THE ENGAGEMENT SESSION
ST YLE GUIDE
THE ENGAGEMENT SESSION
ST YLE GUIDE Wel l hel lo t here!! If you’re f lipping t his a fe w t hings must b e t r ue. You’re gett ing mar r ie d! C ong ratu l at ions! A ls o you must b e prepping for your engagement s ession w it h me, Samant ha, and I’m s o excite d to help you a long t he way! Thin k of t his guide as your BFF g iv ing you s e cret t ips and t r icks, and helping you pick t he most amazing out f its. I want you to get out of t hat c ar fe eling s o re ady for our t ime toget her s o we c an ma ke t he most of it, and t hat st ar ts w it h fe eling (and lo ok ing) AMAZING! D on’t wor r y if s ome t hings here don’t apply to you, or if t he y just aren’t your t hing . I get it! I just want to put e ver yt hing out t here, and s e e w hat you t a ke and ma ke it you! L et’s do t his!
-Samantha
WHAT EVERY
BRIDE needs to
KNOW THE ENG AG EME NT SE SSION IS ONE OF MY f avor ite p ar t s of our t ime toget her b e c aus e it g ives you b ot h a chanc e to b e in f ront of my c ameras b efore you ge t mar r ie d, w h ich is going to ma ke your we dding d ay e x p e r ie nc e fe el s o smo ot h, s e am less and com for t able. Not on ly t hat , but we get to cre ate s omet hing s o sp e c i a l toge t he r. You’re going to b e mar r ie d for over f if t y ye ars, but you on ly get to b e engage d for t his shor t p e r io d of t ime. I’m s o excite d to c apture t he on ly t ime in you r l ife w hen you get to b e e a ch ot her’s f i anc e s . I c re ate d t his guide for you, and p a cke d it w it h a l l my b e st s e crets for gett ing t he b est out of your e ngage me nt e x p e r i ence, s o let’s dive r ig ht in!
choosing time & date
I”M A NAT U R AL L IG HT SPEC IALIST BE CAUSE I BE LIEV E THAT NATUR AL l i g ht , f rom t he sun and it s re f l e c t ions, cre ates photog raphs t hat fe el f resh, t i mel e ss and t r u e to you as a c ouple. I b eg in a l l engagement s essions t wo hou rs b e fore t he s che du le d suns e t dur ing “t he golden hour,” w hen t he lig ht is t he d re am i e st . Us e a suns e t c a lc u l ator on line to deter m ine t he s che du le d suns et for t he d ate and lo c at ion you’d li ke to do your s ession. Then, just subt rac t t wo hou rs to f igure out you r st ar t t ime. R ememb er, t he sun s ets much e arl i er du r i ng t he c olde r mont hs of t he ye ar and much l ater dur ing t he war mer mont hs , s o ma ke sure to f ac tor t hat in w hen cho osing your engagement s ession d ate, e sp e c i a l ly if you’re t a k ing t ime of f work or have e vening pl ans af ter w ard. To ge t t he most out of you r s e ssion, ple as e pl an a buf fer w hen gett ing re a dy s o you c an ar r ive a fe w minute s e arly. I’m on ly able to sho ot w hen natura l li g ht is st i l l i n t he sky, s o we’ l l want to t a ke a dv ant age of e ver y m inute we have to ge t he r b e fore t he sun go e s dow n. If you’re we ar ing t wo out f its, s ave you r favor ite one for t he s e c ond ha lf, and if you’re we ar ing on ly one, ar r ive in t hat .
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QUICK TIP: My weekends fill up first and far in advance. You can get a Fast Pass to the front of the line by scheduling mid-week.Â
SELECTING THE RIGHT
LO CATION T HE LO C AT ION OF YOU R ENGAGE ME NT SE SSION IS IMP ORTA NT! T he f i rst t h ing to de c ide is w het her you’d li ke help in cho osing your l o c at i on for your s e ssion . L i ke you s e e t hroug hout t his guide, most of my c ouple s want to showc as e t he natura l b e aut y of Pennsy lv ani a to g ive t he i r out - of - tow n gue st s a f un pre v ie w of w hat to exp e c t w hen t he y t r avel to t he Not he ast . I e sp e ci a l ly love sho ot ing in Pittsburg h b e c aus e it’s s o u nique and t he lig ht is div ine. There are a ls o ot her g re at opt ions arou nd t he st ate, and I’m a lway s up for explor ing a ne w sp ot toget her.
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think outside the box T H I S I S T HE T IME TO T HIN K outside t he b ox ! I enc ourage you to brainstor m u n i qu e l o c at ions t hat you mig ht have sp e c i a l a c c ess to t hat most p e ople don’t. For e x ample, may b e you, or s ome one in you r p e rs ona l or profe ssiona l net work, c an s e c u re p e r mission to a lo c at ion t hat wou l d ot he r w is e b e of f - limit s, li ke a b e aut i f u l pr ivate e st ate, c ount r y club or re s or t . May b e it’s a f ami ly ranch , ups c a le hotel or e ve n an air pl ane hangar. The sky is l ite ra l ly t he limit ! Sp e nd a fe w m i nute s t h in k ing ab out it and che ck ing arou nd. You’ l l b e sur pr is e d w it h w hat
you come up w it h. Plus, if s omet hi ng s e ems out of re a ch, just rememb e r : you ne ver k now unt i l you ask! My coupl es have s e c ure d p er m ission to s ome prett y ama zing pl a ces in t he p ast. If you get stuck or ne e d inspirat ion, che ck out t he engagement s e c t ion of my blo g and ke ep brow sing t hroug h t his gui de. I have s ome g re at go-to lo c at ions arou nd tow n t hat we c an a lway s hit, to o. Just let me k now w hich s ession you l ove, and w hat v ib e you’re fe eling , and I’ l l t a ke it f rom t here!
TRAVEL
DESTINATION
ENGAGEMENT YOU R E NGAGE M E N T SE S SION i nclude s my t r avel t i me a ny where i n t he Er ie/ P it t sbu rg h a re a . I f you’ d l i ke to go s ome where out side t he c it y, I’m up for t he advent u re! T he t r avel fe e for t hos e plac e s t hat a re a bit f u r t her t ha n s ay C le vla nd , Bu f fa lo, or P it t sbu rg h v a r r ie s . I f you’re t h i k n i ng of goi ng s ome plac e fa r a nd ma g ic a l, L i ke Wat k i n’s Glen or L a ke M i n ne wa sk a (To t he r ig ht t here!) Ju st le t me k now a nd I c a n get a t r avel quote for you! Ba sic a l ly, I ne e d to ma ke su re I c a n ge t t here a nd bac k w it ht i n a re a s onable t i mef r a me before a t r avel fe e come s i n!
St i l l not su re about a k i l ler loac t ion? Here’s a few of my favor ite plac e s!
TRAVEL
Squire’s Castle Buhl Mansion Cathedral Of Learning Hartwood Acres Frick Art Museum Carnegie Museum Watkin’s Glen Hocking Hills Strip District, Pittsburgh Cook’s Forest Downtown Erie Bayfront
ST YLING your session
WA N T YOU R ENG AG EMEN T IMAGE S TO LO OK MORE E DITORIAL? Br i ng a l itt le e x t ra s ome t h ing w it h you! A f resh ly -picke d b ouquet for you to hol d, or f re sh f lowe rs to put on s omet hing els e, li ke a bic ycle b asket, t re e s w i ng , pic n ic b aske t , c ar bump er or row b o at, is a f un way br ing a litt le e x t r a romanc e to e ve r yd ay obj e c ts. Whet her it’s l arger items li ke cl assic c ars , or sma l le r one s li ke bl an kets or hats, e ven incor p orat ing just one e x t r a st y le d ite m c ou ld b e a f un way to ma ke your s ession more unique.
style tips
FOR HER
because you’ve been waiting your whole life for this
FOR HER
DRESS IT UP HAVE YOU THOU GHT AB OUT ro ck i ng a s e quine d gow n , tu l le sk i r t or f lowe r c row n but just ne ver ha d an o c c asion for it ? Th is is your chanc e to do it up! R e me mb er : T he re is no such t h ing as “to o d re ss e d up” w he n it c ome s to your e ng age me nt s e ssion , s o don’t b e af r ai d to have s ome f un ! If you d on’t w ant to add a ne w p e r manent
pie ce to your col le c t ion, a lot of my br ides love R ent t he Runw ay for t heir engagement photos b e c aus e you don’t have to sp end a lot to fe el li ke a m i l lion bucks. Plus, you c an s end t he out f its b a ck w hen t he s ession is over. O t her br ides just love hav ing a g re at exc us e to br ing a ne w p er manent pie ce (or t wo!) into t heir clos et!
There’s no such thing as too dressed up.
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say yes
TO THE
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DRESS
LONG , F LOW Y DRES SES AND SKIRT S LO OK AMAZING ON CA ME R A BE CAUSE t he y br i ng e x t ra move me nt to t he photos. E sp e ci a l ly w hen juxt ap os e d w it h natu re, li ke t he d e s e r t , fore st , pl ains or b e a ch. Cute, shor ter-lengt h dress es photog raph b e aut i f u l ly as wel l. D re ss e s and sk ir ts tend to lo ok most stunning on c amer a b e c aus e t he y re a l ly f l atte r t he fema le b o dy — w hich is prob ably w hy t he re d c ar p e t is a lways f u l l of s o many dress es. We re com mend avoiding p ants and shor t s for your s e ss ion , and s ay ing yes to a dress or t wo! Not a dress k ind of g a l ? Ju mp su it s have b e c o e m a l l t he rage and are SO f l atter ing! Tr y one in a romant i c f l or a l or l a ce p atte r n !
one or two? it ’s up to you! MOST OF MY BRIDE S WHO CHO OSE T WO out f it s w i l l br ing one “wow ” dress, and t hen anot he r shor te r sun dress or co ckt ai l dress for a more c asu a l “us on a d ate” fe el. But if you want to br ing t wo “wow” dress es and forgo t he more c asu a l dress a ltoget her, g ive yours elf p e r mission to do it! The c amera love s r u nway- e s que app arel and s o do I! R e me mb e r, t houg h, you don’t have to br ing t wo lo oks if it’s to o st ressf u l or you’d rat her just st ick to one fabu lous lo ok. Just one out f it t hat you love w i l l b e s o much b etter t han one out f it you love p aire d w it h anot her you’re not ve r y excite d ab out. S o, one or t wo? It’s re a l ly up to you!
W H E N C HO O SING C OLORS FOR YOU R OU T F I T S I re c omme nd s el e c t ing l ig hte r tone s and more mute d shade s , OR j e wel tone s . By avoid ing u lt r a -br ig ht , b ol d col ors , it w i l l help br ing a l l t he atte nt ion to your face s and l e t t he e ye fo c us on t he w ay you fe el ab out e ach ot he r. T he c ame r a l oves shade s of s of t pin k and mute d blu e s , mixe d w it h s ophist ic ate d l ig ht ne ut ra ls l i ke he at he r g r ay, cre ams , l e at he r brow n and w h ite. T hat s of te r col or p a l e tte f it s b e aut if u l ly into a l mo st a l l natura l outdo or e nv ironme nt s , and e sp e c i a l ly compl e me nt s t he natura l l ig ht .
choosing colors
coordinating
THE LOOKS AS YOU’ R E C O ORDINAT ING you r out f it w it h you r f i anc e’s , ke e p i n m i nd t hat your out f it s w i l l l o ok t he most c ohe s ive on c ame r a w he n t he c olor p a l e tte s c o ordinate, but don’t ne c e ss ar i ly “match .” You shou l d e a ch aim to we ar a di f fe re nt d ominant c olor, but st ay w it h i n a simi l ar c olor p a l e tte fam i ly. S o if you’re we ar i ng a blush dre ss , s of t blu e e ar r i ngs and nu de he els (blush b e i ng your dominant c ol or ) , t he n he c ou ld we ar a nav y c o at w it h g ray p ant s , p ai re d w it h brow n le at he r sho e s and may b e e ve n a blush p o cke t s qu are. Now he has h is ow n d om i nant c olor ( nav y) w h i l e st i l l i nc or p orat ing a fe w tou che s of you r c olor p a le tte. Mo st of my br ide s cho os e t he i r d re ss f irst , and t he n put to ge t he r t heir f i anc e’s out f it b as e d on t hat . T hat’s w hy I have a s e c t i on for e ach of you.
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flattering your features I N M Y EXPERIENC E, EVERY WOMAN, RE GA RDLE SS OF HE R shap e has an are a of he r b o dy t hat she’s s elf-cons cious ab out, s o re c og n i z ing w hat are a t hat is in a dv ance is ke y. C ho osing f l atter ing s i l hou e tte s and c olors t hat complement your natura l fe atures is t he b e st w ay to e nsure you’ l l love t he way you lo ok in your photos.
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THREE-QUARTER LENGTH SLEEVES c re ate an awe s ome slimming e f fe c t on all ar ms , s o b e on t he lo okout for an opt i on w it h a longe r le ngt h sle e ve. You c ou ld a ls o br ing a c ute j a cket, bl a ze r or c ardigan a long , to o. Sk inny st r ap s or st raple ss dre ss e s have t he opposite e f fe c t on ar ms on c amera , s o we re c omme nd avoiding t hos e w he ne ve r p ossible if you r go a l is a s et of sl i m mer- lo ok ing ar ms .
HE E LS E LONGATE WOME N’S L EGS ma k ing t hem lo ok fabu lous. C lo s e dto es he els in p ar t ic u l ar lo ok g re at on c amera b e c aus e t he y c ar r y out t he line of your leg a l l t he way dow n to your to e. If your to es are show i ng in a p e ep-to e he el, you m ig ht want to s che du le a p e dic ure b efore you r s ession s o you don’t reg ret lett i ng your fe et show. Thes e litt le t r i ck s ma ke a l l t he dif ference!
QUICK TIP
Bring a pair of flats to wear when moving from place to place. Your feet will thank you later!
make a
STATEMENT
PA I R I NG AN AC C ES S ORY OR T WO WITH YOUR OUTFIT CAN RE ALLY help br i ng s ome e x t ra dime ns ion to your images. Big st atement ne ck l a ces br i ng a lot of p op to t he photos, w hi le t he sma l ler, delic ate ones are not as not i c e able on c ame ra. B elts, bra celets and e ar r ings br ing g re at v isu a l i nte re st , s o cho os e one or t wo t hat don’t comp ete for attent ion. Fresh f l or a ls i n a c row n or b ou qu e t c an b e a re a l ly romant ic touch as wel l.
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GO PRO
HAIR & MAKEUP PROFES SIONAL HAIR & MAKE UP IS ON TOP OF MOST OF my br ide s’ che ck list s b e c aus e it lo oks ama zing and removes t he st re ss of ge tt ing re a dy on your ow n. From l ash extensions to blow n - out hair, professiona l hair and ma keup w i l l g ive you an e x t ra b o ost of c on f idence in f ront of t he c amera , and it a lways photog raphs li ke a dream . If you’re work ing w it h a ma ke up ar t ist , have her apply your ma keup in natura l lig ht, if p ossible, s o t hat it lo oks f resh and not to o he av y. Plus, t hat’s t he t yp e of lig ht we’ l l b e sho ot ing in, s o it’ l l g ive you t he b est ex p e c t at ion of how it w i l l t ransl ate on c amera . Most of my br ide s fe el li ke t he ir ma keup is “to o much” at f irst, since it’s more t han you wou ld we ar on a nor ma l d ay, esp e ci a l ly w hen it come s to f a ls e l ashe s, s o if you fe el t hat way at t he b eg inning , don’t wor r y! G o o d ma keup ar t ists k now how to get it just r ig ht for t he c ame ra — and my br ides a lway s love t he f ina l resu lt. If you ne e d a re c omme nd at ion for hair and ma keup, I work w it h t he b e st in t he busine ss and have a g re at go-to te am ! The y ’re s we e t as pie, t a le nte d as he ck, unb elie vable professiona ls and wonde r f u l p e ople. You’ l l LOV E t hem ! Just let me k now and I’ l l s e nd you t he ir in for mat ion. I k now t he y ’ l l t a ke go o d c are of you!
CONFIDENCE. It’s always the best accessory.
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A LITTLE EXTRA POLISH D on’t forg et, your r ing w ill be center stage, s o g ive yours elf per mi ssion to g et it cleaned and your nail s done, too!
skip the spray tan A LT HOU GH IT MIGHT SE E M c ou nte r-i ntu it ive, I re c omme nd t hat you d o not ge t a spray t an b e fore your s e ss i on , e ve n a fe w d ays pr ior, b e c aus e it
tends to photog raph orange e ven w hen it’s applie d subt ly and by a professi ona l. Your a c tu a l sk in tone w i l l photog r aph t he most b e aut if u l ly and natura l ly.
fashion tips
FOR HIM because dapper and debonair never go out of style
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FOR HIM
AS LONG AS HE’S GOT THAT
SUIT & TIE FROM JA M E S BON D TO DON DR A PE R , M E N look most st r i k i ng i n a wel l-t a i lored su it . I f he doe sn’t have one , now ’s t he per fec t t i me to i nve st i n s ome t h i ng he’ l l we a r for t he re st of h i s l i fe! T he be st pa r t? It ’s a lot le s s ex pensive t ha n you m ig ht t h i n k ! W h i le c u stom su it s c a n cost t hou s a nd s of dol la rs , s ome of t he most wel l-k now n br a nd s have of f-t he-r ac k su it s i n t hei r store s for a f r ac t ion of t he pr ic e . S ol id shade s of g r ay or nav y a re a st rong complement to most women’s out f it s , where a s pi nst r ipe s or pla id pat ter ns tend to d i st r ac t t he e ye.
FOR HIM
THERE’S NO SUBSTITUTE for a
WELL-TAILORED
SUIT
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FOR HIM
MIX IT UP MAN Y OF MY G RO OMS LOV E TO MIX A SUIT C OAT, BL AZE R or sp or t c o at w it h a dif ferent p ant color. It a dds s ome ext ra v isu a l inte re st , and c an b e more f un t han we ar ing t wo f u l l suits i n a row. I’m a big f an of t his f resh t a ke on a t imeless cl assic.
layered looks
NE XT TIME YOU WA LK BY a store li ke J. Cre w, you’ l l not ice t he ma le manne qu i ns and mo dels are a lways we ar ing s e vera l l ayers at once. L ayers on men l o ok g re at on c amera , s o e ven w hen it’s hot outside, t r ust me w hen I s ay t hat it’s wor t h an hour or t wo of dis com for t for photos t hat w i l l l ast you b ot h a lifet ime. Addi ng anot her l ayer w i l l br i ng ext ra dimension and v isu a l interest to your photo s . Bl a zers, vests and co at s up t he le vel of any lo ok. If t he temp erature p er m its, he cou ld e ven consider a d di ng a v -ne ck swe ater w it h a p op of color f rom a l ong sle e ve d col l are d shir t and t ie under ne at h. D on’t b e af raid to get a litt le cre at ive w it h l ayers!
IT’S ALL IN LONG PA N T S AN D C LOSED - TOE D SHOE S ARE THE MOST SOPHISTICATE D and mas c u l i ne lo oks for me n . The y draw attent ion aw ay f rom his legs and fe e t and pl a c e it w he re you want it : on t he fa ce you fel l in love w it h. S o, for your s e ss i on , it’s b e st to le ave t he shor t s, s and a ls and j e ans at home, to o. Suit p ants , d re ss p ant s or c olore d p ant s work b est, esp e ci a l ly w hen p aire d w it h clos e d-to e sho e s . Brow n le at he r dre ss sho e s complement a lmost e ver y lo ok, w het her he’s we ar i ng a f u l l suit or a bl az e r and colore d p ants.
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THE DETAILS T I E S , B OW T IES , PO C K ET S QUA RE S, C OLORE D SO CKS, BE LT S, TIE CLI P S , susp e nd e rs , ve st s and watche s are shar p complements to any suit. If you br i ng t wo su it s to t he s e ssion , you c an st ar t w it h a t ra dit iona l ne ckt ie and b elt, t hen s w itch to susp e nde rs and a b ow t ie for your s e cond lo ok. If t wo suits are to o st re ss f u l, no proble m! One lo ok w i l l do t he t r ick! You c an st i l l m ix and match a c c e ss or i es to c omple me nt b ot h of her dress es w it hout doing a f u l l change du r i ng t he s e ss i on . S o, e it he r way, you w in.
HOW TO
PREP YOUR MAN MO ST MEN AREN’ T OVERLY E XCITE D TO TA KE PHOTOS FOR T WO hou rs , b e c aus e t he y don’t have an exp e c t at ion of w hat’s to come and w hy it’s s o i mp or t ant to you. Ta ke f if te en m inutes to e duc ate and emp ower your g uy. Tel l h im w hy you chos e me and my st y le of photog raphy. Show hi m you r t h re e f avor ite s e ssions t hat I’ve done, expl ain w hy you love t hem and e x pre ss to h im how much it me ans to you. Tr ust me, once he k now s it’s i mp or t ant , he’ l l lig ht up t he c amera for you! The most com mon t hing I he ar f rom g uys b e fore e ngage me nt s essions is t his: b e c aus e of a b a d exp er ienc e i n t he p ast , t he y don’t li ke t a k ing photos or don’t t hin k t he y ’ l l b e go o d at it . By t he t ime we’re done, t houg h, t he y c an’t b elie ve how fast it went and just how mu ch f un t he y had! ENGAGEMENT STYLE GUIDE | 47
after the session
PHOTO DELIVERY TIMELINE
1 WEEK
2 WEEKS
30 DAYS
s oc ial media sneak
blog post w ith
online galler y w ith
peek w ith one of
s ome highlights of
all of your f inal,
my favor ite photos
our time together
retouched, highres olution images
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one final note
I K NOW I JU ST GAVE YOU A LOT TO THINK AB OUT. I c re ate d t h is gu ide to help ma ke your engagement s ession exp er ience s ome t h ing you’ l l lo ok b ack fond ly on for ye ars and ye ars to come. At t he e nd of t he d ay, t houg h , t he lo c at ion you cho os e and t he out f its you s el e c t won’t matte r ne arly as much as t he memor ies you ma ke toget her. You r f utu re mar r i age is t he most imp or t ant t hing to me, and I want your e ng age me nt s e ssion to b e a t ime for you to just b e yours elves and enj oy it . Have f un toge t he r. L au g h a lot. And I’ l l t a ke c are of t he rest!
ENGAGEMENT SESSION CHECKLIST SET DATE, TIME AND LOCATION WITH SAMANTHA REVIEW GUIDE FOR STYLE TIPS SCHEDULE HAIR AND MAKEUP APPOINTMENTS CHOOSE YOUR OUTFITS GET YOUR NAILS DONE CLEAN YOUR RING PACK A BAG WITH:
Flats or flip-flops for walking between photo spots
Outfit two (including shoes and accessories)
Touch-up makeup
Water bottle (for warmer sessions)
Coat or cover-up (for colder sessions)
PICK A FUN POST-SESSION DATE NIGHT SPOT
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i can’t wait to
SEE YOU SO ON samantha