ENGAGEMENT SESSION TIPS
HOW TO PREP
Clean Your Ring
Let that diamond sparkle! Clean the ring to make sure it looks its’ best. Your ring will be photographed. You can do this at home with bling wipes or soap and water.
Hair and Makeup
This is the fun part! I always encourage my couples to make sure that they feel their very best. If you don’t love doing your own hair and makeup, this may be the perfect opportunity to give professional hair and makeup a shot!
Set Expectations
Take the time to sit down together and scroll through 2-3 of your favorite engagement session galleries of mine! This sets expectations and prepares you for the style of shoot.
Get Your Nails Done
This is the perfect time to show off your sparkly engagement ring! I will take a bunch of shots of your hands during your shoot. Trust me, you’ll want your nails done.
Bringing Your Dog
I love it when pups come along! When dogs are at a photo session, I highly recommend that you ask a family member or friend to come along. We'll capture photos without your dog too so you'll want someone to tend to your dog while we shoot.
Entrance and Permit Fees
This may not apply to your shoot, but some parks, gardens, estates, and locations will require an entrance fee or permit. Please research beforehand and make arrangements in advance.
WHAT TO WEAR
Get Dressed Up
Your engagement shoot is a perfect excuse to have fun and get dressed up! There is no such thing as being “too dressy” for your engagement photos!
Start with Fancy
Some couples want to wear two outfits, one fancy and one casual (or two fancy looks). You’ll need to book a 1.5 or 2-hour session to have time to change. I recommend starting with the fancier outfit so you don’t have to worry about wrinkles!
Coordinate, Don’t Match
The goal is for your outfits to coordinate, not match. A good idea is to have only one person wear a pattern (if that’s your thing) or wear white, not both.
LOCATION, TIME, WEATHER
Location
When picking your location, pick a spot that means something special to you! Here are the top locations to photograph in New York City and New Jersey.
Timing
The best time to shoot portraits is 1-2 hours after sunrise or before sunset. This applies to any time of the year. We want to capture your photos with the prettiest natural light.
Entrance and Permit Fees
This may not apply to your shoot, but some parks, gardens, estates, and locations will require an entrance fee or permit. Please research beforehand and make arrangements in advance.
Weather
Sunshine and overcast weather are perfect for photos! If rain is in the forecast, you have 2 options. 1) Move forward, bring positive vibes, and get ready to use clear umbrellas provided by me! 2) Reschedule and we’ll find another time that works.
Avoiding Tourists
Choosing an iconic NYC location is an amazing idea for your engagement shoot! Having tons of tourists in the background is not so great. To best avoid tourists, I recommend shooting in the early morning.
Be on Time
This is huge! If you don’t allow for traffic/subway delays that could arise, you may easily be 20 minutes late for your shoot. We have to be mindful of sunlight, especially sunsets. Once the golden hour is over, that beautiful light is gone. I will time your shoot for the best time of the day with the most amazing light so be sure to keep an eye on the clock so we don’t run out of natural light!