as part of your patronage, you will also receive sound advice, a helpful wedding expert, a shoulder to lean on for when things get a little stressful. Your wedding day will be perfect, with the right amount of help and a perfect wedding team. Let us help you make it happen…

!

A wedding is a unique, one-time event. Knowing this, makes us even more honored to do what we do. We are inspired by you and can’t wait to begin the photography process. We are accessible and available to you anytime, provided we are not photographing another event, of course :) Anytime you have a question, as specific or generic as it may be, feel free to contact us! We are happy to provide as much help as we can, including referrals to the handful of wonderful vendors we love to work with and we love to pass on to our couples.

! !

* Use us as a trusted resource. We’re honored to be yours. * Connect on a personal level, on our social media outlets (links below!) * Save our style guide for ideas and inspiration and vendor referrals. f aceb o o k . c o m/ M o s c a S t u d i oL L C t wi tte r. c o m /M o sc a S t u d io L L C i n st ag ra m. c o m /M o sc a S t u di o p in te re s t . c o m/ M o s c a S t u d i o

!

H E L LO @ M o sc a S t u d io . c om (5 03 ) 7 3 2- 0 3 78

Real Engagement Image: Mt Tabor Park, Portland Oregon

ONCE AGAINâ&#x20AC;Ś Thank You! Alice & Josh want to thank you for having chosen MoscaStudio as your preferred wedding photographers. We work hard at making photography dreams come true. We look forward to being your guides and your photographers and your friends.

!

* Alice (CEO and Studio Manager at MoscaStudio) * Josh (Partner in business and in life + commercial photographer for MoscaStudio) * AJ & Courtney (MoscaStudio associate photographers)

Real Engagement Image: Hiking the Ramona Falls Train, Mt Hood Oregon

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook