choosing the perfect time, location, outfit & more!
Engagement Session
planning your
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Second, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you (and even include pets!). While they’re great for save-the-dates, we’ve taken engagement photos anywhere from 18 months in advance to a few days before the wedding.
There is a lot to think about when it comes to planning a session and since I get asked many of the same questions over and over again, I thought it would be most beneficial if I put together a guide that walks you through everything you need to know.
I’ll cover what to wear, whether to bring pets & how to manage them, location ideas and more!
I'm so excited you've chosen me to be your engagement photographer. I can’t wait for our time together during your session! It’s normal to be a little nervous. I always tell people that I still get nervous before having my own photos taken - and I do this for a living!
I'm a big fan of engagement sessions for a few reasons. First, they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed. Timelines can be pretty tight on weddings days and 30 minutes may be all we have for portraits - which is why I’ve found that wedding day portraits turn out so much better when couples do engagement sessions ahead of time.
Welcome
Bok Tower Gardens
Hollis Garden
I get it! Having your picture taken for 1-2 hours might not be in your top-10 favorite things to do during your downtime. And at first you might not feel too sure of this stranger and her fancy camera.
But I hope that by the end of the session, I'll prove I'm there to help you look your best and have a good time. I look forward to engagement sessions because it’s a great opportunity for us to get to know each other before the wedding day.
The guys
A NOTE TO
Engagement sessions can take place anywhere from immediately following a proposal to just a few days before the wedding. We’ve found that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos. We normally plan sessions based on a particular “look” a couple has in mind, glowing backgrounds for example, or based on schedules.
Sessions typically last about an hour and a half and when when we can—we prefer to begin sessions about two hours before sunset. We prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise are also an ideal time to shoot.
We schedule sessions during what we believe will be the best light of the day - which means that it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises.
Is there a "GOOD" TIME TO TAKE PHOTOS?
Time & Light:
Bok Tower Garden
A sharp, well-dressed man elevates your entire session.
And a few details will make a big impact.
Outfit tips for him
Long pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from legs and feet, and place it where you want it: on the face you fell in love with.
So it’s best to leave the shorts and sandals at home. Plain simple shoes add a classic look to your photos. Dress pants or colored pants work best. Double check the length. Bunched up fabric on top of a man’s shoes makes him look shorter than he really is.
Outfit basics
Skip the
Loungewear
For colors, I recommend neutrals and soft, warm tones that complement your bride’s look. Dark shirts can make even the brightest photograph seem dark. Dark pants are fine but I always recommend light colored tops.
Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong complement to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye and can look strange on camera, so stay away from too strong of prints, and opt for solids instead.
colorful leaves and snuggling close
COLORS
Have you ever noticed that male models are usually wearing several different items at once. Accessories can take a simple outfit and make it a fashion statement, it looks even better on camera. Accessories not only improve your outfit but elevate the elegance and visual interest in your portraits.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with layers! Here's some ideas to get started: watches, belts, light coats, ties, pocket squares, colored socks, tie clips, suspenders and vests are all sharp complements to choose from.
Accessories make the outfit
Accessorize the LOOK
There's a reason the suit jacket hasn't changed much in the last 200 years. There's just something about a man in a well fitted jacket that looks amazing. You can’t go wrong with a dress shirt, slacks and jacket.
The key element is the fit. It’s critical to have a jacket that fits snugly (but not too tight). It doesn't have to be a suit coat. A fitted casual jacket or vest can also give the benefits of a traditional suit jacket.
Vest, sport coat or suit
consider a jacket
If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding.
If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.
Save-the-dates
Local Airports
Springs
Kayak session
ADVENTURE
Bonnet Springs Park
Hollis Garden
Bok Tower Gardens
Circle B Bar Reserve
Lake Crago Complex
Parks and Gardens
The above locations are all beautiful but we also love exploring meaningful locations with our couples!
Pass-a-grille
Fort Desoto
Cypress Point Park
BEACH
Murals
Tampa River Walk
The University of Tampa
Downtown
River Walk
URBAN
Polk or Tampa Theater
Scenic College campuses
Historic Courthouses/hotels
Historic Churches
Culture
Kryger Park
Lakeland Lake Mirror
Tamp/Davis Island
CLASSIC & ELEGANT
We love when couples choose a location for their session that complements their wedding. For example if you’re planning a chic, elegant wedding, it may be fitting to take your engagement portraits among the classic architecture on Lake Mirror, while a local park or garden may be more fitting for a couple planning a more natural affair.
The best session locations are often meaningful places to the couple; however, we’re also happy to make recommendations. From sandy beaches to local carnivals to orange groves and even you venue, the options for engagement session locations are endless!
LAkeland/Tampa Bay ENGAGEMENT LOCATIONS
Locations
Want to add an extra splash of playful fun to your engagement session? After we capture those classic portraits, consider adding a second, more casual look that's uniquely you! Whether you want to break out your game day jerseys from your alma mater, incorporate your beloved pup into some playful shots, or revisit the ice cream shop where you had your first date – we can incorporate these personal touches to tell your complete love story. This mix of classic and casual gives you the best of both worlds: those timeless, elegant portraits to frame, plus fun, laid-back shots that capture your everyday magic together.
infuse your personality
Hyde Park, Tampa
Ft Meyers
We love when couples choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location.
We recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and then either dropping them off or having a friend take them home. We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold him or her in between shots.
If you’re going to bring a pet, we recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
Pets
River Walk, TAmpa
We recommend picking outfits that “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if the groom-to-be is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, the bride-to-be may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be helpful to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones. A good rule of thumb: pick 3 or so colors and spread them throughout your attire. Don't be afraid to mix a few subtle patterns or textures (such as linen).
And always keep the location in mind. If we're shooting in a green field, light green dresses might blend in too much with the surroundings.
Generally couples pick two outfits for an engagement session: a more formal outfit and a casual outfit. We recommend saving your favorite outfit for later in the session, when couples usually feel more comfortable in front of the camera.
TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST
Outfits
shop my PRIME favorites
on to the next
Dresses and skirts tend to look stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits!
I recommend long, flowy dresses or skirts because they’re flattering on all body types, look amazing on camera and bring extra movement and dimension to your photos. Maxi (floor length) skirts and dresses will give us the best “twirl factor” and add more romance to your walking photos.
Cute, shorter cocktail-length dresses or midi skirts
photograph beautifully as well. My brides who choose to bring two dresses will sometimes choose one of each! I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress (or skirt!) or two! You won't regret it!
DRESS it UP
Don't be afraid to
Bok Tower Garden
on to the next
For shoes, keep in mind that heels elongate women’s legs and force constant tension in the calves –– which makes them look more toned. You can never go wrong with a pair of neutral pumps!
If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your toes show.
Lastly, make sure to bring a pair of flats to wear when moving from place to place. Your feet will thank you later!
Heels
Shoes, Shoes, Shoes
Bok Tower Garden
on to the next
Statement pieces are a great way to add color or texture to portrait. Whether it’s a headband, necklace, belt, bracelet, earrings, hat, or scarf, bringing an accessory or two can bring great visual interest to your photos. Just make sure they don’t compete for attention when paired together.
For example, if you go with bolder earnings, you might want to choose a more humble necklace, or maybe even no necklace at all. Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be a really romantic touch as well! (My favorite personal is large statement earrings. It's become a staple in my wardrobe)
Statement
Make a
Davis ISland, Tampa
In my experience, every woman (regardless of her shape) has an area of her body that she’s self conscious about. Recognizing areas you’re self conscious about is important when selecting your outfits.
-Three-quarter length sleeves create a slimming effect on all arms. If your dress has shorter sleeves (or no sleeves) consider bringing a cute jacket or cardigan to incorporate into your look. Avoid skinny straps as on most women it actually makes arms look BIGGER. So I recommend avoiding those whenever possible if your goal is slimmer-looking arms.
-Structured jackets add a slimming and lengthening affect to any body. It also allows me to incorporate more poses that is very slimming.
-Heels make legs look more tone and longer. They are my top outfit recommendation!
Features
Flattering your
on to the next
Bok Tower Garden
We think it’s so important that you look and feel your best for your photos. Investing in professional hair and makeup can go a long way towards creating photos you love for years.
Professionally done hair & makeup last longer than typical hair & makeup. They also tend to hold up better in humidity, sweat and wind. (Hello Florida!)
If you go this route, we recommend staying a bit “classic”. Now probably isn’t the best time to try out that new contouring technique you saw on TikTok.
If you’re planning to do any spray tans or waxing, schedule those for a few days before the session to give your skin time to recover.
Hair & Makeup
for the ladies
on to the next
YOUR MAN
how to prep
on to the next
Most men aren’t overly excited for portraits, mostly because they don’t know what it's like or why it’s so important to you, so I recommend taking fifteen minutes to educate and empower your man.
Tell him why you chose my photography. Show him your three favorite sessions we’ve done, explain why you love the photos and express to him how much this session means to you. Trust us, if he loves you, he’ll bring his
A-game and light up the camera for you!
The most common thing I hear from guys before engagement sessions is this: because of a bad experience in the past, they don’t like taking photos or don’t feel like they’ll be good at it. By the time the session is over, though, most guys can’t believe how fast it went and how much fun they had.
Ft Meyers, FL
Your ring hand will be featured in a lot of the photos, so if you have time before your session, I recommend getting your ring cleaned and treating yourself to a manicure.
To clean your ring at home, soak it in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
your Ring
Often times here in Florida, rain typically only lasts a little while. I even captured the photo here in a rain shower. (That's why they're in the doorway!) I have water-resistant gear and clear photography umbrellas for light rainy sessions. Cloudy days can often provide ideal lighting for portraits but if the rain in the forecast is simply too bleak we can go ahead and plan another date for your engagement session.
We’ll check in the week of your engagement session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. We know it takes a lot of time to get ready for engagement session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain.
Let us know what works best for the two of you - but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, we typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance.
what to do if it rains
Inclement Weather
Bok Tower Garden
If you’re planning to bring props to your engagement session, we recommend including them only if they’re meaningful to you.
Shots drinking coffee at a local coffee shop would be cute if that’s where you met or coffee shops play a significant role in your relationship; however, trying to fly a kite together when it’s not a part of your relationship may come off as contrived.
(The Couple pictured here had their first date at a coffee shop and he even proposed with a mug that said, "Will you marry me?" on the bottom!)
props?
should we bring
When it comes to posing for your engagement session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! We’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If we tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because we know it’s going to make the two of you laugh - and that’s the photo we’re actually looking for. I always tell my couples, "Feels awkward, looks great!"
Throughout your session, we’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. We'll even be showing you the back of our camera so you'll see it first hand! We want you to feel as relaxed and confident as possible so you can enjoy your time in front of the camera!
"what do I do with my hands?"
posing
A note on
Davis ISland, Tampa
If you’re anything like us, you probably don’t get dressed up all that often. Which means that the day of your engagement session is the perfect occasion for a date night (or brunch if your session is in the morning!)
The engagement session is another part of celebrating your love and heading off to dinner is a great way to end the session!
Date Night
Richmond, VA
In the week following your session, I’ll post a sneak peek online –– so keep an eye out for that! I'm so excited for you to see how beautiful you look through my eyes.
One month after your session, I'll send the link to the online gallery with your retouched, high-resolution images. You can share the link with family and friends, post to social media and more! I recommend changing your lock screen first :)
Your gallery comes with unlimited downloads for you and anyone you share the link with, You can purchase prints from my professional lab or use your printer of choice (I recommend Mpix!)
Images
When to Expect Your
We know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your engagement session! However if there is something we missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email
[email protected]
Feel free to text me photos for outfit advice or any other general questions. I'd love to help!
(863) 777-9338
THANK YOU!
Check out past engagement sessions on my blog