I know that there can be a lot of anxiety and anticipation when it comes to preparing for your engagement session. After all, it’s most likely the first time you’ve ever had your photos taken professionally and that can be overwhelming. You’re worried about what to wear, how to style your hair + makeup, and whether or not your fiance will be cooperative or not. It’s a lot to process. So I wanted to write a blog post to give you a better idea of what to expect from your engagement session with me – to hopefully give you some peace of mind. You’ve got this!
1. Our session will be fast-paced. I shoot quickly and efficiently – and once I’ve coached you through all of my standard poses, the session will move along extremely quickly. Especially if it’s really hot, really cold, or really buggy outside!
2. I will give you continuous coaching + guidance throughout the session. I never want you to feel awkward and alone in front of the camera, so I will be talking to you guys, joking with you, and giving you posing direction the entire time I’m shooting.
3. Before I start shooting in a new location, I will take a few test shots to dial in my camera settings for the location. So if you see me shooting without giving you any direction, just know that these are test shots! I’ll definitely let you know when I’m ready to take the “real” photos once I have my settings dialed in.
4. My goal for your engagement session is to maximize locations + I won’t need you to move around too much at all. I will generally choose 3 spots for your first outfit and another 3 spots for your second outfit… and by simply changing my angle, your pose, and my lenses throughout the session, I’ll be able to create a ton of variety with this game plan. It’s a tried + true method!
5. I will definitely ask you to laugh at nothing. Or laugh at me. Or laugh at each other. Or laugh at the car parked across the street. So be prepared to laugh + have fun with me. The more you commit to laughing, the more joyful your images will be!
6. Feeling awkward = a good thing! There is nothing “natural” about having your photos taken and often times, the best poses feel really awkward… but they look great on-camera. I promise!
7. I will teach you ladies how to shift your weight + pop your leg. We will find your best angles + figure out what “your” pose is!
8. You guys will learn how to nuzzle! It sounds intense, but it’s really not… I swear!
9. I will post a sneak peek within 24 hours on Instagram – so be sure that you’re following me!
10. Be prepared to change clothes in your car. Most locations (at least in downtown Charleston) don’t have a public bathroom with easy access, so just be prepared!
11. I encourage all of my dog-loving couples to bring your pups along for some photos! However, you’ll also want to arrange to have someone drop them off and/or pick them up since we won’t need them for the entire session. I suggest having your pup(s) join us about half of the way through the engagement session – once you’ve become comfortable in front of the camera without the added stress of wrangling your pup!
12. You should have your final gallery of images in your mailbox within two weeks!
I hope this gives you a good idea of what to expect when it comes to your engagement session, but if you have any other questions prior to the big day, please let me know!!
With a well-worn passport in hand, and an affinity for a good cocktail, Dana works with fun-loving and kind-hearted clients around the globe.
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