Tips for Your Engagement Photos

Engagement sessions are some of my favorite photos to capture and I highly recommend them once you’ve booked with me for your wedding! I love having extra time with my couples and I want to make these sessions all about getting to know each other and feeling comfortable together before your wedding day. So! Here are some of my top tips for what to expect during your engagement session!

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Tip 1. It’s going to be fun! But first... it’s going to be a little awkward. We’re not all immediately comfortable in front a camera and don’t know exactly how to move or position ourselves once a camera (and a sometimes very large) lens are suddenly in front of our face. If you’re already a model - how fun! But most of us (myself included!!) are not and so having that camera be RIGHT THERE can feel a little intimidating. So just know going into the session that you may feel a bit uncomfortable, but I promise I will not leave you hanging out there unsure of what to do. I will do my very best to put you at ease, guide you into the most comfortable poses for you and make you forget the camera just as soon as possible.

Tip 2. It’s important to remember that your session with me is not about me or my camera, it’s about you and your person. When I photograph my couples I want them to be interacting with each other - whether that be kissing, or gazing into each other’s eyes, or laughing uncontrollably - I want to photograph what the two of you are like together. Sure, we’ll still take some of the standard, look-at-me-and-smile photos (Grandmas love those!), but my goal is not for you to directly interact with my camera. I want you to look back on these photos and remember how giddy you felt planning for the rest of your lives together. The planning of, and getting to, your wedding day are a big deal. And I want these photos to reflect how madly in love you are, to help remind you why you asked and why you said yes to your love.

Tip 3. I don’t care what you wear to these sessions. Your clothes are not the focus of my photography. Your relationship is. Your wedding day is a great time to rock your best formal wear so don’t feel pressure to dress to the nines for your engagement session as well. I always recommend wearing something that makes you feel beautiful AND comfortable for these sessions (with one pro disclaimer - anything with logos or words on it, or too brightly colored -think fluorescent- can be distracting). If you are focused on whether or not a particular outfit is fitting *just.so*, then you may be distracted and not focused on what you’re feeling. So wear something that you love, that makes you feel beautiful, or that when you see yourself in the mirror makes you immediately say yesssss.

Your engagement session should be a fun, relaxing time and I am here to help make it a great experience for all of us. My goal is to make you laugh, get to know you a little better and make it easier for you on your wedding day when I come to photograph that most important day in your lives! I’m so excited to work with you get to know you better!

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Green Gables Wedding, Catherine and Tyler

I met Catherine and Tyler about 3 years ago while we were all working at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center. That was the summer I was thrown from a horse, breaking my collarbone and needing quite a bit of extra help. These two stepped up and helped me by continuing to run the horse program while I was unable. Little did I know that a romance had been developing between them. Fast forward a few years and they asked me to share in their wedding day, and as soon as I heard they were engaged it was like “ah! yes! They’re perfect for each other!”. And it was one of my most favorite days I’ve spent with a couple. Both Tyler and Catherine are just the sweetest, so warm and affectionate.

And so on the day of their wedding, I watched these two kind souls laugh and smile and kiss and pledge to spend their lives together. We had plenty of time for portraits and the weather and sun cooperated so that they were surrounded by light and warmth the entire time. Catherine wore a beautiful dress that had first been worn by her Great Aunt and their reception was held at Green Gables in Jennerstown. Catherine and Tyler skipped the traditional cake cutting and instead cut pies and personally served them while greeting and chatting with each of their guests. And the whole day felt like a homecoming for me to see all of my friends from camp and be able to document so many people I loved as well.

This wedding could not have been a better start to my 2019. There are just too many images that are favorites from this day. I hope you’ll take a peek and enjoy!

Thanks so much to Holly for second shooting with me! Some of her images are mixed in above! And a special thanks to these vendors who also helped make everything so beautiful: