The Engagement Session Guide
Engagement sessions are a beautiful opportunity to capture the sweet little naunces that tell your unique love story. These sessions often allow me to connect with you before your wedding day, offering you a chance to feel more comfortable in front of the camera and get a glimpse of the magic we’ll create together.
Engagement sessions are not just practice; they’re a celebration of your love and these photographs will be a beautiful way to look back on this exact moment-in-time.
Remember, these sessions are about authenticity. Read through this engagement session guide and take a moment to reflect on what feels most genuine to you. Without any limitations, let’s be creative, explore, and craft something beautiful together.
—Ashley
Congratulations!
This is one of the most important things!
Be sure to give yourselves plenty of time for travel and parking so that we can begin your shoot as scheduled.
Because our plans usually involve multiple locations and also scheduled around specific lighting, arriving on time is integral to ensure we can accomplish everything we plan. We don’t want the session to be cut short because of loss of available light.
6. Arrive On Time!
YOU are both the main characters of these photos so I want you to feel like your best!
Be sure to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, take care of your skin and wear sunscreen to prevent harsh tan lines or sunburns in the days leading up to your session.
Lastly, don't forget to book a dinner reservation at your favorite place for the end of your shoot. Make it a day to celebrate!
5. Prepare for your Shoot
The best part about this experience is the opportunity to dress up and have fun with your look! Don't be afraid to go all out.
Recommended attire can vary depending on the locations and your unique aesthetic, but the general idea is to dress like you are going on a romantic date. Interpret this in a way that makes sense for you.
Be sure to try on EVERYTHING at least a few days in advance to make sure your wardrobe fits and coordinates well.
4. Coordinate Outfits
While all of this is optional, most of my clients want to look and feel their absolute best for their photos. A few starting ideas:
FOR THE LADIES: Consider booking a hair & makeup appointment for the day of your session. You may also want a fresh manicure. especially if you'd like to show off that ring in your photos.
FOR THE GENTS: I recommend a fresh haircut the week of your session and possibly a nice clean shave.
3. Book Personal Appointments
I’m here to help with this! What do you envision for your photos? What place or type of setting feels most at home to you? Do you want to do something a little outside of the box? I love engagement sessions of all styles. From enjoying the most scenic places to cute ideas like recreating a favorite date, I’m committed to creating an engagement session concept that’s perfectly you.
2. Make a Creative Plan
Step one is selecting your session date and time! Because I shoot weddings on weekends, I typically schedule engagement sessions for Mondays through Thursdays. Weekend dates can be available, but on a very limited basis and exclusively for clients booking my Signature Sessions. After selecting the date, you can decide between two time slots: sunrise or sunset. Both are beautiful and offer the best lighting for your portraits.
1. Schedule Date & Time
Your Engagement Session Check List
Engagement Session Tips by Season
Click for photo tips specifically geared to your favorite season.
Everything you need to know to perfectly plan your engagement session experience.
Engagement session Essentials
Trust me. The more fun you have with your outfits, the more fun you'll have taking photos!
There are no rules. You can dress as casually or as glamorously as you'd prefer; it's about whatever feels most true to you.
The prompt I typically offer my clients is: Dress for your engagement session as if you are heading out on the town for a fancy date night together. Wear colors, styles and silhouettes that make you feel like a million bucks. Coordinate your styles, but never match exactly.
For the ladies, I highly encourage booking a hair & makeup appointment to get you camera ready for your shoot. A professional stylist will help make sure your skin looks flawless and they'll use the right products to ensure your hair and makeup lasts through the final shot.
For the gents, be sure to take care of your skin leading up to your shoot and consider getting a fresh hair cut or even a clean shave to feel your best.
What to Wear
+ Joanna B Artistry
+ Torie Conn
+ Debra Petrielli & Team
+ Erin Graham (hair only)
+ Rare Bird Beauties
+ Goldplaited Salon
If you plan to book a hair & makeup appointment, these are my personal favorite artists and salons who are tried and true.
Recommended Hair & Makeup Artists
As far as how soon before the wedding: there's really no right or wrong answer.
Think about how you plan to use these photos. Will you be using them for your Save the Date or wedding website?
If so, keep in mind the turnaround time for engagement photos is typically about 3-4 weeks, so be sure to schedule with enough time for any of your plans to print or display them.
As for time of day: I love scheduling my engagement sessions at either sunrise or a few hours before sunset to get the most magical light for your photos.
The sun is at its lowest point in the sky at these times of day which creates soft, romantic lighting that is incredibly flattering for portraits.
Lastly, because my weekends are oftentimes reserved for weddings, we'll most likely schedule your session on a Monday—Thursday.
When to Schedule
When you are considering locations inside or outside of Chicago, make it personal. Think about places that are most meaningful to you, where you feel most like yourselves or that tell a story of your day-t0-day lives.
The experience shouldn't be a giant checklist of recreating all the same shots that everyone else has done a hundred times before. Be creative, think a little outside the box and allow me to help by providing some personalized suggestions!
CONSIDER:
- Sentimental locations or places that tell a story
- The timeless beauty of nature
- Cityscapes that take your breath away
Your engagement photos are a really a time to celebrate YOU so whatever location we us, let's make it special.
Where to Take photos
Props: As far as "props", I usually only suggest things that make sense to the story we are telling in your photos.
CONSIDER:
- Location appropriate props
- Boats & Cars
- A Bottle of Bubbles
- Personal Animals (dogs, cats, horses)
Dogs: If you do plan to include your dog in photos, I recommend asking a friend to help. Dogs' attention span for photos is oftentimes short, so this way, there's someone to care for your dog when we're ready to focus on just photos of the two of you.
Oh and bring them treats. And maybe a squeaky ball. If that's their love language anyway. ;)
What to Bring
This is the most important tip of all. If you want to have amazing photos, there's only one thing you need to do: have fun!
Your engagement session is NOT the time to bring up the bills, work drama or the stresses of wedding planning or nag one another. Leave the serious talk for another day.
Couples who get the best photos are the ones who show up to have fun, go with the flow and take it as an opportunity to make each other feel loved.
It's a moment to celebrate, and it's meant to be a little silly, fun and light hearted.
Bonus points if you make a reservation at your favorite restaurant to celebrate a job well done afterward! That reward will give even the most camera-shy person something to look forward to and feel excited about.
How to Get the best photos
- Pick locations that honestly reflect you. Think of your session as a day-in-the-life. If you are big art lovers, go to the Art Institute. If you met while studying at Northwestern, maybe we return to where it all began. If you love Sunday morning crossword puzzles, maybe we go to a cute little cafe and capture just that over a cup of coffee.
- Select a wardrobe that shows off your personalities! Fashion is one of the most important elements of your engagement session. Wear the clothes, colors and styles that make you feel AMAZING.
- I've said this once already but a little louder for the people in the back: let loose and HAVE FUN! It's totally okay to feel nervous going into something like this, but that's what I'm here for. My mission is to make this experience as easy and fun as possible for you. I'll guide you every step of the way. All I need from you is to go with it, don't take yourself too seriously and show your partner how much you love them.
If you can do that, I promise your personalities will come through in the photos and that's the most important of all.
How to Make Your Photos Feel Personal
Celebrate by being tourists and book an architectural boat tour along the Chicago River.
12PM
Take a stroll through the beautiful garden where you got engaged.
10AM
Enjoy a Sunday crossword puzzle over breakfast at home or your favorite local cafe.
9AM
Grab coffees-to-go and take a lakefront stroll with your pup at sunrise.
7AM
Chicago, IL
A Sample Engagement Photo Timeline
Treat yourselves to a late night pizza and cocktails for a job well done!
9PM
Take a stroll along Lake Michigan and watch the sunset together.
7PM
Visit the college campus where you first met and fell in love.
5PM
Explore your favorite city neighborhood. Stop into your favorite cafe or bar for a drink!
3PM
Chicago, IL
A Sample Engagement Photo Timeline
Celebrate the evening with a bonfire, s'mores and a glass of wine.
9PM
Wander through beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and watch the sunset along Lake Michigan.
6PM
Stop and smell the hollyhocks and enjoy a tasting at Tandem Ciders.
4PM
Explore historic Fishtown and make a stop for ice cream or coffee.
2PM
Northern Michigan
A Sample Engagement Photo Timeline
End the evening with dinner and margaritas to celebrate!
6PM
Watch the sunset from your favorite vista in Sedona.
4PM
Pay a visit to DA Ranch for a glass of wine and wander their rustic vineyard.
2PM
Go on a private horseback riding adventure along the Verde Valley.
12PM
Sedona, Arizona
A Sample Engagement Photo Timeline
In the event of rain, extreme heat, extreme cold and possibly a few other unideal weather situations, you always have the option to reschedule your shoot.
For morning sessions, I ask that we make the call the night prior. For sunset sessions, I usually ask to make the call before noon, if possible. We can make the decision to reschedule as early as you'd like, especially if you may need to reschedule any other appointments.
That being said, we can always make a plan for rain or shine and be ready for anything! Honestly some of my favorite shoots have happened in the rain. All you need is a cute umbrella.
As as disclaimer, if there's dangerous weather such as thunderstorms, tornado watches, flash flood warnings, ice storms, etc. we will cancel and reschedule your session no matter what. Safety is always priority one!
What to do if there's inclement weather
Please schedule and plan accordingly, especially if you are planning to use these photos for your save-the-dates.
If absolutely necessary, your photos can be available sooner, but for rush editing services I charge an expediting fee. Please feel free to ask me about it. Rush requests are subject to availability.
WAYS TO USE YOUR PHOTOS:
- Social Media
- Save-the-Dates
- Your Wedding Website
- Guest Books
- Printed Art & Albums for Your Home
When Will I See my Photos?
+ Napa Valley, California
+ Mount Hood, Oregon
+ Seattle, Washington
+ San Diego, California
+ San Francisco, California
WEST COAST
+ Sedona, Arizona
+ Scottsdale, Arizona
+ Denver, Colorado
WEST
+ New York City
+ Maryland
+ DC
+ Maine
+ Atlanta, Georgia
EAST COAST
+ Chicago, IL *
+ The Quad Cities
+ Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
+ Northern Michigan
+ Southwest Michigan
Midwest
While I call Chicago home, I'm happy to travel to any destination if it helps bring your dream vision to life! The sky is the limit. Here's a list of the places I've already traveled to for my clients.
Where I've Worked
Upcoming 2024 Travel Dates
Book a session during these dates with no travel fees!
Traverse City, Michigan: September 16th—21st
Sedona, Arizona: November 29th-December 4th
