The Engagement Session Guide
kaleigh turner
Engagement sessions with ktp
Years ago, sessions like this were few and far between, and the ones that existed were stiff, forced, and lacked inspiration. As a perpetual explorer, I've dreamt bigger for you - unique landscapes and locations, personal styling, and direction during the shoot to tell your unmatched love story as authentically as possible. With a mix of photojournalism and editorial styles, engagement sessions no longer have to feel entirely scripted - they are a reflection of you.
Why should YOU do an engagement session?
One of my favorite ways to celebrate your amazing love before the big day is an engagement session. There is a whirlwind of planning and busyness leading up to the day, but this session gives you a chance to slow down for a bit and focus on what led you here: the two of you. This also allows me to connect with you, and for the two of you to share the experience of being photographed together prior to the wedding day. Engagement sessions also help you to feel more comfortable in front of the camera, making your wedding day photographs even more successful.
Often I’m asked by my couples how to best prepare for their engagement session including what they should wear, where they should have it, what to expect, and even how to pose. While it may seem a little stressful planning the session that will officially announce your engagement, I promise it’s much easier than you think and I'm here to help. Remember - take a moment to ask yourselves what feels most authentic to you.
This guide will walk you through outfit choices, locations, what to generally expect, and what comes after the session is over. As always, if you have questions or just need your nerves calmed a little, shoot me an email, and we'll chat!
No. 1
I always encourage my couples to choose a place that is special to you as a couple - make it personal and choose a location that stirs fond memories or inspires wanderlust (no location is too far). This is your chance to show your love in a real, personal way. Think outside the box and challenge your imagination - your session location does not have to be the same as everyone else's!
If you're considering travel - Coastal California, Southern East Coast, New York City, mountain locations around the world (including the highlands of Scotland and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado), and Rome & Florence, Italy are my most frequented locations. However, I'm always open and excited to fresh, new ideas, and I'm happy to meet you where you feel your love will be represented the most.
1.) Locations that are special to you or will authentically tell your love story. Examples include:
- Where you first met
- Where you got engaged
- Your favorite holiday or vacation locale.
- Your home where your love grows every day.
- A favorite activity you love to do together: Do you love summer, boating, and all things water? Let’s head down to the boat docks and shoot in the marina. Do you have a dog that is an important part of your little family? Bring him along! Do you love the city & met downtown? Let’s head to the city, grab a taxi for a few photos, and then finish up in an ice cream parlor or the newest coffee shop!
2.) Running short on ideas? Consider then locations that are simply just naturally beautiful and timeless Examples include:
- Locations with unique architectural features
- Exotic or destination locations
- City-scapes or parks
- Vineyards or marinas
Pro tip - Be careful to not choose a location that is heavy wooded - lighting can be extremely spotty, and all the green from the trees will reflect onto your skin causing you to look green. Two things you don't want!
location
A few things to consider-
Timing
no. 2
If you plan to use your engagement photos for your Save-The-Dates, you'll want to plan on having your engagement session done at least 8 months prior to your wedding date. If you aren't planning on using them for the Save-The-Dates, and you have plenty of time before your wedding, choose the season or time of year you love most!
A few things to note when thinking about seasons. I encourage you to stay away from the times of year when the weather is too harsh. Winter months are too cold, which cause red faces and stiff bodies - all things that show up in photos (I want you to be comfortable and having fun!). Summer months are fine as long as it's not too hot - just as red noses show up in photos, so does a lot of sweat. Also, ladies that plan on having their makeup done for the engagement session have to worry about it staying put, something that's difficult when you're too hot!
Remember, you can't control the weather on your wedding day, but if we can avoid awful weather for your engagement session, we should!
A few things to consider -
The average session is about an hour long. However, depending on a few factors like travel between locations or time allotted to change your clothes, sessions can last up to 2 hours.
Sunset has the prettiest light, so we'll begin your session approximately 2-3 hours prior to the official sunset time for that day.
No. 3
First and foremost, try not to worry too much about how you look in front of the camera. That’s where I come in! My job is to pose you in a way that looks natural, all the while chatting with you guys about your plans for the big day, asking questions, trying to make you laugh, and just putting you at ease. However, when it comes to your fashion approach, this is a time to be celebrated and a great way to do that is with beautiful outfit choices.
I love to pair outfits with location (ie: downtown session could mean timeless formal, but a beach session could be a bathing suit and big hat!). I always suggest two outfits - one casual, and one formal - but in the end, your outfit choices are your own!
1.) Two coordinated looks. Examples include:
- Refined casual
- Metropolitan dressy
- Timeless formal
- Classic chic
2.) Accessories! Don't overlook your jewelry or shoes, and consider bringing along a hat, leather jacket or fur wrap for a simple and easy "look" change! Ladies - be sure to have your engagement ring cleaned for those close up shots.
Pro Tips:
- Contrasting colors and patterns work well on camera, but neutral colors photograph best. Black, white, taupe, blue, and blush pink are my personal favorites.
- Avoid wearing branded clothing (ie logos) or vibrant or bold colors on top (whatever color you wear on your upper half will reflect onto the skin of your face, and these colors tend to make your skin look sick or overly orange), and if you’re wearing black, be sure to bring a lint roller (my camera can pick up every spec of dust and black shows everything!)
- I’ve compiled a Pinterest board full of outfit inspiration that I’m constantly adding to when I see outfits that would make fantastic engagement session outfits! You can find it here:
Pinterest Inspiration
Outfit inspiration & ideas
A few things to consider-
makeup
Pro Tip
The day of your engagement session is the perfect time to have your makeup trial done. Not only will you look stunning for your engagement session, but photos soften your look a little allowing you to wear more makeup than usual - this is a great opportunity to see how you will photograph in professional images.
The wedding day will be lacking in time for a conversation about makeup, so this is your opportunity to communicate effectively with your MUA about the looks that you love, and they can help you with what will look right for your face so that you love both your engagement and wedding day look!
Don't go overboard with a "look" you wouldn't normally rock - you'll end up feeling uncomfortable and possibly not liking your images if you don't feel like you. You still want to look like yourself - simply go for a more polished version!
no.4
Props
no. 5
Whether you have a pup you love, an old car you want to show off, have a passion for sailing, or simply a really great hat or wrap/jacket, props like this can enhance your session and provide something extra to your images!
A few things to consider -
Location appropriate props - keep in mind where we'll be doing your session. For example, if we're headed to a vineyard, bringing along champagne glasses and bringing (or purchasing from the vineyard) a bottle of Prosecco to pop would be perfect!
Don't be afraid to think big - boats, cars, or animals are always fun "props" to have!
Above all else, I want you to have fun and relax! This is such a short, but very special, time in your life, and my job is to help you celebrate that with amazing images. I completely understand from personal experience (getting in front of a camera is hard!) that relaxing can be more difficult for some than others. I'll help you along the entire time to show you what to do with your hands, your faces, etc., and be prepared to snuggle up with your love - you'll hear me say "get nice and close!" a lot during your session!
Letting your guard down is the most important thing you can do, and trust that I've got it from there. If you have any insecurities you think I should know about, just let me know ahead of time.
during your session
Pro Tip - Pinterest is an amazing tool for inspiration, but if you’ve seen something on there a billion times, it’s probably not a good idea to try and replicate it. We want to show your love, not someone else’s version of it.
Your images will be available to you within 3 weeks after your session date (during peak wedding season, it may take longer than usual, but I always have them to you within three weeks). They will be delivered to you via an online, downloadable gallery, that's really easy to use - I provide you with a download code and instructions on how to navigate the gallery and download your images! All of your images come in color AND black & white, so that you have both, and they are high-resolution/print ready. You'll also have the option to purchase prints through the gallery or albums directly through me.
You are welcome to share the gallery and download information with friends and family (in order to respect your privacy, I can only provide gallery information to you - friends and family will need to come to you for passwords/download pins/general access to the gallery). You are also welcome to share as much as you want on social media (no filters please :) and I always ask that you tag "Kaleigh Turner Photography" as word of mouth is what keeps my business going!
after your session
