1.Chose a location that means something to you – We are here to come alongside and help you pick the perfect location for your engagement session, but we will always start the conversation by asking if there are any locations that mean something to you. It doesn’t even need to be a specific spot, but could be as simple as – we are city people and would love to capture the architecture or we went to Pitt and would love to have some pictures from where we met or we love nature and thrive on the simplicity of an open field or park – whatever it is that makes up you guys as a couple, we want to help bring that to life with the perfect location for your session.

2. Consider getting your makeup done – A lot of our brides choose to get their makeup done for their engagement session. This is not only a great time to get you wedding makeup trial done, but it can also make you look and feel amazing which can help you loosen up in front of the camera!

3. Give your man a pep talk – I think it’s safe to say that most guys dread are at least a little bit nervous about the engagement session. I want to encourage brides to talk with your fiance beforehand and prepare him for the shoot. Feel free to show him some engagement sessions on our blog so he can have an idea of the types of photos we will be taking and help him know what to expect. But also make sure he knows I am not just going to tell you guys to “go over there and look like you love each other.” I will walk you through different poses until you feel comfortable and connected. Just remind him that you guys are doing this session 1. to get some really great casual photos of the two of you together and 2. to get comfortable with the way I pose and shoot so that you guys know what to expect on your wedding day!

4. Wear something that makes you feel amazing – I can’t emphasize enough how important this one is! When you feel amazing, that confidence is going to show in the pictures and make for a very fun and comfortable session.

5. Relax – We know how stressful it can be leading up to your engagement session (trust me, we’ve been there), but we want you to take a deep breath and just relax. I am here to help make you feel comfortable and look natural throughout the session, and I can promise we are going to have fun! Consider planning a date night for after the session to celebrate!