Hey! If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you’re either interested in booking me or have already booked me and want to know what a session looks like! Either way I am excited you are here! Below I will outline what you can expect, from how to prepare for the shoot, to what to expect after it. This will be subject to how I specifically shoot and will not be representative of shoots with other photographers.
What to Expect Before the Shoot
Upon booking, I will send over a questionnaire to get to know you a little better. This will give me a good idea of what prompts to use for you, but also it lets me understand what kinds of pictures you are looking to get out of the shoot. I understand that everyone has a different relationship that is special and unique in their own way, and I want to capture that as best as I can. I want to hear about how you all met, your favorite things to do together, and if you consider yourselves more as homebodies, or if you would rather spend your time being adventurous and going out to try new things.
- Also, see my blog titled: “What to wear to your engagement shoot,” in order to have a better idea of what to wear!
I may also ask you to bring props, and which ones will depend partially on some of your answers to the questionnaire, and may not always be needed. We will be in contact about that and I will make sure you know what to bring before the shoot!
We will nail down a date and location as soon as you book, however, I will probably wait until the week of the shoot to have a specific time nailed down. I want to be able to see where the sun is at what time and if the weather will be cloudy or rainy. This will all help me find the right time for our shoot!
What to Expect at the Shoot
“Ok now look here….and smile!” is something you will never hear me say at a shoot. I stay away from stiff poses and focus more on prompts. I want to capture who you really are and tell your authentic love story instead of positioning you in a very specific way. There is nothing inherently wrong with that approach, but it isn’t my preferred way to shoot! I find that most of my couples are way more comfortable if they don't have to focus on where to put their hands or how they are smiling, but instead are just enjoying their time with their significant other and having those moments captured. If you are ever thinking to yourself, “Where should I put my hands,” my answer will always be wherever feels natural for you! In order to capture the most realistic and true-to-you photos, I want everything to feel natural. If I have you standing, put your hands where you would normally put them if you were just standing around, whether that be in your pockets, folded in front of you, or just by your sides. Don’t think too hard about it!
Take every prompt how you want to as well! If something I told you to do doesn’t feel natural, don’t do it! Spin it in any direction you want to, and you don’t have to ask for permission to do so! This session is all about you, and I want you to have fun doing it so that you’ll look back at the images and say, “that was so much fun!.”
The variety of the prompts I give will vary by couple. It all depends on what your answers were on the questionnaire. If you’re a more calm and relaxed couple, those poses might be something like, hug your significant other from behind, and talk about your favorite memory together, or, cuddle up while sitting down and tell each other what about marrying each other is most exciting to you. And if you are a more energetic spontaneous couple it will look something like, play tag, or, run into each other’s arms like the end scene of a rom-com.
A couple of my favorite locations include: the Wichita Mountains, a riverbank, the city, or the lake. I have also wanted to shoot at either the salt plains in Oklahoma and the Little Sahara. Let me know if you’re up for an adventure!
What Happens After the Shoot
I shoot my couples/engagement shoots completely on film. After the shoot, I will leave the film to my good friends Scott and Chelsea at Studio V in Oklahoma City. There, they will take amazing care of it and develop it within a week. I will then deliver all of the photos to you when I get them back! Since we’re shooting on film, there will be no sneak peek, however you will get the full album a lot faster since there is no editing needed for the film. These will be delivered in an online gallery where you can download the High-resolution images as well as share the link with any of your friends and family who might want them!
