TABLE OF CONTENTS
HMP COUPLES
THE ENGAGEMENT SESSION GUIDE FOR
it's engagement session time
Our goal is simple: for your session to be as fun and easy breezy as possible! That’s why we’ve created this guide just for you! The following pages will help you get the absolute most out of your photos. By the time you’ve read through it, you'll have all of your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session!
Your only job is to be yourselves, laugh a lot, have fun and let us do the rest! We can’t wait to get you in front of our cameras and we’re so excited to see you soon!
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT
You already know how your session is the time we get to know each other, teach you our posing system, etc. etc. But most importantly, it's an opportunity to pause, take a deep breath and relish in this season together. You’ll be ~married~ for the rest of your life, but you only get to be fiancés for a short little window! With your engagement session, we want to help you slow down long enough to remember this short, sweet season of fiance-hood for years to come.
Our goal is simple: for your session to be as fun and easy breezy as possible! That’s why I've laid out aaaall the info below just for you! The following sections will help you get the absolute most out of your photos. By the time you’ve read through it, you'll have all of your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session!
what's included
Our session will last about an hour, includes one main location, and two-three outfits. You can do more locations and outfits.. However, that also means you will get more variety with fewer images in your final gallery! I guarantee at least 80 images in your gallery from your engagement session!
WHAT TO WEAR
I recommend wearing two outfits: One dressy and one casual. Feel free to go all out for your dressy outfit, and think "date night" for your casual outfit! My biggest piece of advice is to wear outfits that COMPLIMENT each other, not match. Keep reading for more style tips and outfit ideas!
HOW TO BOOK
Because weekends are dedicated to weddings (just like yours!), I schedule engagement sessions on the weekday evenings. Our start time is based on sunset time for the time of year you're considering! You should receive an email with our online scheduler 1-2 weeks after you're officially booked! Shoot me an email if you haven't yet!
Lola Beauty: salon
Make Up ATX: salon + travels to you
Bridal Beauty ATX: salon
DryBar
Blo Dry Bar
Hair & Make up for sessions
WHO TO BOOK
WHAT TO EXPECT
If you're like every other couple (and us too), you're probably a little nervous thinking about being in front of the camera... I mean, you're not used to having a big black box pointed at you, am I right?! Even *I* get nervous when I'm having photos done!!
It's COMPLETELY normal to feel this way, but I want to encourage you to just relax and have a good time. I'm going to be giving you allllll the direction so you never feel like you know what your doing. We're going to capture those timeless photos that everyone loves, while getting a little goofy and having fun. Some prompts I give you both might seem a little silly at first, but TRUST ME, they create some legit magic.
Your only job is to be yourselves, laugh a lot, have fun and let us do the rest! If you want some pointers on how to look natural on camera, I've got an IGTV video just for you!
how to look natural on camera
Quick TIPS & TRICKS FOR SUCCESS
CLEAN THE RING: Your ring will be a focal point of your photos, and I'd love to grab a few up close shots of just your ring while you change outfits! Cleaning it will ensure it's nice and sparkly for photos!
GET YOUR NAILS DONE: Make sure your nails are freshly painted, or spoil yourself with a trip to the salon! Chipped nails will be noticeable in your photos. Neutral colors and pastels photograph beautifully and will match any outfit!
PACK A BAG: Here's a link to my most loved IGTV video on what to pack for your session! And you can add the next few things into it:
EMPTY YOUR POCKETS: Especially for guys, make sure you don't have anything in your pockets! Be sure to empty everything into the bag you pack!
BRING COMFY SHOES: If you're wearing heels, bring a pair of flip flops or comfortable shoes to walk from spot to spot. Your feet will thank me later!
BRINGING THE DOG: I adore ALL the cute pups, so naturally, I LOVE it when you bring them along! The best way to include them is to have someone else bring your dog during the first or last 15 minutes of your session, and bring LOTS of treats.
BE ON TIME: We like to plan your start time based on sunset. If you are late, it cuts into the sunlight we have available!
RELAX! You don’t have to be a pro at this! I’m going to help you along the way and it’s going to be a blast! I don't expect anything from you. Enjoy this time together and make a date out of it! Plan dinner afterwards and celebrate!!
Short on time?
Here's a couple one minute videos going over our most asked questions over on IG
First step:
Traditional vs Lifestyle Session
When picking out your session location, first you need to decide on your ~vibe~. Some couples think of it like city-vibe or nature-vibe. The way I think about it is either a more lifestyle session or a traditional session.
A more “lifestyle” session would happen in a location that has elements we can interact with or incorporate into your photos. Like at a brewery, we would go sit at a table and y’all could grab a beer. At a coffee shop you would cozy up and grab a mug.
A “traditional” session would be in a location where there are no specific activities to do. Like a park or wedding venue. Your photos would be just you two interacting, being adorable.
In a more “lifestyle” setting, we will still venture off and get those “traditional” photos. This is because it’s imperative for your wedding day portraits that you learn our poses and are familiar with what to do!
And Austin is great because you can get both in one spot! We we can also go two locations as long as they’re relatively close by.
At a unique location where we focus on an activity.
EXAMPLES: Brewery or winery, coffee shop. bar, picnic in the park, at home session, etc.
Any location where the focus is just you and your fiancé.
SIDE NOTE: We get these type of photos at a lifestyle session too!
LIFESTYLE SESSION
TRADITIONAL SESSION
If want a really personalized session, think about what you and your future spouse like to do!
Are you adventurous? Let’s go to enchanted rock! Are you really social and love going out? Let’s go downtown or East sixth! Are you more the cozy up at home with a good book? Let’s go to a coffee shop or the downtown library! We can even do an in home session if y'all are homebodies! (me too 🥰)
You will not only love the experience during your session more, but the photos will really feel like you two.
Making your session more you
Austin Area Recommended Locations
First off, I want to say that I ALWAYS encourage my couples to think of session locations that have MEANING to them. This will allow us to capture more genuine images that reflect your personality. Think: Favorite date spot, where you met, where you proposed, your wedding venue, your home, where you had your first date, etc. However, if you're totally stumped for locations, have no fear!! We'll work together to pick a location that fits you two best!
Below are our go-to locations for engagement sessions in the Austin area! They're listed here because we love them, so if you decide on one of these as you'll be set! However, feel free to use these recs as a jumping off point to find your own location that feels right to y'all!
- Lifestyle or traditional? (see above)
- What's our vibe? What do we love to do?
- Scroll through IG, Pinterest, and our most-loved locations below to find a spot that feels right to you:
Laguna Gloria
It's hard to say I have a favorite location...but this would be it! Laguna Gloria is like a whole different place!!
There are so many versatile portrait locations, including a few indoor spaces. The architecture is so unique and pretty! And my favorite part is all the tropical greenery!!
You will need to reserve a time slot well in advance, and there is an associated fee. In the spring season, the best time slots book up FAST so be sure to reserve your spot ASAP!!
A big pro to Laguna Gloria is that because you have to rent it out, we'll be the only ones shooting! There are bathrooms to change in and an indoor space we can cool down/warm up in.
Check current booking rates + availability
McKinney Falls
This place is straight up gorgeous and has the most flattering golden hour light! On a week day, it's virtually empty! And dog friendly :)
It's a state park so there is a flat fee for vehicles that you need to book ahead of time online. We'll want to meet at the lower falls, which will be the first right turn.
It can be a bit treacherous and we have to do a bit of walking to start out. Definitely bring a pair of walking shoes to throw on in between sets!
My favorite part of McKinney is the water! It's always fun when couples want to wade into the water - and makes for beautiful photos!
Town Lake / South Congress
If you're looking for a more relaxed, lifestyle vibe that is very Austin, this is where it's at! We'll need to schedule this location on a weekday or during sunrise because it can get very crowded. But ngl, one of our most fun sessions was all around downtown Austin! Here are some great places and ideas of where to go:
South Congress: crosswalk with the skyline, the SoCo bridge, Home Slice, Jo's Coffee (I love you so much.), around SoCo hotel
Downtown: city sidewalks, various glass buildings with great light, Toy Joy! There's a hotel we love closer to campus called The Otis for the classy bar vibe!
Townlake/Long Center: The long center is where AJ and I got engaged! The lake is gorgeous as are the trails.
Yours or a fav wedding venue
Wedding venues (usually) always have a multitude of portrait locations. They're well kept and make for a great session space!
Pros: There won't be any people around and we can take our time! It also means privacy if you're not super into PDA :) If it's your venue, a photo session is often included in your day of rental. We can talk through your priorities for your wedding day, especially portrait location-wise! If we're new to the venue, this is a great chance for us all to see it together. Once you get your photos back, you can even further determine where you'd like portraits on your wedding day.
Cons: Your engagement session photos will look the same as your wedding photos - minus a big white dress! This could be considered a pro if you seriously love your venue!! If you're opting for a venue other than your own, there is (usually) a session fee.
p.s. only 2 of these photos were taken at the couples' own venue
More ideas + brainstorming prompts
- How cute is your favorite restaurant?
- What's your favorite coffee shop?
- Do you know someone who owns land in the hill country?
- What's your rehearsal dinner venue like?
- Where's your favorite place to go together on a Sunday?
- The Wayback
- Seaholm area
- The boardwalk
- Rooftops
- UT or St Eds campus
on/in the water
Okay we'd have to figure out the logistics, but I'm thinking paddle boarding, on a boat, floating down the river, in Lake Travis...one of those swan paddle boats?? Let's brainstorm!!
Your home
Calling all homebodies!!! I just love an at home session! If you love your space and you and your fiancé's hobbies, invite me over rn please :) We can get some cute photos outside too!
East side
If this is your vibe, we have so much in common. So many murals down East Sixth, we can pop into a bar with neon signs, get that cheers shot we all love, and even more city sidewalks!
Pinky promise we don't have favorite couples, but if you were to pick one of these places you'd be up there ...!
places I Love to shoot
engagement session
outfits
Most important Tips:
PROFESSIONAL HAIR & MAKEUP: Personally, I've been photographed with and without professional hair and make up and please take it from me it's always better to get it done! You'll not only ease the stress of you having to do it yourself, but you know you'll look amazing! I have a list of my favorite HMUAs up at the top of the page for you!
HOW MANY OUTFITS? Most of our couples choose two outfits, one more casual date night and one dressed up, fancy "oh yeah, we're getting married" look. You're welcome to bring more outfits, but know it cuts into our shooting time so you may have less photos overall. Remember you don’t have to bring two looks if it’s too stressful. If you’d rather just stick to one perfect outfit, that’s fine too!
DRESS IT UP: This is your chance to do it up! Remember: there’s no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your engagement session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! If you don’t want to spend a ton of money adding a new permanent piece to your wardrobe, I reccomend Rent the Runway, Nuuly, orrr buying something that you plan to return (I've done this a million times!) If you already have an outfit for another wedding event (engagement party, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, etc.) that's a wonderful option too.
CHOOSING COLORS: When choosing colors for your outfits, the only two things to look out for are ultra-bright, almost neon colors and super intricate patterns (thin stripes or squares). it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other! Super bright colors will leave a cast on you or your fiance's skin, so avoid them if you can! (Esp. bright reds!!!)
COORDINATING OUTFITS: Try to be consistent in dress code - it's distracting when one person is more casual than the other. You should each wear a different dominant color, but stay within a similar color family. Coming up with a color pallet can be helpful when you're not sure where to start! Consider your location and what would be complimentary.
HATS: We all love a good hat. Consider that they cast a shadow on your face and make kisses take extra maneuvering! If you have one you want to wear let's aim to take some photos with, some without! Keep this in mind for your hair :)
FEELING CONFIDENT: Your first question when choosing your outfit should be:
"Do I feel confident in this?"
What about from every angle? Does it feel good to wear? Are there any parts you have to constantly adjust? Candidly, you will not like your photos if you do not like your outfit. Choosing silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features and make you feel confident is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos.
The Most important Tips:
PROFESSIONAL HAIR & MAKEUP: Personally, I've been photographed with and without professional hair and make up and please take it from me it's always better to get it done! You'll not only ease the stress of you having to do it yourself, but you know you'll look amazing! I have a list of my favorite HMUAs up at the top of the page for you!
HOW MANY OUTFITS? Most of our couples choose two outfits, one more casual date night and one dressed up, fancy "oh yeah, we're getting married" look. You're welcome to bring more outfits, but know it cuts into our shooting time so you may have less photos overall. Remember you don’t have to bring two looks if it’s too stressful. If you’d rather just stick to one fab outfit, that’s fine too!
DRESS IT UP: This is your chance to do it up! Remember: there’s no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your engagement session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! If you don’t want to spend a ton of money adding a new permanent piece to your wardrobe, a lot of our brides (including me!!) have used Rent the Runway. That said, who doesn't love having an excuse to go shopping for something new! Whatever works for you!
CHOOSING COLORS: When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting lighter tones and more muted shades (even if you're going bold). By avoiding ultra-bright, neon colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other! Super bright colors will leave a cast on you or your fiance's skin, so avoid them if you can! (Esp. reds!)
COORDINATING OUTFITS: You should each wear a different dominant color, but stay within a similar color palette family. So if you’re wearing a blush dress and nude heels (blush being your dominant color), then he could wear a navy coat with gray pants, paired with brown leather shoes and maybe even a blush pocket square. Now he has his own dominant color (navy) while still incorporating a few touches of your color palette.
HATS: Trust me, ya girl loves a good fashion hat. Consider that they cast a shadow on your face and make kisses take extra maneuvering! If you have one you want to wear (esp looking at all y'all guys that want to wear a cowboy hat) let's aim to take some photos with, some without!
FEELING CONFIDENT:
Ask yourself:
"Do I feel confident in this?"
What about from every angle? Does it feel good to wear? Are there any parts you have to constantly adjust? Candidly, you will not like your photos if you do not like your outfit. Choose silhouettes that complement you and make you feel confident over everything else.
outfit ideas
Romantic Style Recipe
If you’re hoping for a more romantic style (think light and airy), you can actually make outfit choices that will lend your images to turn out brighter and softer! Here's the recipe for a romantic style:
Neutral Colors: Blushes, tans, light pinks, faint blues and light minty teals, creams, grays and whites will always result in more of a light and airy look in your images. These colors photograph softer and more romantically!
Long, Flowy Skirts/Dresses: Dresses and skirts with flowy fabric and multiple layers have the ability to blow and move in the wind will always photograph beautifully! You would be amazed at how impactful moving fabric softens an image.
Khakis vs. Jeans: Denim makes everything more casual, as well as darkens the overall photo! Stick to light color dress pants instead.
outfit ideas
Bright & Bold Recipe
Just like the “Romantic” recipe, you don’t have to apply all of these “ingredients to get a perfectly BRIGHT & BOLD look to your engagement session. These ingredients include:
One Pattern: If one of you has a bold pattern, it’s very important that the other doesn’t. The more bold the pattern, the more important this rule is!
Bold Backgrounds: Location is a huge factor when it comes to this! Think colorful murals and backdrops vs hill country greens.
Large Patterns are Preferred: If you really want to wear a pattern, my only request is that your pattern is on the larger side. Patterns that are smaller than a quarter can be difficult to photograph. This isn’t true of all patterns but it’s a good general rule to go by!
Don’t forget to plan a dinner date for after your session! You’re already going to be all dolled-up! Why not take advantage of it?! We know the wedding planning process can feel all-consuming, so take some time after the session to relax, have some fun together and celebrate this season of your life!
Even though we’re so excited about your wedding, the thing we are MOST excited about is your marriage! One of the best pieces of advice we can give you is this: never stop dating each other. So if you ask us, your engagement session is a great excuse to plan a date night!
After the session
Time to see all your final, edited, high-resolution photos! You can share the link with your family and friends, post to social media and more! We recommend changing the lock screen on your phone first :) Time to order prints and save the dates!
Full Gallery + App
3 weeks
In the week following your session, we’ll share a sneak peek gallery of our favorite photos from our time together! We’re so excited for you to see how AMAZING you look through our eyes/lens :)
Sneak Peek
1 week
photo delivery timeline
One last note
We know we just gave you A LOT to think about! Don’t panic :) Just take it one step at a time. Below is an Engagement Session Checklist for you to help you stay organized!
At the end of the day, the location you choose and the outfits you wear won’t matter nearly as much as the fun we have together and the memories you make as a couple. The most important accessory to bring with you is joy – which is the one that makes the biggest difference in your photos anyways. Just show up with a smile and we’ll take care of the rest :)
Lastly, above all else, we want you to know that you (as people) are the most important thing to us. Your love story most. So if there’s ever anything we can do to serve your relationship today, tomorrow, before the wedding or years down the road, please know that we’re here for you and our door is always open. Our relationship is one of the biggest blessings of our entire life, and even though we don’t know everything, we’ve learned a lot in the past eleven years and we’re passionate about helping other couples have that too!
We can’t wait to see you soon!
Engagement Session Checklist
Schedule your session on our calendar
Brainstorm location ideas
Schedule hair and makeup appointments
Review Style Guide for outfit inspiration
Choose your outfits (drop off at dry cleaner if needed!)
Get your nails done
Clean your ring
Pick a fun post-session date night spot and make a reservation
Pack a bag with:
Flats or flip-flops for walking between photo spots
Outfit two (including shoes and accessories)
Touch-up makeup
Styling props
Water bottle
Fans + towels for hotter sessions
Coat or cover-up for colder sessions