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Engagement Session

PLANNING YOUR

Spilling all the details on how to make the most of your photos!

Welcome

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

I am so thrilled to be working with you and am counting down the days to your session! It’s perfectly normal to have some jitters about getting photos taken. Honestly, I still get the butterflies before having our photos taken too - and I do this for a living! I totally get it. I put this guide together to help you get the best results! I'm going to take great care of you and am here to help every step of the way.

I am thrilled you pulled the trigger (Seriously just imagine the MAGIC we are going to create together!). Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trust in me. It is an honor to create one of the integral parts of your family's legacy.

Please carefully read the topics I will cover, they will help you get the most spectacular photos ever!

I know such an extensive guide can be a little overwhelming upon first glance... BUT believe it or not, "simple" is our key word! (You'll see as you read). Most of my clients are attracted to the very specific and unique look of my work (and now I'm blushing over here).

Hopefully you feel the same! I created this guide as a resource because I do need some of your help to achieve this look. I'd be in heaven if you read the helpful tips here, and as always, please reach out to me if you have any questions at all!

- Rachel

Are you ready for some good news? You really don't need to do much! Besides outfit selection (which I cover in this guide), all I ask of you is to enjoy your experience. After all, the best part of appreciating the photos on your walls is knowing you had an awesome time getting them taken.

I'm SO excited. Have I mentioned that yet?...

Before the big day

The Pre-Game

I will keep an eye on the forecast the week before our session. It can change quickly... in either direction! If the forecast is sketchy there is always a bit of a gamble with whatever choice I make, as the weather can change on a dime.

However, I will try to make the best decision based on my professional experience and let you know if we will need to reschedule (I will try to do this before you would begin getting ready!). The most important thing to me is the lighting outside. Even if it's not raining but the clouds are too dark, we will need to reschedule.

Dark clouds make for unflattering shadows, and of course the possibility of rain is no fun when you just spent so much time on everyone's hair! If this happens, will proceed with the backup date we chose upon first booking.

In case of bad weather

All of these are cool. Just... not so much when it comes to photos ;). Gum shows no matter how much you think it won't (hiding it behind your teeth can't last for every shot), transition lenses look like sunglasses (we want to see those beautiful peepers!) and even if a spray tan looks ammmazing in person, it really throws off the skin tones that I absolutely pride myself in capturing. Your natural skin color is the BEST!
If you wear glasses and have transition lenses, you can either remove the glasses altogether for the photos, or if they are an integral part of your look, you can change them out for a pair with traditional lenses. I will try my best to minimize the glare so we can see those gorgeous eyes!

GUM, TRANSITION LENSES, AND SPRAY TANS...

Helpful Hints

What if I don't know what to do?

I think most of us feel this way at heart. Luckily not only are my sessions extremely relaxed, but I fully guide you and your partner into poses and give you prompts so you can have moments of genuine laughter and fun together. Often you won't even realize how amazing a moment is and I sneak a photo.

I'm here to see the beauty in what seems like ordinary moments.
It is one of the best and most fulfilling parts of my work

The Day of the Session

a few things to keep in mind

Please plan on arriving ten minutes before our start time. It also gives you a little cushion in case you hit a snag. Unexpected things happen on photo day - hair doesn't cooperate, traffic gets crazy, you have to run back because you forgot something (or is all of this just me?).

If you give yourself extra time you will be extra relaxed!

Please be on time or even better, early!

Outfits

The biggest piece of the pie

Here we go! Depending on who you ask, this tends to be either the most stressful or the most fun part of the whole process (although I'm SO here to help you).

It's outfit time!

One of the analogies I use to describe photography is with... baking. (Yes, you read that right!) There are many photographers out there who have all kinds of different styles. It's like a bakery where you are choosing which cupcake you want. Well, I am honored you are choosing mine! Here is your part of the recipe we need so we can make the exact flavor you have chosen. I have a very specific style and strive to be consistent with my images so you know exactly what kinds of photos you will be getting from your session (dreamy, light, airy, classic, timeless, and glowy... if I do say so myself!).

So let's get baking

Light colors and soft patterns

the "overall aesthetic"

Perhaps you've noticed that mostly everyone on this guide is wearing light colors. There is a reason for this! A photographer's best friend is light. Light is my "paint," if you will. I use it to get a very specific look. When you wear light clothing, the sunlight bounces around, reflects back onto your face and anyone who is around you, creating a beautiful glow. It flatters your skin - making it creamier, and hiding flaws. It also helps create the overall aesthetic of the photo.

Another reason I highly recommend light colors is that sunlight combined with vivid colors (such as really bright blues, neon yellows, etc) will make for an unnatural color cast on your skin. With the lighting I use, if you are wearing bright green and it reflects back onto your face (...and it will....) it can make you look slightly sick and we don't want that! I want to make sure your skin looks vibrant, healthy, and true to color.

My aim when it comes to clothing, is to have it NOT distract from your faces and expressions! I want the focus to be solely on the smile your partner has when they look at you, the peace on your face when you are in an embrace, and the love in your eyes.

When you are wearing simple and timeless clothing, the attention isn't drawn to your clothing... but to those amazing features I just mentioned. This is a great thing! When you wear busy patterns, it competes for that attention and your eyes are naturally drawn there.

- The biggest impact on your photos -

The squint test

When in doubt about a pattern, do a "squint test" - just look at it, squint your eyes, and if the clothing item looks like a solid color or close to it, it's good to go! If it still looks pretty busy and patterns can be easily distinguished, it's better to go with a more delicate pattern.

While adorable in person, these kinds of patterns don't photograph well with my style of photography. The areas of high contrast (aka: light and dark colors close together) attract the eye and compete for attention... taking the focus from faces. This is one of those seemingly little choices that actually make a big impact!

Light and delicate patterns are softer and easier on the eyes (and the overall color palette). If you squint at these you won't see too much that sticks out. Once again, this clothing doesn't attract the eye, leaving it free to focus on the most important things - the faces you love!

color schemes

I talk about "overall color aesthetic" (or "color palette") a lot. Your clothing color takes up a lot of the space on the 2D surface of the photo, and the colors you choose make a big impact. At the end of the day, these photos are for YOU and go on your wall! They get passed down to your family and while I'm the one creating them, they are yours to enjoy in the most special of ways.

If you still, through-and-through, prefer a bit more vibrant color, that is completely up to you and I'm still SO happy and honored to be the one to take your photos! Here are examples of different color schemes to shoot for:

Soft color schemes: pastels, creams, neutrals

vivid color schemes: Jewel tones mixed with neutrals

nah....

yeah!

Pets are welcome to be involved in your session! Please let me know ahead of time so we can ensure a pet-friendly location.

I recommend planning for your furry friend(s) to be at the beginning of your session - I won’t use them in every single photo (unless that is what you prefer!) so it is also really helpful to have a friend available to help "behind the scenes."

If you do bring your fur babies, I recommend letting them get plenty of exercise before the session and bringing their favorite treats and toys!

Pets

FOR THE LADIES

FOR THE gENTS

find it fast

When the ladies wear dresses, it really helps create that timeless look. I highly recommend maxi's. The floor length flatters, and when a little breeze flutters by it helps create motion in the photo. (psst... wearing dresses is NOT an absolute must, but it really does help create the aesthetic you often see in my work!). If it's cold outside, I recommend bundling up for sure. Don't worry about wearing a dress if it's too cold! Clothing colors matter more than clothing styles at the end of the day.

I recommend at least one outfit change as well - one white dress and another type of outfit. Sometimes my couples bring some more relaxed clothing or choose to really dress up, it is up to you entirely.

Keep it simple!

WHERE TO SHOP

Outfits

for the fellas

find it fast

J. Crew
Zara
Leather & Cotton
Jack Threads
Frank & Oak  
Nordstrom
Urban Outfitters
Nordstrom Rack
H&M

Wardrobe

WHERE TO SHOP

Outfits

for the gents

Spring

-photos in all seasons -

If there is any season that directly reflects my vision, it's spring! Those blooms? Sublime. The soft greens? Heavenly. There are pros and cons to every season however, and I will say the weather in spring can be a bit temperamental. Luckily we have built-in back up days!

fresh flowers and sunny days

Summer

sun hats, bright light, golden dreams

I love summer sessions! I'm never one to complain about the longer days and later sunset times. During summer sessions, I recommend bringing extra makeup if needed, a water bottle (the colder, the better!), and a washcloth or two.

Fall

yellow leaves, apple cider and cozy snuggles

Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in the midwest (those COLORS!), and I will say that I book up pretty quickly at that time of year! I have a unique approach to ensure your fall session is still beautifully light (and yet still fall-looking!) without a lot of overpowering "orange." It's the best of both worlds.

Winter/Christmas

bright copper kettles and warm woven mittens

We all love those Christmas reds, but I do not recommend wearing it for your portraits.

Emerald greens look so amazing against the white snow.

Locations

We love when couples choose a location for their session that complements their wedding. For example if you’re planning a chic, elegant wedding, it may be fitting to take your engagement portraits among the classic architecture,, while a local park or flower-filled fields may be more fitting for a couple planning a more rustic affair. Or sometimes it is nice to get more variety and doing the opposite. The best session locations are often meaningful places to the couple; however, we’re also happy to make recommendations. From hills to lavender fields to apple picking and college campuses, the options for engagement session locations are endless!

Wezergyn Gardens
Ault Park
Dayton Art Institute (outside)
Eden Park
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
Glenwood Gardens

CLASSIC & ELEGANT

Oakes Quarry (desert vibe)
Mountain vibe area (a few choices)
Wildflower field (July-Sept)
Lavender Field (June-July)
Marmalade Lily
Cherry Blossoms (April)
Aullwood Audobon
French Park (Tall Grass)

Nature

Downtown Cincinnati
Indoor Studio Portraits
Downtown Columbus
Downtown Hamilton

URBAN

Caesar Creek State Park
East Fork Lake
Fly us down to Florida (YAAS)

BEACH

A Vineyard
Tree Farms (June - Sept)
Open Field (year round)
Pine Tree Forest (Hamilton or Oxford, OH)
Carriage Hill Metropark (farm vibe)
Caesar Creek Emergency Spillway

RUSTIC/Nature

Cooking class
Coffee Shop Date
Sailing / Boating
A Fancy AirBnb
Krohn Conservatory

ADVENTURE

The above locations are all beautiful but we also love exploring meaningful locations with our couples!

Also down to travel!

Local Examples

Rentschler Estates (Hamilton, oh)

Wegerzyn gardens (Dayton, oh)

caeser creek state park (Waynesville, OH)

Downtown hamilton

Lavender Field (Miamisburg Oh)

downtown Columbus

Well, ideally you get back in the car and say, "Wow, did we really just take photos or just hang out?" Or... "She was the best. Rachel for President." I totally recommend making a date night out of your photo session and go to dinner afterwards - we do a lot of snuggling and kissing during engagement photos, it makes for a beautiful night of closeness.

On my end I will come home, give my own spouse a hug, and then start downloading your photos. From there I will need two weeks to properly go through the images, weed out multiples and blinks, and then edit them in my specific and unique style. Two weeks after the date of your session I will send you an email with a link to your gallery. From there you will be able to view your photo proofs and make selections for your order!

And remember... I'm here to assist you in every step along the way.

When to Expect Your Images

.... At the end of the day, my greatest wish is that you had an amazing and relaxing time, and love the photos we captured. That your photos capture the heart of your relationship and you cannot wait for your wedding photos!

Some Parting Words

I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your session! However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to text or email
roguestatephotography@outlook.com
513.265.8702