Five Tips for Your San Diego Engagement Session
Don't know where to start with you engagement session? Don't know what to wear? Don't know where to take them?
Don't worry, I've got you!
Here are some of my best tips and trick to help you through planning your engagement session.
1: Mindset
You're all dressed up, so treat the day like a date! Maybe reminisce about your first date on drive over. Try not to look at your phone all evening. Go to a nice dinner afterwards. Try not to talk about wedding planning and focus on each other. And have fun! I'll have you moving around, being goofy, and flirting a bunch!
2: Weather
I always try and encourage all my couples to embrace whatever weather they get for their photos. A windy cloudy day might seem like bad weather for you, but it also brings nice even lighting and also wind can make for some really flowy photos! If the weather is extreme like raining, then we can always reschedule!
3: Consider the time of year/location
Some locations and be very very busy during certain times of the year, and you might be able to avoid that if you consider seasons. For example, if you are taking them in San Diego in the summer, there is a high likelihood that the beaches will be packed... Maybe consider doing a winter beach session where the beaches will be practically empty, but your still getting that sunny San Diego weather.
5: Give yourself extra time
Make sure you account for traffic and also for parking! When a photographer gives you a time for photos, they are planning it around the most prime lighting, and that usually means right before sunset. So if your late because your got stuck in traffic, or couldn't find parking, that is just time that your taking away from yourself for photos, resulting in not gettin as many photos... So give yourself ample time!
4: What to wear
There are a ton of factors that go into choosing what to wear, and I know it can be tough to decide which outfit will suit your
photos best!
My Go to tips for what to wear:
I. Wear something comfortable.
Wear something that makes you feel like yourself, not what you think you have to wear, or anything brand new or fancy. First things first, I want you to feel like yourselves so that comes out in the photos!
Secondly, wear something that flows and is easy to move around it. During my engagement shoots I love to have you moving around as much as possible! Weather its walking together, spinning each other around, climbing something for the shot, I’m going to have you moving, because thats part of how you can get some great photos! So for the ladies, I suggest wearing a dress or blouse that is flowy. Not only are they beautiful, but they end up photographing so well with the wind blowing through them.
Think about the Location
Wear something that makes sense for the location, and terrain. You don’t want to look out of place in the environment or wearing stilettos in the sand.
It’s also important to consider how which colors you choose compliment the colors of your environment, without causing them to blend in or get lost in the landscape.
Colors and Patterns
Avoid clashing patterns and choose something that complements each other. This is pretty straight forward, If you were wanting to wear a floral dress, then choose something for him that is neutral and can complement it. You want to avoid wearing patterns that are completely different, because even though they might look awesome on their own, they do the opposite effect when standing next to each other.
Why are engagement sessions important?
One of the MOST important things, is that during engagement session you’re able to get to know me! Why is that so important? Well, theres a good chance that I’ll be the person you see most on your wedding day, so making sure you’re comfortable around me before your wedding will allow me to best capture your big day. Imagine if you booked me and never met me in person, and then I show up on your wedding day with a camera following you around all day. Chances are your not going to be feeling too relaxed. I want you both to know me on a personal level, so that when I show up it’s as if your seeing an old friend and you continue to feel relaxed and go about your wedding day not holding back.
The other important thing about engagement photos is so that I can get to know you both as a couple. I want to know how you interact, what makes you laugh, what makes you go in for that passionate kiss! All these things are so important so that when I show up on the wedding day I know how to direct you best and how to get the best pictures possible! Because of these reasons is why I include a severe discount for engagement sessions of you book a wedding with me.
Looking for an Engagement location?
Here are some epic spots in San Diego if you looking in that area.
Sunset Cliffs
Want to create something together?
Here is what I offer!
Couple Sessions
Starting at $650
This includes...
- One hour session
- Online gallery of all the high-res edited images
- Multiple outfits
- Download and Printing rights
- One roll of film
Add on's
- Additional rolls of film - each additional roll is $75
- Additional time - $300 per half hour
