Some solid ideas to help in planning for your portrait session
Here’s the most important thing: wear something that is comfortable to you! That will mean different things to different folks, but it is hard to look relaxed when you are worried about your buttons gapping or your sweater hanging too loose.
Generally, we will spend about an hour to an hour and a half on your portrait session. If you want to do portraits in several locations, it will take a little longer.
Should my fiancée and I match our outfits for our engagement session?
I think matching outfits are perfect for themed shoots about roller skating or foosball, but otherwise you just want to make sure you and your fiancée have outfits that work together. The same color family is an easy way to coordinate, like jewel tones, shades of blue, autumn colors, etc.
You might have heard not to wear all white, or to avoid black, so that your photos turn out. No color you wear will “mess up” the photos, but some things (like white or loud patterns) tend to dominate the photos, and take the focus off of you. In general, any solid colors or small patterns, especially warm neutrals (brown, navy, maroon, etc) make great choices, as do really fun colors (hot pink, bright blue, yellow). Layers are a great choice for men and women. But if you love the all-white look or have a Hawaiian shirt that is totally you – lets go with it! I would recommend also bringing a jacket or sweater to layer and give you more options.
We kind of want to do something different – are there cool options for us?
Doing something that is uniquely you is always the right choice. If you love food - lets do your portraits in a restaurant or farmers market. If you love vintage style, lets find a cool theater and take portraits there. If you love architecture - lets hang out downtown! The sky is the limit.
Do I need to get my hair done or wear a lot of makeup in order to look good in the photos?
I believe strongly that you should look like you in your photos. We will aim to capture more of your “fun and loving” side than your “just out of bed” side, but you should be able to look at your photos and feel like they represent you. There is no need to do something totally new for your photos. That said, your photos are a great time to spend a little extra time on your primping, whether that means extra time spent on styling hair and makeup or your choice of outfit.
What should I bring?
Think about bringing things that showcase your personality visually – your favorite shoes (cowboy boots? hot pink heels?), sunglasses, an extra scarf or sweater to change your look, a book or photo that has meaning for you, etc. The most important accessory is always a fun attitude.
