Prepping for your CWP Engagement Session

Engagement sessions are probably one of my favorite types of sessions to photograph.

Actually, scratch that...they are my favorite. Hands down. 

Spending time with couples who are about to commit their lives to each other and are marinating in last few days and months before "the big day" is simply so much fun. There isn't the same pressure of the wedding day and it's just you, your camera and two people in love documenting the start of something amazing. 

So you may be thinking, "Well, Cinnamon, that is great that you are super jazzed about it, but we are nervous!! We haven't been professionally photographed in.....well, a REALLY long time, if ever!" 

First, this is TOTALLY normal. Its always nerve wracking to be in front of a camera. I actually enjoy having my picture taken and I get sweaty nervous as well. I find is the best way to really cut back on some of those nerves before the session is to be prepared! The better prepared you are for the session and the more you know about what to expect, everything will run much smoother and hey, we might even have a little bit (or even a LOT) of fun!! 

1 // Scheduling

Depending on how far out you book for the wedding, we will want to schedule the engagement session around 4-6 months prior to the wedding, especially if you might want to use some of the images for your save the date cards! 

This could change of course depending on season etc...but it's a good rule of thumb to have a little bit of time in between the engagement session and the wedding. 

Also depending on the season and time of year, a weekday will usually be when we schedule the session. Scheduling on weekends can be a challenge during wedding season and if the session is during the time of year when the sun doesn't set until 7pm or later, usually a weekday will work best for everyone involved. 

We will also schedule the session to start 2 hours prior to the sun setting on that day. I will let you know the exact time once we get the date on the books. This will give us ample time for changes, potentially traveling to different locations etc...The best photos always have the best light and these last two hours prior to the sun setting will guarantee the best possible images. 

2 // Location

Choosing a location for your engagement session can be so overwhelming with so many amazing choices! In order to narrow it down, I have a few suggestions. 

• Consider the "feel" you want for the photos. Rustic? Outdoor? Urban? Beach? 
• Do the two of you have any special or memorable places that you share that might be a good option? 
• Do you have access to any sort of private or exclusive locations that would add a unique element to the session? 

If all of that still doesn't help, just let me know and we can narrow down a fabulous location together! 

3 // What to wear

Hands down the hardest thing to figure out, amiright? 

The good news is, you don't have to pick just ONE outfit. I encourage all of my couples to do at least one outfit change during the session. That way you get a little more variety in your photos and can have a dressier look and also a more casual look. 

I also recommend outfits that compliment each other without being too "matchy matchy", and staying away from loud or busy prints is always a good idea. YOU are the focus of the photo, not your hawaiian print top! ;-) 

For Her

• Its important to be comfortable, while at the same time choosing an outfit that is flattering. 
• Heels elongate the legs 
• Accessories are a fun addition, scarves, hats, statement necklaces, cardigans etc...
• Don't forget the nails! We will likely do some ring/hand shots, so make sure those nails are free from chipped polish

For Him

• Long pants and closed toed shoes are a sure fire way to look "comfortable, yet put together"
• Consider one button down for dressier and a short sleeve or polo top for more casual
• Make sure hair/facial hair is trimmed and/or natural for the session. (ie...if you normally wear a full beard, don't shave it all off the day before the session!) 

Use these guidelines to direct you into choosing an outfit that is still true to who you are but will be the most flattering on camera. You will look back at these photos for YEARS to come, so keep that in mind when making your final choices! 

4 // Post session 

After the session, go out and have a fun night out!! You'll be dressed up and feelin the love from the session so go out and enjoy an evening out of just the two of you! I'll be getting you a sneak peek of the session on social media within a few days and then a blog post dedicated to the two of you within a few weeks after the session. This will tide you over until you get your gallery of images. ;-)

Hopefully, you now feel a little more prepared for your session and the excitement is taking over for some of those nerves. I promise we will have a fun and relaxed time and you will come away with precious memories from this awesomely fun time of being engaged! 

Should I Invest in a Wedding Album?

Being engaged is one of the most exciting times of your life. You are about to make one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) commitments of your life and there is much to plan for the big day when you say "I DO!" 

There are thousands of decisions that need to be made as you make your way towards the journey of covenant. Where? When? How? How much? Who will be involved? Who will be invited? Who will we hire? The questions and answers and decisions go on and on and on. 

For many engaged couples these countless decisions are fun and exciting and for others they can be taxing and a total drag. Either way it's a LOT to process in a relatively short period of time and gives you as an engaged couple a chance to really "practice" what it's like to make decisions as a team! 

One of the many many decisions that you will likely have to face as an engaged couple is whether or not to invest in a wedding album. Although it may seem like a relatively small or inconsequential decision in the moment, in the long run, it's one of the most important decisions you will make before the big day! 

When we got married, Paul and I chose not to get an album for a couple of reasons. 

1. Our photographer didn't offer them! 
2. I was getting the digital images from my wedding, so I figured I would just make my own. 

Now, almost five years (FIVE YEARS GUYS!!!) later I have a totally different perspective about that choice...not only from the lens of a married couple who loves remembering everything about that FIRST day, but also as a photographer who recognizes the importance of the images themselves, the story that they tell and the tangibility of the product. 

3 reasons you should invest in a wedding album

1 // So you don't have to make it yourself

I do finally have a custom, heirloom wedding album now. Three and a half years after we got married, I finally got around to making one. AND I happen to REALLY enjoy album design and I know what I am doing. 

If it took me that long to get one complete, imagine how long it might take you to get one made and on top of that...do you even know how to get a high quality album that won't deteriorate in time? What about paper quality? Lay-flat? Flush mount? Center cut or crease? Will it get a red ink line down the center? How do you size your images? How do you even pick the images to go in the album? 

Most high quality albums come from professional labs that only cater to photographers as well. You may be able to create one through Shutterfly or Target, but how will your image quality turn out? Will the paper fade in time? Will your kids or grandkids even get to see the album? 

An investment is an investment because it is WORTH something. Your time is valuable as is the photographer's knowledge and expertise. Having your photographer do the work and hand you a beautiful product that is meant to last for generations is WORTH the investment to not have to deal with all of that on your own! 

2 // Its a great way to see and touch the story of your day

I received over 1000 images from my wedding photographer, on a disc, organized into different folders from the day. While the day I received them (and a few days after) it was fun to to through everything, I quickly picked out around 100 images that were my absolute favorites, but the only way to see them was to crack open the computer and click, click, click my way through them. 

If a friend came over, I couldn't hand them a beautiful leather album so that they could flip through the pages one by one to see our day and the events that took place. 

There is so much beauty in being able to feel and touch something in this day and age of electronic gadgets and glowing screens. You may have many favorite images from the day, but it's not feasible to print all of them and wallpaper your house with them (no judgement if you have done that!) An album is the perfect way to house the beautiful start of your love story and you can keep it on the table or mantle and look at it whenever you want! 

3 // For generations to come

Your story matters. Your legacy matters. The the two of your joining together and saying to each other, "I'm IN, no matter what!" MATTERS. Not only to the two of you, but to the legacy you are starting for generations to come. I have an album from my grandmother...its not a wedding album...but an album of her as a young girl and I cherish that album like it was gold. I don't have a wedding album from my parents but I wish I did. I wish I could see how their day transpired. Who was there and how they celebrated. All of that matters even in the busy and the hustle of everyday life. A wedding album is more than just deciding to invest a large sum of money into something pretty that you can show your friends, it's deciding that the two of you is the start of something amazing that will be celebrated and cherished for generations to come.