"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
KAMDEN & SAM
engagement planning guide
I cannot wait to see you at your engagement session, so soon!
During our time together, we'll have the chance to get to know one another while you experience my approach to portraits. This session will help you feel confident before we get to your wedding day. It'll ensure that I’ll arrive for your wedding weekend already knowing what makes y’all feel the most comfortable and like yourselves and how to photograph you in a way that feels genuine to you!
To serve you best, I've created a guide for you to finish planning the logistics of the session and hopefully avoid any stressors.
every moment
matters
make it count
sun shine & vitamin sea
let it unfold.
I love to start planning each session with a mood board of images that leaves us feeling excited for our time together. It helps set the vibe and tone for our session!
Let the sea set you free.
sand in your toes
more adventures
heck yes.
MOOD BOARD
Laidback, joyful, & seaside
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
a few tips to help you
I've been photographing people for a long time and I know that it can be intimidating to be in front of the camera. For most people it doesn't feel particularly easy! But one thing I've noticed after so many years of photographing people: if you look your best, you feel your best! Confidence exudes from you!
There are a few key factors to feeling your best: hair & makeup and attire.
To ensure this is as stress-free as possible, I recommend booking beauty services for hair & makeup before your shoot.
In fact, this is a great way to work with your wedding artist for a trial before the big day and have it coordinate with our photos. If that's not possible to schedule, I've even had clients go to Sephora or Nordstrom to have their makeup done. One less thing for you to worry about!
feel your best
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
a few tips to help you
When picking outfits I recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.”
For example, if your groom is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, you may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or neutral tones.
A good rule of thumb: pick 3 or so colors and spread them throughout your attire. Don't be afraid to mix a few subtle patterns or textures (such as linen) but avoid anything with tiny patterns.
And always keep the location in mind. If we're shooting in a green field, light green dresses might blend in too much with the surroundings.
CHOOSE ATTIRE
what to wear
To keep it simple, here are a few does and don’ts --
wear classic cuts and pieces that make
you feel good about yourself.
DO
wear things that coordinate with each
other in formality and colors.
DO
wear a little extra makeup, especially
around the eyes so they pop!
DO
DO
Choose flowing and flattering pieces to
fit with the setting & your shape.
wear anything trendy or something that
doesn’t make you feel confident.
DON'T
wear your matching white tees and
jeans from the 90s.
DON'T
forget to see if you can coordinate your
hair or makeup with our session.
DON'T
DON'T
wear tiny patterns. Stripes and dots
that are close together don’t photograph
particularly well.
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Below you'll find links to some outfit inspiration with pieces you can shop directly or use to inspire you from your own closet. Note the patterns, silhouettes, and materials!
for the bride
Laidback, joyful, & seaside engagement session
The following content may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.
more options
Below you'll find links to some outfit inspiration with pieces you can shop directly or use to inspire you from your own closet. Note the patterns, silhouettes, and materials!
for the bride
Laidback, joyful, & seaside engagement session
The following content may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.
more options
Below you'll find links to some outfit inspiration with pieces you can shop directly or use to inspire you from your own closet. Note the patterns, silhouettes, and materials!
for the GROOM
Laidback, joyful, & seaside engagement session
The following content may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.
PROPS & PUPS
Make your session extra special
One of my favorite things that I've seen couples do is create a little date night spread to utilize and photograph at the end of our time together. Bringing a blanket to sit on the beach not only allows us to have some variety in photos, but pair it with a cute picnic setup and I get to actually capture y'all enjoying a date night, too! If this doesn't feel authentic to you, feel free to skip!
I often have couples ask if they can include their pups in their engagement session, too! The answer is always a resounding "Yes!" Typically we have you bring a "pup handler" so to speak that meets us at the end of the session. Let me know if you're interested in doing so!
"But what do I do with my hands?!"
POSING woes
When it comes to posing for your engagement session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because I know it’s going to make the two of you laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually looking for.
Throughout your session, I’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
YAY!
I'm so excited for our time together and can't wait to see you so soon! If you need anything in between now and our session, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here for anything you need!
"Lauren put us right at ease, capturing such genuine and beautiful photos all in the most stunning locations and light!"
- Nick and Lauren
NEVER MISS A THING
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