If you reached this page, that means that you have booked an engagement session with me and are really wanting to make the most of it. Well allow me to share with you some suggestions and tips that will help you prepare for your session. Those who have followed this in the past have had very successful engagement session and have taken some of my favorite portraits.

Both

I recommend to go dressy or semi-business casual. Wear something that you don’t normally wear on regular weekdays; but more for special events, date nights or clubbing night outs. Bold, solid colors such a red, purple, blue, green, orange, dark pink/fuschia will capture well in photos. Avoid pale colors such as beige, white, light pink, etc. Do your best to avoid heavy patterns, logos, & stripes. They tend to create distractions and draw the attention away from your faces. If both are going to wear pants, make sure that they match – not one in jeans and the other in khakis/chinos. Slim or fitted clothes are highly recommended. Loose clothing tend to make your body looks wider. Although, there really isn’t a great place to change clothes at (Place of session), you can make a slight wardrobe change in the car. For example, you can wear a white, black or gray undershirt and change an outer shirt. This is totally optional. One outfit is fine.

For fianceé (bride-to-be):

• Long dresses, ao dai, saris, or cocktail dresses will photograph well.
• If you are planning to wear jeans, go with dark, slim-fit jeans. They will accentuate your curves and make your body appeared slimmer.
• If you are planning to wear heels, make sure to bring sandals or shoes for walking.
• Make sure your nails are done with minimal designs. Solid nail color, pink is recommended. We may take close-ups of your hands and ring.

For fiancé (husband-to-be):

• Dress shirts, blazers/sports coat, dark fitted jeans, vest, and fitted suits will photograph well.
• Make sure that your shirts are dry cleaned or ironed. Wrinkles are hard to photoshop and can really ruin a good picture.
• Fashion tip:  the color of your belt should match the color of your shoes – brown shoes go with brown belt, and black shoes go with black belt. That is, unless you’re on another level of fashion and are the Fonzworth Bentley of fashion. I’m not so I just stick with the aforementioned lol!
• Bold, solid ties (bow-ties included) go well with any suits or slacks and a button-up. They can serve as an accentuation that ties with your fianceé’s wardrobe color.
• Light/white dress shirt is good if you paired it with a blazer/sport coat or dark vest with tie.
• Avoid tennis shoes, running, or basketball shoes. Fashionable sneakers are great, and dress shoes are highly recommended.
• As with your fianceé, we may take a close up of your hands holding her hands. So be sure, to keep them clean and trimmed. No biting! 😉
• This will make you slightly uncomfortable but we have to talk about it: Lips. Most of us men don’t pay attention to dry lips. I’m guilty at this too. But for this occasion, please make sure to use chap stick if your lips tend to cracked or frequently become dried.

Accessories:

• Please keep wearable accessories to minimal – as long as they don’t distract from the main subject (you).
• Leave cell phone & keys in your purse or sport-coat/suit pocket, so that it doesn’t cause a bulge in your pants.
• Do bring a large tote bag that contains bobby pins, hair-sprays, brush, lipstick/chap stick, mirror, powder, oil remover wipes if you have oily skin, and sandals for walking.

Props:

Props are great! Balloons, save the date sign, musical instruments, picnic baskets & blankets, bikes, umbrella, flowers, etc…are great ways to add personalities to your engagement photos.

Eating:

This is important, mainly for the bride but you’ll both appreciate it. Try your best not to eat a large meal before our session together. The last thing you want to do is feel bloated, heavy, and gross while you’re starting down a camera lens. But don’t starve either. Less food generally makes people more irritable and feeling weak or lazy. If you can, try to eat a light snack  [within two hours of our session, for breakfast the morning of]. That way, you’ll have something in your stomach but it won’t be heavy. Here’s some ideas:

• Crackers
• Apples
• Peanut butter on toast
• Carrots and humus
• Bananas
• Water (no sugary drinks!)
• Popcorn (steer clear of chips)
• etc.

If all of this intimidates you then just take a deep breathe ::inhale::…::exhale::…. It’s going to be alllllllll good. If you’re read my reviews, then you’ll know that people really enjoy their time with me. We’re going to have fun. You’re going to feel great. We’re going to take some really great pictures!

Let me know if you have any questions. I’m here for you two!