Engagement Photo Session Notes from Stephanie at Wildflower Lane Photography


When should we take our engagement pictures with Stephanie at Wildflower Lane Photography?

When is really up to you - depending on how soon you need your engagement photos, and what you plan to do with them.


Do you need them right away to be part of a Save the Date or invitation? Or, is there no rush? Maybe you have a favorite season or time of year that you would prefer to have as a part of your photos. (Personally, I recommend and prefer summer and fall!)

  • Engagement Sessions are generally available on weekend/weeknight evenings
  • Engagement Sessions are ideal during the 'golden hour' - the last hour before sunset or the hour following sunrise, if shooting outdoors
  • Engagement Sessions last around 30-45 minutes


Where do we take our engagement pictures with Stephanie at Wildflower Lane Photography?

What's your vibe? I'm happy to shoot at a location of your choice within the tri-cities area. Here are some suggestions if you aren't sure - whether you prefer a park, downtown, coffee shop, bar, country scene, your home, or a dirt road, let's choose a spot that reflects the two of YOU.


Which is your vibe?

  • Parks/Outdoors/Nature:
  • Kearney: Cottonmill Park, Harmon Park, Yanney Park, UNK Campus
  • Gibbon: Rowe Audubon Sanctuary (river, trails, trees)
  • Grand Island: Hall County Park, Stolley Park, Mormon Island
  • Marquette/Chapman: Gjerloff Prairie, Bader Park
  • Hastings: Lake Hastings, Hastings College Campus, Heartwell Park, Pine Patch Tree Farm
  • Downtown/alleys/brick streets/coffee shops/bars:
  • Kearney: McCues, Kitts Coffee Shop, Cunninghams Journal, MONA, Platte Valley Brewery, various alleys/brick downtown streets & walls
  • Grand Island: Federal Building, alley to Henry J's, parking garage, various alleys/brick downtown streets & walls, The Chocolate Bar, J. Alfred Prufrocks, Prairie Pride
  • Hastings: The Reno, train depot, various alleys/brick downtown streets & walls
  • Dirt roads, pastures, fields, farms
  • Minimum maintenance roads or public pastures in the area
  • Your family farm, field, or pasture is a great location as well
  • Do you farm or ranch? Involving your livestock or machinery is fun too!
  • We have private pastures available upon request and dependent on availability.

How soon can you have our pictures done?

I should have your photos ready for you within a few weeks, and I'll email you a link to your gallery when they are ready!


What else should we think about?

  • Have a favorite interest, activity or hobby? A favorite food that you love to share? Let's include it! Your props are absolutely welcome!
  • Pets are welcome - just give me a heads up!
  • Session start time (for outdoor sessions) is based on the sunrise/sunset time and location(s), I'll provide that start time to you!

What should we wear?

  • Classic clothing that flatters you, that you are comfortable and confident in, and that represents YOU & your everyday or dressed up style
  • Jeans or pants comfortable enough to do a variety of poses; or skirts/dresses that hit just above the knee or longer
  • Accessories that add a little "flair" to your outfit - hats, sunglasses, bold jewelry, scarves, or great boots give some extra character!
  • Wear something you LOVE...we want to capture who YOU are!
  • Avoid clothing with lots of different colors, distracting patterns, or potentially see-through clothing
  • Avoid overly tight clothing (if it shows undergarment lines or bulges), overly bulky clothing, or too-tight button-up shirts
  • Avoid clothing that accentuates a body part you don't like
  • A long flowy dress always looks great
  • Neutral outfits look great for shoots in natural locations
  • Your outfits don’t need to ‘match’, but they should ‘go together’ - in the same tonal ranges of color, level of dressiness, fabrics, and style.
  • Classic designs in solid colors or simple patterns and layers ALWAYS look good - as do textured fabrics like jeans/denims, jackets, corduroys, or cable knits
  • What you wear is ultimately up to you - these are not rules, just suggestions, to give you an idea of what works well and what doesn't!


What about makeup?

  • If you normally wear makeup, enhancing your daily makeup routine is great - no need to overdo, but pop those eyes and lips in particular.
  • Please cover up any blemishes or other markings that you do not want to appear in photos.
  • Even if you do not usually wear makeup, please consider wearing at least a BB cream/powder to reduce shine and even out your skin tone; concealer to cover blemishes, eyeliner or mascara to pop your eyes, and just a touch of color or shine to your lips.
  • You’ll probably be doing some kissing, so bring your favorite lip stuff along!

What if we have bad weather?

  • I’d prefer to reschedule if possible - rain, snow, wind, or excessive cold/heat can all affect the way you look in photos!
  • Call me the day of your session if you aren’t sure, we will come up with a plan that works for everyone!
  • Please note - If you choose to pursue your session in problematic weather against our advice, we will not be held responsible for the resulting photos. Re-shoots are at an additional cost.


How many outfits should we plan for?


  • 1-2 outfits is ideal for the time allowed
  • Consider how and where you will change outfits if we are in public, if you are doing more than one outfit
  • If you wear glasses, consider asking your eye doctor for a pair of empty frames just for photos. Lighting/Flash can bounce off of glasses and often causes glare. Particularly if you wear Transitions lenses, you may want to just take them off for outdoor photos.
  • Keep wallets, keys, and phones out of your pockets
  • Leave smart watches, scrunchies, rubber bracelets, and ponytail holders off wrists


HOW TO CHOOSE WHAT TO WEAR FOR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS



CONSIDER THE LOCATION

Before you decide what to wear for engagement photos, give a little thought to the location. For example, is your photoshoot taking place in a downtown area, country scene, your favorite bar, at home, or at a local park? The outfit(s) you choose should ultimately fit the location you choose for your photos.


BRING EXTRA OUTFITS

It’s easy to overthink and overcomplicate what to wear for engagement photos, but you also don’t want to feel self-conscious and nervous in front of the camera because you don’t feel great about your outfit choice. That’s why I always recommend bringing extra outfits to the shoot - such as a dressier option and a casual option.


DON’T FORGET THE ACCESSORIES

Some outfits look great without accessories, but some look absolutely AWESOME with that little extra something added in. Basically, accessories can also add a little fun and casual creativity to a shoot!


BRING IN SOME COLOR

Minimal tone and neutral color outfits look great on couples whose photoshoots take place in a natural location, but having a pop of color never hurts either. The color just has to make sense for the shoot.


CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST

I know it sounds simple, but the weather plays a BIG part in your decision about what to wear for engagement photos. For example, if there’s a heat wave, you won’t want to wear an outfit that shows off sweat spots. You will also not want to be caught out in any storms or blizzards either. This is why I always advise clients to consider the location and the expected weather conditions before selecting what to wear for engagement photos.


COMFORTABLE ENGAGEMENT OUTFITS WORK!

Another tip to help you figure out what to wear for engagement photos is this one: always choose comfort. Your engagement photos should reflect you as a couple. If that means hopping into a fun casual outfit, showing off your favorite denim, or another look, then just go with it! After all, when it comes to what to wear for engagement photos, it should always feel like it’s you and not someone else in those photos!



WHAT TO THINK ABOUT FOR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS


As an experienced engagement and wedding photographer, I’ve captured my fair share of engagement shoots and seen tons of incredible and gorgeous engagement outfits, so I definitely know and understand what works and what doesn’t.


SOMETHING YOU’RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH

I mentioned this a bit above, but I want to highlight it again here. Your outfit should reflect you. If it doesn’t, don’t wear it! And definitely don’t feel pressured by trends or other things like that. You do you. You’ll be happy you did later.


PATTERNS

When it comes to planning what to wear for your engagement shoot, you should steer clear of outfits with clashing or overbearing crazy patterns. You’ll also want to ensure that what you wear for engagement photos complements what your partner is wearing. Clashing patterns do not look good in images! In other words, if one person is wearing a pattern, that’s okay just so long as the other person isn’t wearing one.


AN OUTFIT THAT DOESN’T MATCH YOUR SKIN TONE

You might’ve already considered this, but there are definitely some outfit colors that will not work with your skin tone. No matter how well you do your makeup on the day, it will not help you look your best on camera with a clashing outfit. Grab a stylist friend if you’re not sure what to do!


SOMETHING YOU’LL NEVER WEAR AGAIN

It’s easy to go crazy and pick out a great outfit for your engagement shoot, but my advice is to find something you’d love to wear again even after your engagement session is over. Then you’ll really be getting your money’s worth!