Can you believe fall is almost here, friends?!  The fall wedding season is…but I’m still waiting for the leaves to change and to smell the crisp air and to drink more Pumpkin spice lattes!    (I’m already eating pumpkin spice cereal, haha!)  It’s truly my favorite season, and so stunning in the Hudson Valley!

My sweet brides are starting to prep for their fall engagement sessions, and I’m so looking forward to a lot of new adventures with my clients this year!!

For all my amazing couples, (and for you, if you just need some help or advice!) I wanted to publish my most helpful tips for preparing for a beautiful fall engagement session!

I always love this post every year, because it’s also a recap on past fall sessions – it really makes me look forward to the season ahead!  So here it is – the advice!  Enjoy!

1. OUTFITS

This is one of the most important considerations for the session.  What you wear really impacts how you look and how the photograph looks as a whole!  I always suggest 2 outfits; I suggest this 1. to give you more variety in images as you display them around the house; and 2. so you can experiment with 2 different “looks.”

The first look I suggest is a little formal; perhaps a sweater dress and boots, with a big chunky necklace and scarf; perhaps a blazer or cute jacket with a scarf and heels.  The main point is that it’s a little closer to being formal.

The second look I suggest is more casual; this is where the cute jeans come in; jeans with a nice top and a scarf and jacket.

As far as colors go, the sky is the limit!!  If you mix up a light pattern with a solid, I suggest that you wear patterns that don’t clash with each other.  You and your fiancee should “go” with each other without being “matchy matchy.”

Consider colors that don’t wash out your skin tone but that compliments your coloring nicely.

Also, consider colors matching the theme of the background with warm and earthy colors!

Try on your outfit before the session, and consider that you will be standing up and sitting down in a variety of poses  Make sure you’re able to move comfortably while it still looks cute!

2. MAKEUP

Ladies, I know it sounds like a small detail, but it’s not.  Makeup makes SUCH a difference in how you appear on camera.  I know you’ve heard that actors and actresses wear heavier makeup under stage lights.  Similar for you, it’s helpful to wear a little more makeup than you usually do before the session.  The light will wash it out a little and it will look more natural when you see the resulting images.

I highly suggest you consider using a makeup artist, even doing a trial with the one booked for your wedding.  If you need any recommendations, please ask!  This way, you are able to see how they work AND be able to feel good and special for your engagement session.

3. LIGHT

Leave this part to me!  I will make sure that we schedule your session as close as possible to before sunset, when the light is warmest and most beautiful!  You can expect that we’ll shoot from about 4 pm – 6 pm in October/November months.

4. DETAILS

Details sound like they just “extras” to your images, and they are.  But they’re more than that.  They’re ways for you to express who you are, what you love and your relationship with your fiancee.  The details make the setting look more beautiful, more romantic, and more fun.  Get as creative as you’d like!  From picnic blankets and baskets, to flowers, cool vintage cars, pets, old fashioned Coca Cola or sweet tea, to carving your initials in a tree; to apple baskets and pumpkins; and cider doughnuts; the more ideas you have, the better!!  I love when the images become even more uniquely YOU, and the details are such a great way to do that.

5. THE RING

Of I will be photographing your gorgeous engagement ring!  If you would like to get it cleaned beforehand, that will help it to be at its best sparkle

6. ONE LAST PIECE OF ADVICE

I know this is probably your first time being professionally photographed, but what is probably most important on this list is, RELAX and HAVE FUN!  I will help you pose, to feel comfortable, to relax, and to laugh.  That’s my job.

This engagement experience only happens once…so have fun with it!

Let’s do this, friends!  Time to rock out fall season together and tell some sweet stories!

xoxo,

Kerri