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After all the initial excitement of your engagement starts to die down (or, at least, the initial shock has worn off) it’s time to start thinking about engagement photos. These pictures signify the start of the rest of your lives together, so it’s important to consider a few things when picking a location for the shoot.
One thing’s for sure when it comes to your wedding day—the moment you see your significant other for the first time, all dressed up for the occasion, is bound to be a memorable one. Some couples are choosing this moment to happen before they walk down the aisle, while others are sticking with the more traditional route and waiting until the ceremony to see each other. There’s no right or wrong choice, but if you’re on the fence, here are a few pros and cons to having one.
Hello!I get asked, "how many hours do you put into a wedding?" or, "what do you do all day?" quite a bit. My impression is that some people thing I come to a wedding, snap pictures, then go home and party! (Side note: I'm not that cool. No parties for me.)
The question I get asked the most by my seniors is, "what should I wear?" Senior portraits are supposed to celebrate your personality, so that is a difficult question to answer. However, there are a few tips & tricks that make it easier to be photo-ready!
As promised, I've put together a few of my favorite golden hour shots of 2016. There may be one or two sunrise photos in the mix too (can you guess which ones?). 2016 was a seriously incredible year, and I can't thank all of you enough for trusting me to capture your memories. I hope you all love your photos as much as I do. I'm excited to go into 2017 and create more magic together!
Hey guys! So if you know me, you know how much I adore stealing my couples away from their reception for a few pictures after dark. They're almost allllways my favorite shots of the day (and hopefully theirs too!). Recently I've been also taking some engagement & senior photos after dark too, so everyone can get in on the fun.
Let's talk frankly - on your wedding day, something is going to go wrong. It always does. There's a lot of moving parts to a wedding, and sometimes things just happen. However, if you're prepared, this doesn't have to be a big deal. Usually the issues that arise are minor, and easily remedied. To help you get ready, here are some tips keeping things running smoothly!
Part of having everything go smoothly is having a well thought out wedding timeline (which is why I meet with my clients two weeks before the big day to finalize the details!). If you have a wedding planner, they'll be with you for this! If you're doing it on your own, make sure you ask your vendors how much time they'll need for their part of your day. For example, talk to your hair & makeup artist. How long will they need for each bridesmaid, the moms, and you? Then build in a buffer (at least 15 min) in case things run over! For photography, I prefer we build in 2 hours for pictures (1/2 hour for family formals, 1/2 hour for wedding party, 1/2 hour for the couple!, 1/2 hour for travel/buffer). For photography, this can be split up throughout the day if you plan on sneaking out of the reception for sunset pictures or if you're doing a first look. Be on the look out for a photographer's ideal timeline - coming soon to the blog!
When something inevitably goes wrong (again, its usually minor!), having someone in charge (who is NOT you) makes a big difference in how quickly it can be fixed. If you've hired a wedding planner, they'll be the go-to on your big day to handle these issues. If you didn't, put someone in charge! This can be your Mom, your maid of honor, or just a close friend that you feel would be able to handle things. Give that person all your vendors contact information, and make sure your vendors know who your point person is! This keeps you from adding more stress on your wedding day!
The day of your wedding, you're going to need some things. Pack a small bag in advance that has everything you might need. If you don't end up using it - great! If you do, you'll be glad you prepared. Make sure your point person for the day is in charge of it!
Here's some things to consider packing. Depending on your day, you may need more or less!
If you don't want to purchase all these items and make your own bag, there are many different "Bridal Emergency Kits" you can buy online! This is one of my favorites, but there are plenty of options to choose from!
The most important thing you can do for yourself on your wedding day is to relax. Yes, some things may go wrong. However, what's important is you marrying the love of your life! Let go of the little things, and focus on being present with your new spouse! Enjoy your day, and celebrate your relationship!
PS: A massage a few days before your wedding can help too!
Thanks for reading! If you have any other advice, please leave it in the comments!
Katie
So you are starting the wedding planning process. You found your venue, you chose your wedding party, and you hired your photographer. The engagement shoot is coming up, and you know you need amazing images for your save the dates, and probably your guest book as well. But with all the stress of wedding planning, you haven't really given much thought to your engagement shoot. I think you should - and here are three reasons why!
The engagement shoot is supposed to be fun! Think of it like a date night. You'll be all dressed up, so take the opportunity to treat yourselves to a night out on the town when you're done with the shoot. During the session, you'll get to snuggle, hug, laugh, and kiss, and it'll be a good time.
You've also probably never had professional images taken of the two of you before, so it is something new, and a chance to get people excited about your wedding! You can dress in your wedding colors, or do something completely different. Many times, I have people that want to have an urban vibe to their engagement shoot, because their wedding images will be more nature oriented. Either way, this is the opportunity to show off your personalities, and what you like to do together.
During your engagement shoot, you're also doing a dress rehearsal of what your formal portraits will be like during your wedding. You get to learn first-hand how you photographer works, poses, and likes to do things, and you can form a better relationship with them. By the time your wedding comes around, you won't feel awkward at all in front of the camera, since you've done it before!
So schedule your engagement shoot, and have fun!
Thanks for reading,
Katie
Pittsburgh Lifestyle Newborn Session | Jack
This family was a referral from some current clients of mine, and it turns out they live less than a mile from my home! It was so nice to both welcome Jack to the world with some newborn photos, and meet some new neighbors. Their home was perfect for photos, and we popped into almost every room!