Planning Your Engagement Session

time to capture all the feels...

Outfitting your session

Depending on the season that you schedule your engagement session for, there are colors & tones that are more flattering for each season’s light. It’s crazy how the sunlight changes color and tone as the seasons come and go! It’s one of the reasons we love shooting in a region that experiences all four seasons to the extreme! Below, we’ll give a little list of colors and tones to gravitate toward and some to steer clear of depending on your season. Also, we strongly encourage you to bring along two outfits each. Perhaps one outfit on the more formal side and the other on the causal side so you have a variety of looks to choose from.

Winter

Gravitate towards royal tones and deep tones such as black, tan or navy. You can also always add a “pop” of color either in your wardrobe or an accessory such as jewelry or a scarf. Dress in layers. It’s most likely going to be cold, so be sure you are comfortable. Boots and warm socks are a must. Steer clear of pastels. These tones tend to make your skin appear sallow at this time of year.

SPRING

Gravitate towards pastel color tones, royal tones, or deep tones such as black or navy. Steer clear of solid whites. Pure white is wonderful as an accent color, but limits the types of light that are flattering to shoot in. Also, steer clear of horizontal stripes. They almost always broaden and create an illusion that you are wider than you really are.

Summer

Gravitate towards pastel color tones, royal tones, or deep tones such as black or navy. It will most likely be breezy, so keep that in mind when choosing a dress or skirt. Flowy dresses and skirts are beautiful to play with this time of year. Also, steer clear of horizontal stripes. They almost always broaden and create an illusion that you are wider than you really are.

AUTUMN

Gravitate towards earthy colors such as browns, grays, olives, burgundies, and earthy blues. Make sure to have some type of “pop” of color whether it be in your wardrobe or an accessory such as jewelry or a scarf. The earth is a mix of greens and browns, so a pop of color is really important to break up everything from looking to brown. Steer clear of pastel color tones. These tones tend to make your skin appear sallow at this time of year.

A word about stripes:

*Steer clear of horizontal stripes. They almost always broaden and create an illusion that you are wider than you really are.*

PROPS

Lake Geneva Wedding Photographer _ Lake Geneva _ Jordan Imhoff Photography

We welcome any props that you would like to incorporate into your session if they are meaningful to you. We encourage you to keep your props simple. The focus is on you as a couple and your genuine emotions and expressions. Your props shouldn’t steal focus of you or be too complicated to set up or stage. You don't want to feel frustrated during your session. We encourage you to bring activity props such as Coffee cups or champagne. Or maybe some confetti poppers? Bikes to ride? Activity props are always the best because they give you something to do!

Scheduling your session

We recommend scheduling your engagement session no later than three months before your wedding date. This ensures that there is enough turnaround time for you to view your images and order any items that you would like (canvases, framed prints, custom signing book, etc) in time for your wedding. Engagement Session Galleries are delivered within 2 weeks of the date in which the session was scheduled.

An engagement photo can also be used for a "Save the Date"! So, if you are planning on using a photo for this, be sure to schedule your session with plenty of time to receive your gallery and order your invites.

Also, we are obsessed with beautiful light! That is why we suggest starting your session two hours before the sun sets. This time of day is KEY to a beautifully lit and flattering session. Remember that the sun sets at very different times throughout the year.

Weather & Rainchecks

If it happens to be cloudy, rainy, or snowy, no worries! Cloudy days are the best! The clouds act as a natural filter, which gives even lighting, beautiful skin tone, and makes every color pop. Our equipment is weather sealed, so if you’d like to throw on a cute pair of rain boots and grab an umbrella, we are game! (Clear umbrellas are amazing! There are so many fun and unique ways we can use them! Also, if it’s snowing, then feel free to throw on some comfy boots, warm layers, and let’s capture the two of you strolling through the snow. If there happens to be a downpour of rain or if the streets are too icy to get to your session, then we are more than happy to reschedule.

*Also, if you are worried about rain on your wedding day, don't fret! Head on over to the Wedding Planning Guide to see how you can prepare for gorgeous Wedding Photos on a rainy day! We've got you covered!

Location, Location, Location...

We want to capture your session at a location that has significance for you as a couple. When you look back on your engagement photos 50 years from now, we want those photos remind you of your history. Is there a cozy coffee shop the two of you may have chatted at until late at night while you were getting to know each other? Maybe a park that you still take strolls in together? Maybe your first home? We want to make sure the location you decide on is important to you both. If you are not sure where, fear not! We have plenty of ideas and options from previous sessions that could serve as a foundation or inspire ideas of your own!