Your engagement session
Now that you have picked a date, a photographer and probably a venue as well, you can celebrate! Those are some of the toughest decisions in wedding planning and you can cross them off your list! Hooray!! Now on to the fun stuff...like your engagement session!
I include engagement sessions in The Wedding Experience because I truly believe that they are a VITAL part of the entire process. During your engagement session, you’ll have the chance to get to know me, experience how I shoot and how I handle posing and lighting. This session will make a HUGE impact on how the wedding day flows. I’ll arrive on your wedding day already knowing how you two interact, what your best poses are and how to photograph you in a genuine way! What I will learn about you during your engagement session is invaluable! You will feel like such a pro on your big day because of the great practice you had during your engagement session!
Your engagement session can be scheduled anytime before your wedding day. I normally suggest booking it at least 3-6 months in advance to avoid stress. Because my weekends are filled with weddings, I shoot engagement sessions on weekday evenings, normally from 5-9pm depending on the light and the time of the year. In the winter months, 2-4pm is a normal time frame for an engagement shoot!
As you start to plan for your engagement shoot, you will need to start brainstorming about location ideas. I LOVE it when couples pick a location that is special or sentimental to them in some way! If you can’t think of anywhere specific that you would like to shoot, I can help you decide on a location. As long as the light is great, I can make ANY location look awesome! I shoot at farms, campuses, downtown alleys and even laundromats! Do not shy away from unique ideas. The more creative, the better! Be sure to keep reading to find out more about outfit ideas and inspiration!
logistics
- I typically photograph engagement sessions on weekday evenings because my weekends are dedicated to photographing weddings!
- I love shooting at gorgeous locations. We recommend two locations max for engagements. A general rule of thumb is the more locations and outfits, the less images, but the more variety you’ll have!
- I can do sunrise sessions if necessary! I require sunrise shoots for those who want to take portraits in a very crowded location like the The Alaska State Fair in Palmer.
- I love to travel to our shoots! However, if we have never been to your desired location, we may need some advice on where to park!
Some location reccomendations
Hatchers pass
Right outside of Palmer and Wasilla, is the well known Hatchers Pass. Where do I start! There is so many opportunities for some beautiful photos! You can drive up to Summit Lake, up to Independence Mine, the mountains, the rivers, the alpine tundra, the glacier, so many places to be captured!
eklutna lake
Located between Anchorage and Wasilla, this is a great location for a beautiful lake with so many mountains in the foreground. There is also other opportunities for pictures on a trail in the trees, by the river, or in a fun tee pee!
BELUGA POINT
This is a outstanding location to show the beautiful landscape that Alaska has to offer, right outside of Anchorage on the Seward Hwy. The rocks, ocean, mountains, it all there! Show off the beautiful state that you are in while having your love captured!
timing
Winter
Dec-Mar 3:00-5:00pm
During December through Mid- March you can plan on your engagement session taking place around 2-5pm. However, the time changes in Mid-March so that will make the start time one hour later.
Spring
Apr/May - Varies
The sunset time drastically changes throughout the course of these two months and so our shooting times change as well. You can plan on approximately 5:30-7:00pm in April and 6:00-8:00pm in May.
Summer
Jun-Aug 6:30-10:30pm
Summer engagements, just like all engagements, take place two hours before sunset. Although it seems like the sun never sets, golden hour is a great time. This will hopefully mean that the shoot will be during the cooler part of the day.
Fall
Sept/Nov - Varies
The sunset time changes drastically during these three months. In Sept, you can plan on 5:30-7:30pm until the third week, and then you can plan on 5:00-7:00pm until Mid-Oct. After the first week of Nov, plan on 3:00-5:00pm.
Thank you for reading!
If you ever have any questions or are ready to book your engagement shoot, feel free to reach out! I am always here to help!