to THE WEDDING GUIDE
Engagement Session
PLANNING YOUR
choosing the perfect time, location, outfit & More!
We’re so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait for our time together during your engagement session! It’s normal to be a little nervous about your session. We still get nervous before having our photos taken - and we do this for a living!
We’re big fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. First, they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed and understand how we pose. Timelines can be pretty tight on weddings days and 30 minutes may be all we have for portraits - which is why we’ve found that wedding day portraits turn out so much better when couples do engagement sessions ahead of time.
Second, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is signficant to the two of you (and even include pets!). While they’re great for save-the-dates, we’ve taken engagement photos anywhere from 18 months in advance to a few days before the wedding.
Our guide will cover what to wear, whether to bring pets & how to manage them, location ideas and more!
We truly believe that as your wedding photographer we are capturing you, with our skill and your vision in mind. The first thing we recommend is that you share any Pinterest boards with us. Hop on your Pinterest and go to your Engagement Board, rename it to your names, and then click the share button(top center of the board). Just search @katecophoto under "Send on Pinterest" and it will come right to our Pinterest inbox. That way we can see locations, poses, and styles you like so we make sure our visions align through the process!
This also comes in handy if you don't have location ideas in mind. We can look at your photos and give recommendations!
We get it. Having your picture taken for 1-2 hours might not be in your top-10 favorite things to do during your downtime. And at first you might feel sort of awkward being in front of the camera. But I think you’ll find that by the end of the session, it’s a lot easier than you thought, and you even had a little fun. I look forward to it because it’s a great opportunity for us all to hang out a bit before the wedding day.
The Guys
A NOTE TO
Engagement sessions can take place anywhere from immediately following a proposal to just a few days before the wedding. We’ve found that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos. We normally plan sessions based on a particular “look” a couple has in mind, spring flowers for example, or based on schedules.
Sessions typically last about one to two hours and when when we can, we love to begin sessions about two hours before sunset. We prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise is also an ideal time to shoot. BUT...we will shoot anytime of day that is convenient for you. We do our best to find the best light no matter the time of day.
Since we schedule sessions during what we believe will be the best light of the day it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises.
Is there a good time to take photos?
TIME & LIGHT
Engagement Sessions can be scheduled on select Saturdays and weekdays.
We do not take sessions on Sundays.
We recommend these time slots for each season:
October - March 3-5pm
April - May 4-6pm
June - September 6-8pm
We do try to be super flexible with times though. If you prefer morning we can make that work or depending on the area we are shooting a best time could be different (example: Downtown Dallas - the tall buildings give us shade all day so we can shoot anytime)
A few things to keep in mind during each season:
Session Dates
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Winter
snowfall, hot cocoa and cozy coats
We recommend dressing in layers during winter session, so that in between photos you can warm up. Make sure you bring a little extra makeup and tissues in case your nose begins running.
Location ideas for Winter: Downtown areas or urban spots with not too many trees. Many of the trees are bare in winter which can make your photos look colder. If you love the outdoors The Arboretum is great for winter because it is always well groomed.
Summer
walks on the beach hand in hand
In spite of the heat, we’re big fans of summer sessions! The sun sets later and we get those warm, hazy photos. If you’re taking your engagement photos during the summer, we recommend bringing extra makeup and a few towels to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session.
Location ideas for Summer: The Lake or anywhere with water and tall trees for shade.
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Fall
colorful leaves and snuggling close
Fall is one of the prettiest times of the year but because of the perfect weather, our schedules typically book up quickly! If you have your heart set on a fall engagement session, we recommend scheduling it as soon as you book!
Location ideas for Fall: Nature Preserves, Parks, anywhere to get the fall color.
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If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding.
If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session one to two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.
Save-the-dates
Locations
Dallas + Ft. Worth Locations
The best session locations are often meaningful places to the couple; however, we’re also happy to make recommendations. From the Arts District to The Arboretum to apple picking and college campuses, the options for engagement session locations are endless!
When choosing a location we recommend thinking about the time of year and time of day. We wouldn't recommend a Nature Preserve in January when there are no leaves on the trees, and we also wouldn't recommend downtown Dallas walking around the streets when everyone is getting off work at 5pm, or anywhere near stadiums on game days!
We have crafted a list of locations that fit any style that you can check out below. We are always open to ideas from you. If you have a place that you love to go and walk, or he proposed, or you had a first date/is special to you....let's start there.
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Ft. Worth
The Dallas Arboretum
Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens
An old mansion
CLASSIC & ELEGANT
Klyde Warren Park
Winspear Opera House
Arts District
Rooftop Parking Garage
URBAN
White Rock Lake
Little Elm/Lake Lewisville
Grapevine Lake
BEACH
A Vineyard
Tree & Flower Farms
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Prairie Creek
The Stockyards
RUSTIC
Cooking class
Hiking
Sailing / Boating
ADVENTURE
The above locations are all beautiful but we also love exploring meaningful locations with our couples!
Destination Engagement Sessions
While we take most of our engagement sessions in the Dallas area, we’ve photographed sessions everywhere from New Orleans, to Galveston and Corpus Christie, to Austin and of course back home in Missouri. If you have a location in mind that is significant to the two of you, let us know because if our schedules align, we might be able to take your engagement photos outside of our normal area.
Travel fees may apply depending on the location and our availability.
Our dog is huge part of our family, which is why we love when couples choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location.
We recommend bringing someone along to your session to be a helper for your pet. As much as we all love our pets they will not be in every photo so having someone that can hang on to their leash or walk them around is a great help.
If you are brining your pet make sure to bring your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
Pets
Outfits
TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST
When picking outfits we recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if the groom-to-be is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, the bride-to-be may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.
Generally couples pick two outfits for an engagement session: a more formal outfit and a casual outfit. We recommend starting with the more formal outfit and then changing to the causal for your second outfit. And don’t forget to bring a few accessories! Statement necklaces, cute shoes and classic watches are great ways to add detail to outfits.
Heels lengthen legs but if your heels aren’t comfortable for walking, bring an extra pair of shoes to slip into in between shots.
We love the way larger patterns photograph - be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. We love bright, neon dresses, but we don’t love the neon reflection they add to your complexion.
Wardrobe Tips
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
MANICURE
Outfits
for the ladies
A statement piece is a great way to add color or pattern to a simple dress, like a statement jewelry piece or colorful shoes.
Lace and tulle photograph beautifully. Plus dresses with lace sleeves are a great way to help slim arms.
Depending on your location, you might want to consider a fit and flare or a flowy dress! They look great in walking and photos with movement.
Choose an outfit you feel comfortable in, but don’t be afraid to dress up!
Accessories
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
MANICURE
Outfits
for the ladies
Engagement sessions are the perfect time for a hair and makeup trial! Professionally done hair & makeup last longer than typical hair & makeup. They also tend to hold up better for humitiy and wind.
We think it’s so important that you look and feel your best for your engagement photos - and if you’re planning to do a hair & makeup trial anyways, the engagement session is a great time to test how your hair & makeup look on camera.
Hair & Makeup
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
MANICURE
Outfits
for the ladies
There will probably be times during your session when we’re shooting your hands holding or the engagement ring on your hand - which means it’s a good idea to clean up your nails before your session (this applies to the guys too!).
Manicure
ACCESSORIES
HAIR & MAKEUP
MANICURE
Outfits
for the ladies
You can’t go wrong with a suit and tie. Consider pulling out that suit you had to wear last time you were a groomsmen!
Layer with jeans to make the look more comfortable if you don't want to be too dressed up. Choose one dressy outfit and then one casual outfit.
Softer colors tend to photograph better than bright colors.
Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months. If you wear a hat, bring it for a few photos. It is important to feel like you.
If it's hot outside and you tend to sweat I recommend a solid color shirt (better to edit) and wear an undershirt to catch the sweat.
Wardrobe
for the gents
Inclement Weather
what to do if it rains
We all dream of beautiful, sunny, backlit photos that are dreamy and romantic...but sometimes the weather has other plans! When it comes to inclement weather we have options. Your time and my gear is worth something to me so I don't recommend shooting in a thunderstorm because you probably won't love those photos (unless you really love rain) and our gear can only hold up to so much weather.
We’ll check in the week of your engagement session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. We know it takes a lot of time to get ready for your engagement session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain.
Let us know what works best for the two of you - but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, we typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance.
When we can, we always try to take a photo of your ring during your engagement session - so it’s a good idea to have it cleaned or clean it yourself before your shoot! To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
Ring Cleaning
Props
champagne is always a good idea
If you’re planning to bring props to your engagement session, we recommend including them only if they’re meaningful to you. Shots of drinking coffee at a local coffee shop would be cute if that’s where you met or spend time; however, a trying to fly a kite together when it’s not a part of your relationship may come off as contrived.
An example of a prop that always looks timeless is champagne. You are celebrating this phase in life so popping a bottle and having a toast is a great way to celebrate and looks great in photos!
Other great props include the inital of your married last name, a sign with your wedding date, a cute blanket to sit on or wrap up in, etc.
When it comes to posing for your engagement session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! We’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If we tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because we know it’s going to make the two of you laugh - and that’s the photo we’re actually looking for.
Throughout your session, we’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place...and we will always tell you what to do with your hands! We want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
"What do I do with my hands"?
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
Date Night
If you’re anything like us, you probably don’t get dressed up all that often. Which means that the day of your engagement session is the perfect occasion for a date night (or brunch if your session is in the morning!)
The engagement session is another part of celebrating your love and heading off to dinner is a great way to end the session! You will already look lovely and after making your partner come to get their photo taken they may feel like they deserve a drink and a nice meal!
As soon as possible after your session is complete! We generally have your images uploaded to your gallery with in two weeks unless there is a holiday to delay our schedule.
When to Expect Your Images
We know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your engagement session! However if there is something we missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email
hello@katecophotography.com