Engagement Guide

ENGAGEMENT SESSION TIPS, TIMELINE GUIDANCE,
VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS & MORE!

A Note About THis Guide

Your engagement session is about more than getting some great photos together! It is also a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera, get to know me a little better, and experience what it is like to be photographed together before your wedding day.

It is completely normal to feel a little awkward or nervous at the beginning. Most people are not used to having a camera following them around! Throughout your session, you will get a feel for how I direct you, the kinds of prompts I use, and what I mean when I tell you to get close, walk together, or completely ignore me for a minute.

When your wedding day arrives, none of that will be new. You will already know what to expect from me and have one less thing to think about during your portraits. Instead of wondering what to do with your hands or what I am going to ask you to do next, you can relax, have fun together, and enjoy the moment.

Let's Get Started!

+ Make it a date night
+ How to use your images
+ including pets
+ Session Tips
+ Choosing Your Outfits
+ Adventure Sessions
+ Choosing A Location
+ A Few Quick Notes

Table of Contents

A few quick nOtes

SESSION TIMING: I photograph most sessions within an hour of sunrise or sunset when the light is at its best. This gives us beautiful light to work with and the most flexibility to explore our location.

MULTIPLE OUTFITS/LOCATIONS: If you would like to use two locations or include multiple outfits, I suggest upgrading to a 90-minute session. This gives us enough time for outfit changes or travel between locations without rushing. Upgrade cost: $100

LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF PHOENIX: I love traveling outside of the valley for sessions. Upgrade to an Adventure Session and we can spend up to two hours exploring anywhere in Arizona. Upgrade cost: $200

For your session

Choosing a Location

The first step to planning your engagement session is picking the location. I am down to photograph just about anywhere there is good light! Throw your idea at me and I will let you know if we can make it work. Seriously, any idea. Want me to get on your boat to get to your favorite spot on a lake? Sure! Want to do your session inside a comic book store? I got you covered!

You don't need to figure out the perfect location on your own. Whether you already have somewhere in mind or have absolutely no idea where you want to go, I will help you find a spot that fits your session. Once I know what you're looking for, I can narrow down the options and send you a few ideas to choose from.

Before you fill out your questionnaire, take a look at the tips below for a few things to consider about where you want to go, along with a few of my favorite spots!

P.S. You do not have to overthink this! If you just think the desert is pretty, that is plenty to go on. I have plenty of desert locations for you to choose from!

To MatCh Your Wedding Vibe Or Not?

Think about whether you want your engagement photos to have a similar vibe to your wedding or give you something completely different. These photos may end up on your save-the-dates, in your guest book, framed in your home, or all over your social media, so either option can be fun!

MATCH IT: Having a winter-themed wedding? Head to the snowy mountains for your engagement session and carry that same vibe through both.

MIX IT UP: Getting married surrounded by pine trees? Head to the desert for your engagement session and get an entirely different backdrop with cacti and mountains.

SENTIMENTAL LOCATIONS
Some of my favorite engagement sessions happen in places that already mean something to you. Is there somewhere that feels like your spot or is part of your story together?

Here are a few locations past couples have chosen:
  • The mountain range they hike together.
  • Their family property in the wilderness.
  • The garden they visit so often they have an annual pass.
  • Their favorite comic book store.

It could also be where you got engaged, the coffee shop where you had your first date, your favorite date-night spot, or even the home you renovated together.
CURRENT FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Think about any festivals, fairs, or seasonal events happening around the time of your engagement session. They can be a fun way to incorporate something you already love or give your session a completely different backdrop!

A few ideas:
Pumpkin patches in the fall
Apple orchards during bloom or harvest
Renaissance festivals and fairs
Hot air balloon or lantern festivals

P.S. If you choose a popular festival or event, plan on meeting me right when the gates open so we have the best opportunity for photos before the crowds roll in!

Some Fav Locations

Need a little inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite engagement session locations around Arizona! Take a look through the galleries below and see if anything catches your eye. If you find one you love, let me know on your questionnaire!

Desert

White Tank Mountains
Papago Park
Superstition Mountains**
Salt River**

Urban

Roosevelt Row
Mesa Arts District
Downtown Gilbert

Adventure

Bell Rock (Sedona)**
Cathedral Rock (Sedona)**
Buffalo Park (Flagstaff)
Mogollon Rim (Payson)

**These locations require a permit or entry fee. If one catches your eye, let me know on your questionnaire, and I will confirm the current fee for your session date.

Parks

Anthem Park
Sahuaro Ranch Park
Desert Botanical Garden**
Gilbert Riparian Preserve

Adventure SEssions

Want to get out of Phoenix for your engagement session? Upgrade to an Adventure Session and we will have up to two hours to explore somewhere amazing outside the Valley!

Sedona, Flagstaff, and Payson are some of the most popular options. We can head somewhere that is already special to you, like your favorite hiking trail, or I can help you find a location that fits what you're looking for.

Adventure Sessions typically begin two hours before sunset, giving us plenty of time to explore and include an outfit change if you want one. It is $200 to upgrade to an Adventure Session.

Figuring out what to wear can easily become one of the most stressful parts of planning your engagement session, but it doesn't have to be! You do not need to go out and buy a whole new outfit (or two!) just for your photos. Take a look in your closet and you might be surprised by what you already have hidden in the back. Or, if you want an excuse to pick up something new, go for it!

The tips below will help you put together outfits that photograph well and still feel like you. If you're stuck between a few options or aren't sure how something will photograph, send me a photo! I am always happy to weigh in.

Choosing Your Outfits

COORDINATE, Don't Match

Focus on coordinating your outfits instead of matching them. Think about both color and the overall style of your outfits. If one of you is wearing a sundress, the other might wear a button-up shirt, a cute flowy blouse, or a different style sundress.

For colors, choose pieces that work well together without wearing the exact same thing. You can pull a color from one person's outfit into the other person's accessories, choose different shades from the same color palette, or pair colors that complement each other.

Basically, you don't need to dress alike, but your outfits should feel like they go together.

There is no rule for how dressed up you need to be for your engagement session. If you love an excuse to get fancy, go for it! If a suit or cocktail dress is not your vibe, you absolutely do not need to wear one.

Think about taking your normal style up a notch or two. If you usually live in jeans and band tees, that might mean your favorite jeans with a nicer top, a button-up shirt, or a casual dress. If you already love dressing up, your version might be a suit or a fancy dress.

Most importantly, choose something you feel good in and that still feels like you.

Formal or Casual Outfits

BE YOURSELF

Don't feel like you need to dress a certain way just because that is what you see in engagement photos on social media. Wear something that feels like you!

If you and your partner have different styles, you have a couple of options. You can each stick with your own style and find outfits that work well together, or meet somewhere in the middle and choose a look you both like.

Most importantly, choose clothes you feel comfortable and confident wearing. When you feel good in what you're wearing, it is much easier to relax, have fun, and let your personality come through in your photos.

You can wear just about any color under the sun! You might pull in your wedding colors if you plan on using your photos at your wedding, choose colors that work with your home decor if you plan to hang them on your walls, stick with colors you naturally wear, or simply pick colors you absolutely love.

One thing to keep in mind is how your outfit colors will look against your location. You want to stand out from the background, not blend into it. If we're heading to the desert, be careful with lots of tans and beige. For red rock locations like Papago Park or Sedona, too much dusty pink or rust can start to blend into the landscape.

You don't need to perfectly contrast the background, but choosing colors that stand out from your surroundings will help keep the focus on you.

Colors

Patterns can look great in photos, but some photograph better than others. Simple patterns usually work best, while very small, busy, or high-contrast patterns can be distracting or photograph strangely. Tiny vertical stripes, for example, can do some seriously weird things on camera!

Keep your location in mind when thinking about patterns. If we are photographing somewhere with a lot going on (colorful murals or busy architecture), a bold pattern may compete with the background. Natural backdrops like the desert or forest typically have simpler backgrounds, giving us more room to play with patterns.

If you're not sure how a pattern will photograph, send me a picture, and I am happy to take a look!

Patterns

Outfit  Inspiration

I know it can feel a little intimidating to have your picture taken. Every time I get in front of a camera, I suddenly act like a goon and forget what to do with my hands.

The good news is, you don't need to know what to do! I will guide you throughout your session so you are not left wondering where to stand or what to do with your hands. The tips below will help you prepare ahead of time, take some of the stress off, and make the most of your engagement session.

sESSION tIPS

Phones, wallets, and keys have a sneaky way of showing up in pockets in photos! Leave anything you don't need during your session in the car. If you want to bring a few things with you, a small bag we can set on the ground is perfect.

If you need, I also have a little room in my camera bag for small items like your phone, keys, or sunglasses. Either way, we will make sure your pockets are empty before we start taking photos!

LEAVE YOUR THINGS IN THE CAR

Your engagement ring(s) will be the focus of a few photos, so give them a quick clean before your session to get rid of any fingerprints, lotion, or everyday grime.

CLEAN YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING(S)

Eat a snack and drink some water before your session (I will be too!). We will usually do quite a bit of walking, and the Arizona sun can be more draining than you expect. Showing up fed and hydrated will help you feel your best throughout the session!

SNACKS & WATER

If you are planning a makeup trial before your wedding, your engagement session can be a great time to schedule it! You will get to see how your makeup photographs and decide if there is anything you want to change before the wedding day.

This can be especially helpful if you are planning to do your own wedding makeup or having a friend do it. Try out what you are planning to wear on the wedding day so you can see how everything looks both in person and in your photos.  Then, you can make any adjustments you would like for the wedding.

Makeup Trial

Plan to arrive at the location about 15 minutes early. That way, if you hit unexpected traffic or are running a few minutes behind because the dog didn’t want to listen, you have a little extra time built in.
If you get there early, awesome! Take a few minutes to hang out together, make any last-minute outfit adjustments, and relax before we get started. If you arrive right on time, also awesome.  You made it without the stress of rushing!

LEAVE EARLY

Including Pets

Want to include your dog in your engagement session? Absolutely! We will make sure to get plenty of photos with them, but we will also want some time to photograph just the two of you.

I recommend bringing a friend or family member your dog is comfortable with. They can hang out with your pup while we take photos without them and may even be able to help get their attention when they are in photos! Another option is to have someone pick them up partway through the session.

If you have a small, well-behaved pup, I have been known to attach a leash to my belt loop while we take a few photos. Since I cannot keep an eye on them while I am looking through my camera, this really depends on your dog and where we are photographing.

If you want to bring your pet, make sure to let me know in your questionnaire so I can make sure the location we choose is pet-friendly!

01-05

Engagement photos are perfect for save the dates! They give you a chance to share some new photos together while announcing your wedding date. If you would like save the dates, let me know and I can create a custom design for you!

save the dates

02-05

Your engagement photos are perfect for your wedding website! Use them throughout your site to personalize your wedding details, travel information, RSVP page, or anywhere else you need a photo. You can also mix them with photos from throughout your relationship to help tell your story.

Wedding Website

03-05

Turn your engagement photos into a guest book for your wedding! A guest book album includes your photos throughout, with plenty of blank space for your guests to leave notes and signatures. If you would like one, I can design and order your guest book album for you!

You can also incorporate an engagement photo into another guest book idea, like a print or custom design your guests can sign.

Guest Book

04-05

Engagement photos are an easy way to personalize your wedding decor. Use them for table numbers, signs, programs, or other details throughout the day. You can also mix them with photos from throughout your relationship to create a photo display!

Display Them At Your WEdding

05-05

Don't forget to print some just because you know wedding photos are coming! Your engagement photos capture a completely different time in your lives, and it is nice to have professional photos together in your everyday clothes too.

Frame a few for around the house, add them to a gallery wall, or turn one of your favorites into a larger piece of wall art.

Prints FOr Your Home

How to Use Your
Engagement PHotos

Make it a Date Night

You Deserve it

You are already dressed up and out together, so why not make a date night out of it? Grab dinner, stop for drinks or dessert, or do something fun together after your session. It is a great excuse to spend a little extra time together and make a whole evening out of your engagement session!

You have all the details, so now all you need to do is show up and have some fun! I will take care of guiding you through the rest.

I cannot wait to hang out with you, explore somewhere awesome, and create some photos that feel like you. See you soon!

Have any questions before your session? Send me an email anytime!

For your engagement session

I'm so excited