For three weeks I’ve wanted to write this. Three. And each time I sat to compose the post I haulted and deleted it. Somehow it just didn’t seem right that after only a year of shooting weddings alone, I could justify sharing any knowledge or information with anyone else. After all, there are so many ridiculously AMAZING wedding photographers out there that I admire that I thought, for some reason, knew more than me. And while in some respects they do, I started thinking that maybe there was someone out there who is in the position that I was in 2 years ago and if I get to help that one person, I’m happy.
Never ever, ever in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself as a wedding photographer. Never. Sunday, I had a young girl at a Dunkin Donuts stop me as I walked out with my muffin and ask me, after overhearing a conversation I was having with a client, “how did you get started?” I chuckled and said to her, “it just fell on my lap.” Indeed, it did. Wedding photography wasn’t something I was pursuing. I wasn’t passionate about it. I wasn’t up on the latest trends. I photographed kids. My kids. My neighbors’ kids. My nieces’ kids. I went into weddings for the cake (Yes, I know you are all laughing at your computer screens and nodding your head…you know me!) and to help a friend out when her second assistant had bailed on her at the last minute.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the cake table after I finished my first wedding. I found myself IN.LOVE. with weddings…with the couple…with the venue…with the cake…with love. And then it hit me. A passion so profound for something I knew nothing about and my journey as a wedding photojournalist began. Conversations with Mike quickly turned into, “what if…” scenarios. Work at work became a drag. Blogging took on a whole new level. My life changed so dramatically that I still find it incredible.
This industry has taught me so much. Learning is on my To Do List every single day. And when night rolls around and I finally get peeled from my computer, the mental list of what I’ve learned that day is amazingly great. So, I find it incredulous that I get tons of emails daily from photographers and friends and couples that think I know stuff. And as most of you already know, I’m more than happy to share it all. Well…almost all (wink, wink). I’m a firm believer in paying it forward and where I can help out, count me there. I’ll start the series of F.A.Q. with something that I feel will help my couples. And photographers too, I suppose, since they could pass the information along to their couples.
I think the most common question I get asked from couples is, “What are your suggestions for places to take our engagement pictures?” My answer is this, “I have no clue! I met you for 2 hours and while I have a sense of who you are, only you can tell me what it is that you and your lovey like to do. You know you better than I know you. So, put your thinking cap on.”
Engagement sessions are fun. Sometimes even crazy fun. They’re one of my favorite things to shoot since I get all sorts of creative freedom and I’m not constricted by time or requirements. We all get to be ourselves and have fun. That all said, here are some tips and tricks that may help you out.
How to pick a location…
Think of places where you guys like to go…activities that you like to do together. The whole goal is to bring out your personalities. I find that shooting in a location where the couple are comfortable and happy lend to pictures that are more relaxed and comfortable. Don’t be under the impression that you have to have your engagement pictures in a gorgeous garden, during the perfect spring day just because it’s what you think would make a pretty background. The focus isn’t the background, it’s you…your connection…your personality. If you met in a dark, dive bar and that’s your hang out every Friday night, then let’s go there! If you’re homebodies and play video games together, bust out that Wii and let’s have fun! There’s nothing saying that you can’t have your engagement session at home while wearing your sweatpants and comfy fuzzy socks. It’s what makes you you and I’m just there to document your love and interaction with each other. Photography isn’t all smile, look at me and say cheese…it’s documenting and preserving memories and capturing time.
What you can do with your photographs…
I made a list. Things To Do With Your Engagement Pictures:
1. Give them as gifts to your parents. They love it.
2. Create your Save the Date cards with them.
3. Create a guest sign in book with them. While the Things Remembered guest book is fab…an album showcasing your love is ultra fab since it’s personal to you and you get to read all the warm fuzzies that your friends and family write in it on your wedding day.
4. Personalize your wedding with table cards, place cards, enlargements, slideshows…think outside of the box! Your wedding does not have to be the standard cookie cutter wedding. Make it your own. Give it your flare!
5. Enlarge your favorite — or have a storyboard made with a bunch of favorites — that you can display at your reception and then hang in your home.
6. Create fun postage stamps for your wedding stationary.
What to wear…
Dress comfortably. I cannot stress that enough. Comfort! You will be running, jumping, dancing in the middle of the street, picked up, sitting and laying on the ground. I recommend bringing two outfits…something casual and something a little more sassy. Even if you don’t want to change outfits, bring different accessories to change the look of your outfit. You’re not dressing for a GAP commercial. You’re dressing to showcase your personalities. Ladies…if he doesn’t want to wear a long sleeve, button down shirt and tie…don’t make him. If tee shirts with Homer Simpson eating donuts on it make him happy, let him wear it. Chances are if you let him wear what he wants, he’s going to complain less about having to have his picture taken with a crazy photographer for a couple of hours. In that same vein, ladies, if 4″ stilettos aren’t your style, don’t bust out with them. Remember…comfort!
Props?
Yes, please! I’m all for personalizing your engagement session. If you want to bring your favorite Pez collection along…bring it! Just make sure there’s candy in it. If you’re an avid baker…bring cakes (he he…yes, I totally went there). If both of you are into shoes…bring your Manolos and whatever shoes boys wear. If vintage vinyls are what you play at home, bring a sampling of your collection so that we can spin some tunes. Poker players…bring a deck of cards.
When to have your engagement pictures taken…
Think of your wedding in seasons. Since the majority of my couples book well over a year in advance, it easier to think of your wedding in sesaons. Winter, Spring, Summer Fall. If old man winter blowing up your skirt is not your cup of tea, then let’s plan for a summer shoot. If the blazing hot sun is your enemy, then plan for the fall or the spring when it’s cooler out. Everyone and their mom wants their pictures taken in the fall when the leaves are turning color. This year, fall breezed right by us and while my calendar was packed with people that wanted their fall engagement pictures, two couples were able to enjoy the full effect of fall foliage. That’s how crazy the seasons are. Leaves change, they fall, they’re gone. Don’t wait for that perfect backdrop…I don’t want you to be disappointed. As for time of day…I’ll be recommending 2 hours before sunset or the butt-crack of dawn. Sweet light. Love it. Embrace it.
More than anything, I cannot emphasize enough that engagement pictures are fun, a chance for us to get know each other, an opportunity to see me in action and for me to really capture what you guys are all about. I promise…the second you get back in your car, you’ll look at one another, breath a sigh of relief, giggle a little bit and say, “that was fun! I can’t wait ’til the wedding!” Because I know that that’s what I do at the end of every session.
Oh…and because blog posts without pictures are boring…here’s one from a recent engagement session that will be featured on the blog this week.
Their wedding was gorgeous and fun and romantic and a favorite. They were married at a cute little church where Bre’s dad presided over the ceremony adding life and deep meaning to an already emotional and action-packed wedding. Their reception was at Bear Creek Mountain Resort…which is becoming a quick favorite venue of mine.
The kids are still off from school. My mother-in-law is still here (no flights out to Chicago until tomorrow night). We can’t wait until Spring 
