Let’s plan a Colorado engagement session!
So you’re ready to plan…
The engagement session
Your engagement session is a time to relax, have fun and get comfortable having someone capturing your love story. This is a time for me to get to know you as a couple and for you to get to know me as an artist. If you’re here it means you either loved my style enough to let me capture this beautiful moment for you or maybe even put a deposit down so I could capture your wedding. (Such a privilege :’) This is a two hour session and includes a minimum of 40 photos per hour. Plenty of time to go on a little adventure with me and celebrate together. This guide is specifically geared towards Coloradans but could be extrapolated for other locations as well!
First things First:
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When it comes to choosing the location, I always recommend two things: that it’s a place of significance to you both or an adventure to go on together. (Or maybe both!) Hopefully it’s a place where your passion surfaces and that will add to the memories you share.
Pinterest is going to become a common theme here i’ll mention it quite a bit because it’s a fantastic tool for inspiration. If you’re unsure of where to go for these photos, it’s a great place to draw ideas from.
I always tell people to plan on 1-2 locations. If the goal is to get lost in the city and wander around or go on a hike and spend some time with nature, it’s best to choose just the one location. However, if you have a few key spots you want yourself photographed at then there may be time for two places as long as they’re relatively close to each other.
If you have a dream location that you’ve been dying to get photos at don’t hesitate to tell me all about it. We can discuss the logistics. Even if you think the idea is completely impossible, tell me anyway. Even if it is we can expound on it and discuss something close. The most important thing is that you and your partner are happy and having fun!
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As far as time of year this will depend largely on what you want in your photos. Here’s a couple common factors: If you’re set on cherry blossoms in the background, we’ll wait till late March or early April. If you love the colors of the fall the best time is nearly always sometime in October. If you want photos in the snow we’ll shoot between January and March (or head up to the mountains) If you want Colorado’s rare lush green time of year, there is a window from May to July.
All that said, I am a big fan of letting nature do whatever she wants. Let it be rain, snow or clear. I promise I will create lovely photos however she decides to show up that day.
As far as time of day, golden hour will give you those softer glowy photos. You get two options for this: early in the morning and right before the sun sets. Midday will give you dramatic, fascinating light. If it’s cloudy, the photos are more likely to be a moody even light. I am comfortable shooting in any kind of light so if it comes down to schedule, trust that I can get you beautiful photos regardless of the time of day.
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The two things I always say is “Is it comfortable?” and “Can you move in it?” Those questions are the most important to ask yourself. Pinterest is again, a great place to look for inspiration if you’re unsure of what you want to wear. Plan for 1-2 outfits during this time. If you need suggestions, a good plan is to bring something you’d wear to a nice night out and something that more reflects who you are in everyday life. I would not recommend two hours in heels or dress shoes unless you’re certain you can handle it and even then, bring a backup just in case something happens.
Often times people choose a subtler version of what they will wear on their wedding day. But truthfully engagement sessions are so versatile. You can choose anything you want. Just don’t wait till the last minute to decide.
Reminders
- Think of this less as a photoshoot and more as a date with a third wheel (the best third wheel ever). We’re not just capturing memories, we’re creating them.
- There will be photos of your hands so make sure your hands look how you want them to. That might mean anything from washing your hands extra well to growing out your nails, having them painted etc.
- Weekdays will always offer a little more privacy than weekends. Especially in Colorado, parking lots and trails fill up fast. My tip: Make it a 3 day weekend and plan your session for a Monday. You’ll often times get locations all to yourselves.
Client Story
Think it’s not possible? Think again.
These two lovebirds wanted photos in the diner they had their first date at but weren’t sure of the logistics, or if we’d be allowed to take photos there.
Here’s the thing, people love love. I can’t make any promises that the place you want your photos at will let us have a photo session, but it is always worth the conversation. A lot of times businesses want to work with us for the sake of the story.
In this case, the restaurant let us shoot right after they closed. So we came for brunch and took some photos while we ate and then once everyone left, we were free to use the diner while the employees closed up.
The photos ended up being so precious and were so much more meaningful given the significance of the location.
