So… …you just got engaged …and there you are, so high from the proposal that it feels like you’re feet hardly touch the ground. Your heart and head are suspended in the clouds…inflated and weightless rising up as they fill with the thoughts of all the exciting things that lie ahead in this new chapter of your lives.

You can’t stop looking at and admiring the ring on your finger throughout the day….

your phone is abuzz with text after text as family and friends respond to the news of your newly minted engagement..

you’ve decided on a date….

you’ve picked and booked the wedding venue…

you’ve picked out your dress…

you’ve even decided on a photographer….

So now that you’ve chosen a photographer to capture your day, they are talking about an engagement session and you like many others before you ask “what exactly is that?” or if you know what it is… you may be thinking “ does it have to look like everything i have seen others do? or does it have to look like all the photos i’ve seen plastered all over Pin boards on Pinterest?” I can only speak for myself and tell you in a resounding and confident ……absolutely not !!!!

I'm sure you are both excited and maybe a bit nervous and I completely understand because you have never done this before so I wanted to give some what to expect and some tips for your upcoming engagement session. Sometimes it can be overwhelming and nerve racking because you think “I am no model” or maybe you might feel awkward... I totally get it… I would be the same way but I want you to rest assured that I don’t want to make you do anything that is not natural for you. So here is the secret to making an engagement session your own and fun……This is all you need to know……………….ready?....here it is………

Just....………be………..... you.

The goal of the session is simply Be with each other and let me tag along and take photos of you guys while you do that. Seriously. That’s it.

Enjoy hanging out with each other and I will capture you doing that.This is what I tell all my couples to create a sense of what an engagement session with me feels like.. ... I always tell them think of me as friend with a really camera tagging along as you hang out together:)

It’s doesn’t have to be formal….... it just has to be authentically you.

It looks kind of like this….We walk around and talk, explore the area together and every now and then I will ask you to sit, stand, lean on or maybe even lay down cool places we encounter along the way. Most times I will just capture things naturally as your togetherness unfolds and you begin to laugh, hug, hold hands, cuddle, kiss, basically all the candid unrehearsed moments that you do everyday anyway:). If at any time I sense that maybe you don’t know how to stand or where to put your arm…then I will chime in and direct you to a pose or position that will be the most flattering.

Some of the common questions I get asked prior to an engagement session are:

“Should we bring props?”

A: ABSOLUTELY! Some couples have brought large letters like the first initial of their first name, like a monogram so they could take a couple of pictures holding them. Feel free to bring things that are cool, quirky and fun that are symbolic of your relationship. I will work them into the session.

“What location should we pick and what time should we start?”

A: anywhere that is significant to you as a couple like where he proposed or maybe a place around your lifestyle like shopping, or boating, coffee sipping, etc..etc.. Once there, we can explore and mostly I will look for walls and benches, stairs and alley ways that look cool. I try to shoot in open shade versus bright, open sunlight. No one looks good with squinty eyes because the sun is directly in their face. As far as time of day, I would say a rule of thumb is two hours before sunset when the light is softest. I always prefer shooting in natural light.

“Should I get my hair and makeup done for my engagement session?”

A: It is definitely not a bad idea...unless you are one of those women who can style your hair and do your makeup just like the pros can. Sometimes you can go to a salon and get a trial hair and makeup session done before the shoot. You can even stop by a MAC booth in any mall and they can help you out. This will not only give you an opportunity to “test out” someone for your wedding day hair/makeup, but you will FEEL like a million bucks, which truly comes across in your photos. I will never look down on someone for not getting their hair/makeup done but I’ve seen time and again that when someone does, they carry themselves differently and generally feel more comfortable.

“What should we wear?”

A:I think the most important thing is to be absolutely comfortable. I have always been told that on an engagement shoot you should wear whatever you think you would wear on a first date or what would you wear if you knew you were going to attend a really nice luncheon? or maybe bring two outfits…one dressy and one casual outfit you really cant lose. Just be comfortable and dont feel like you have to be matchy-matchy or Twinkies …but simply coordinate with each other :)

I hope these tips helped and I am looking forward to working with you if you are one of the 4 winning couples of the engagement experience!

Warmly,

Marlon