Engagement Session Guide
S T Y L E & E X P E R I E N C E G U I D E
table of CONTENTS 1 WHAT TO EXPECT 2 SELECTING A DATE AND TIME 3 ALL ABOUT LOCATIONS 5 THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX 6 WHAT TO WEAR - FOR HIM 7 WHAT TO WEAR - FOR HER 8 ALL ABOUT POSING 10 SESSION CHECKLIST 11 AFTER YOUR SESSION 12 ONE FINAL NOTE
W H A T T O
I am SO excited to be celebrating with you and capturing these special moments before you big day! Thank you for choosing me. If this is your first time in front of the camera with your sweetheart, no stress! I'm here to make this process as painless and fun as possible.
I will be there along the way as your cheerleader. Expect a fun time for this session as we break the ice and snap some great photos that will hopefully live on your memory wall forever!
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F I R S T O F F - C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !
S E L E C T I N G A
date & time
Keep in mind that as a natural light photographer, I will always be looking for a time when the natural light will be the most ideal. This will be within 2 hours of sunrise and 2 hours of sunset. Therefore, if we are in the colder months and you schedule a sunset session, make sure you can get off work early if necessary.
It would also be a good idea to plan a buffer of time before and after you session, just to ensure enough time to get ready, find the location, etc.
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A L L A B O U T
locations
Choose a location that is meaningful to you both as a couple. This could be where you first met, where you had your first date, or a place that holds a special memory. Or it could be a fun new place that helps represent you as a couple!
I will always look for places that will be providing a lot of beautiful light behind you. If there are think bushes or dark walls behind you, I will most likely pull you away. I'll also be watching out for people or cars in the background. We don't want anything too dark or distracting taking the focus away from you in your photos!
Even light makes the best portraits. If there are spotty areas or "hot spots" of light behind you, I may direct you somewhere else. We don't want the spots in the background to be a distraction! Usually shooting within 2 hours before/after sunrise and sunset will help alleviate this.
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M E A N I N G F U L
L I G H T & C L E A R B A C K G R O U N D S
E V E N L I G H T
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I briefly mentioned this in the location section, but I want to reiterate that you have the permission to be creative! If there's a fun location that you had in mind, feel free to bring it up! Whether it be an airport hanger, a farm, a lighthouse, a rooftop, you name it. I've had clients come up with ideas that made for very dreamy portraits. You may even want to think about people you know, possibly private estates. The sky is the limit! Just let me know and we'll see what we can dream up.
Y O U ' R E A L L O W E D T O B E C R E A T I V E !
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W H A T T O W E A R
for him
For men, if you ' re looking for a sophisticated look, closed toed shoes and fitted pants up always do the trick. It places the attention on your ce where you want it! If you have orts and sandals, leave them home r this one.
Layers always look great on men. t's worth the end result to sweat it out for a few minutes if you have to. Plus, you can take off layers for different looks. It will give your photos more dimension.
f you have a classy watch that you love, a special tie or bowtie, pocket square, hat, bring it along! It adds a pop of class and personalization to your session.
F I N D T H E B E S T F I T
U S E L A Y E R S R E M E M B E R D E T A I L S
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W H A T T O W E A R
for her
If you have a long, full length, flowy dress or skirt, say YES! Extra plus if it's in a neutral or pastel color. These photograph so well! Consider chiffon of tulle!
When you ' re choosing what to wear, think about the features that you love the most and choose something that flatters those features. For example, heels always elongate women ' s legs and make them look fabulous
his is a great reason to pamper yourself before your big day. Get your nails done, hair done, make-up done. Get dolled up! It makes you look good as well as feel good and confident for your photos
For your session, you are allowed an outfit change! I would suggest something cute and casual for the beginning of the session and then a romantic, dreamy dress for around sunset.
S A Y Y E S T O T H E D R E S S !
F L A T T E R F A V E F E A T U R E S T R E A T Y O U R S E L F
B R I N G O P T I O N S
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Posing
If you ' re already anxious about posing, let me put your mind at ease! I will guide you with what do with your hands, which angle to face the camera and what to do! I'll give you and your fiance fun prompts along the way to lighten the mood and get you feeling natural and comfortable.
We all feel awkward in front of the camera at first, so don't worry if you do, that's totally normal! I'll be there as your cheerleader and your guide. I've studied the most flattering poses and angles, so I'll be making sure we ' re getting those throughout the session.
N O T S U R E H O W T O P O S E ?
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A L L
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Checklist
Water bottle
Flat shoes or sandals to get from place to place
Change of clothes
Touch up make-up
Layers in case it's cold
Hairbrush in case it's windy
Any special memento from your sig. other
Letter board with wedding date if you wish
Engagement ring (of course)!
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S E S S I
S O M E H E L P F U L S U G G E S T I O N S :
Session
You can celebrate, the hard part is over!
You can expect to see a sneak peak of your photos posted within 1-2 weeks of your session date. Feel free to share them with friends and family! Then within 3-4 weeks, you will be emailed a gallery link to your full gallery. It will also contain instructions on how to purchase more photos or an album if you wish. So keep an eye peeled in your email!
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One final note...
Thank you once again for entrusting me to capture these special memories for you.
If you have any questions beforehand, feel free to reach out. Whether it's clothing tips, location questions, anything at all! Can't wait!
Stephanie Marie
p a g e 1 2 C O N T A C T I N F O : E M A I L : S M S T L P H O T O G R A P H Y @ G M A I L . C O M P H O N E : 3 1 4 9 4 1 6 7 3 4 W E B S T I T E : S T E P H M A R I E P H O T O G R A P H Y C O M
