Your Engagement Session

Relaxed, Fun, Memorable

I include an engagement session as part of the BellaFotografica experience – it gives us the opportunity to work together before the wedding and you will have images to treasure for a lifetime. Not only will you come away with some amazing photos of the two of you but we will be able to develop a sense of comfort and trust between us. It also gives me a chance to get to know you better so I’m not a stranger showing up on your wedding day.

wedding album pictures

Before the engagement session I like to ask questions that help me get to know you better with the goal of giving us some fun ideas for where we can do your engagement shoot.

Location: Whenever possible I prefer that we shoot in a location that means something to you as a couple – where you met, went on your first date, where he proposed, where you like to hang out, etc. The resulting photos will mean so much more to you in the future when you look back and tell your children and grandchildren – “this is where your dad proposed to me”, “this is where we went on our first date”.

To that end I like to help my clients think outside the box when choosing a site for the engagement shoot. We can do anything! We don’t have to shoot at a park. I’ve done fun downtown locations, coffee shops, playgrounds, fairs and riverside. Let’s go somewhere that is unique and reflects who you are as a couple.

Clothing: Our session lasts about an hour and a half to two hours, during that time we can go to 2-3 locations and you can change outfits 2-3 times (actually there’s no limit to either, but we really don’t want to spend the entire time changing and driving ๐Ÿ™‚ ). Couples usually begin dressed in something nicer then as we go along change into something more casual that they would feel comfortable sitting on the ground in.

Wear whatever colors you would like but stay away from a strong pattern that will pull the eye away from your faces. Please don’t be too matchy matchy and wearing white button down shirts and jeans/khakis should be outlawed ๐Ÿ™‚ Wear something that reflects you!

A Few More Quick Tips:

  • The best light to shoot in is just before sunset so we should schedule the shoot during what is known as the “Golden Hours” – a couple hours before sun down.
  • It is more than a little awkward to be “lovey-dovey” in front of others, please do not invite friends and parents to your session – the results will be *much* more “you”.
  • Dogs are welcome ๐Ÿ™‚
  • Never spray tan… For any reason… Ever… No matter what the box/ commercial/ makeup artist tells you – to the camera, your skin will read ORANGE in the shadows.
  • Drink lots of water – it makes your skin look great.

wedding album pictures

The engagement shoot can be a lot of fun if you come prepared to focus on one another, laugh and kiss a lot :). Most of the time I have you interact and focus on one another rather than on the camera. Many couples have come away from the shoot saying it was like a therapy session (in the good sense, of course!)

One of the coolest things we’re seeing our clients do this year is order Art Guest Books from their sessions. These books provide a place for your guests to write their well-wishes, while showcasing your engagement portraits. The hardest part is narrowing down the images to put in the book – there are always so many great ones to choose from! ๐Ÿ™‚

If you haven’t scheduled your engagement session yet, or if you haven’t ordered your Art Book, please call us soon! We’re filling up our calendar, but we can still squeeze a few more of you in!

If you want to see examples of our past engagement sessions, please check them out here: engagement photo sessions

engagement photos on kemah boardwalk

closeup of engaged couple laughing

engaged couple on ferris wheel

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