How to Plan an Oregon Engagement Session
AN OREGON ENGAGEMENT SHOOT GUIDE
You’ve probably never done one of these before, and since it’ll be before your wedding, you might never have had any professional portrait sessions done! That would be enough to overwhelm me with the unknown. So, here’s your guide on what you didn’t know you didn’t know about engagement sessions, and how to make the most of yours! Even though my engagement sessions are relaxed, I still think it’s beneficial to go over everything from…
Outfits
Location
Weather
Schedule
Photographer
WHAT TO WEAR TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION
My favorite topic…style! There is obviously a ton of random advice on this topic in the world. “Don’t wear x y and z for photos” and “makeup for photos needs to be more drastic.” These are actually myths, and there’s no right/wrong way to do photos. I love capturing who you are and your unique personality, so keep that in mind while you read these tips for choosing outfits for your shoot!
Colors
Earth tones and subtle colors and textures are the best for shooting in if you want the focus to be you and the surroundings. Funky patterns and textures are great if you want to showcase your personal style, but I always suggest avoiding neons. When in doubt, white looks good on EVERYONE and it’s my favorite color to photograph actually!
Layers
My favorite tip for when you’re putting together an outfit is to choose layers! It adds depth and can look super great. Think denim jackets over tees, trench coat over a casual dress, and my personal favorite, corduroy anything. And knits! Nothing better than a chunky sweater.
Accessories
Again, this will really add to your overall look. Hats (beanies, flat brim, etc) are a great addition. Also, jewelry! Do you or your partner have a cool ring collection? Wear them!
Personalize
Don’t be afraid to choose something that is totally YOU! I love when people make their outfit unique.
Should you wear two outfits?
It depends on your location…sometimes my couples decide to walk or hike into a location and I suggest one outfit for those scenarios so you don’t have to haul your bags out. I snap candid photos throughout our entire time together (the results are more natural this way) so anything you wouldn’t want to be holding while walking around I would suggest going without!
However I see the benefit of two outfits for variety, so if that’s your thing let’s choose a location where you can get changed easily! For these shoots, I always love shooting a casual outfit and then a more formal outfit afterwards (hellooooo flowy dresses.) It’s totally up to you, and how much effort you want to put into it! If you’re looking for formal wear, check out Lulu.com !
If you’re not sure what direction to go for styling your outfits, let me know! I’d love to help you. I’ve also created this Pinterest Board for engagement session inspiration!
2. LOCATIONS FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION
This one is really going to set the scene. Sometimes I do two locations (if they’re close together) to add more variety into the photos. For example, we can start at a coffee shop then find some cool trails to explore afterwards - it’s up to you! However, staying in one spot will make it more relaxed and we’ll get more out of that location.
Don’t know where to go?
Your photographer should be able to suggest spots. Ask them (hopefully that’s me) if they have some good recommendations for the VIBE you’re looking for (i.e. urban, woodsy, moody, vintage, etc.)
I have a huge list of tried and true places in the PNW and always suggest new unique spots as well.
Additionally, a great way to personalize your engagement session would be to try and think of a location that is CLOSE TO YOUR HEART! A few example are …
The coffee shop you had your first date at
The hike you always take your dog to
A coast spot you went to as a kid
3. WEATHER & SCHEDULING
Now this is a joy to work around in Oregon…The PNW is notorious for rain 24/7 during a large portion of the year. Some important things to know for me as your photographer is; rain doesn’t deter me! I love playful and adventurous pictures of rain falling down while you’re embracing - to me, that’s super romantic.However, if that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, pick a month more know for sunny days!
Here are some pros and cons to scheduling an engagement shoot in each season in Oregon:
Summer Engagement Shoots
SO great for doing sunrise sessions since we can mostly rely on it being a morning in these warmer months. And of course the same goes for evening time golden hour photos! Some of the best light in Oregon is around this time of year!
This might not be the best time to schedule your engagement session if you’re looking for more PNW mood, and/or you want to wear cozy sweaters and layers to your shoot.
Fall Engagement Shoots
You cannot go wrong with a fall engagement sessions in Oregon. It’s not possible! There might be rain but the colors are so worth it! The con to this season is a lot of photographers will have the peak fall color season booked up a year in advanced, so prepare yourself and plan ahead for a fall session!
Winter Engagement Shoots
Now this one is slightly tricky because weather can get nasty BUT I’m in love with snowy adventures, as well as in home sessions. We can rent a cozy airbnb cabin (I have an entire list saved of the best and most photogenic airbnbs in Oregon) or we can do a super meaningful in-home session where you two cozy up, bake something, introduce me to your cats, etc.
Spring Engagement Shoots
Hello blooming flowers and trees! I love the color that spring has to offer! Sessions during this time have my heart! Sometimes the rain is tricky to work around, but be prepared and bring a cute umbrella!
Save the date deadlines
Major tip here! Schedule your engagement session depending on the time you want to send out your save the dates!!! If you have a deadline, schedule around that! So if your wedding is 12 months away, but you want to send out save the date in 6 months, you would need to ask your photographer the turn around time for the engagement session photos to get back to you. My average is no longer than 3-4 weeks. So you know you need to schedule within 5 months from now. #MATH.
WHAT TIME OF DAY IS THE BEST LIGHT FOR A PHOTOSHOOT?
I aim to avoid mid day unless we’re shooting in a heavily shaded area or extremely overcast day.
When we shoot in the soft morning glow, or warm evening golden hour, you will thank me because you won’t have unflattering shadows on your face AND the aesthetics will be so good.
Light plays a huge roll in the finished product of your photos, so I always consider what time of year, what location you chose, and everything in between when suggesting a personalized start time for an engagement session to occur.
4. CHOOSING A PHOTOGRAPHER
This might be the most important element of all. No matter how much planning you do, how excited you are about the outfits, and how beautiful the location is…the end outcome relies on the capabilities of your photographer. I have an entire blog post that dives deep on how to choose your wedding photographer, but here’s a quick checklist to make sure you book the right person for your shoot:
You’ve seen multiple examples of their work and you LOVE the vibe
You’ve read their google reviews and everything checks out. And bonus, are there reviews that mention the couples felt comfortable and at ease with that photographer?
Emailing/chatting with them feels effortless and you like their overall energy
You made sure they will assist with finding the best location for you
*Optional: They’re available for your wedding day as well (in case you fall in love with them and HAVE to have them by your side at the wedding.
5. BOOKING YOUR ENGAGEMENT SHOOT
That concludes my guide on all things engagement session planning! If you’re ready to start dreaming up your perfect engagement shoot, reach out to me because I’d LOVE to be the one document this time in your life.
So hey, I’m Sarah! I’m based in Oregon and traveling everywhere. I pride myself on creating a super conformable and even fun shoot experience for my couples, resulting in the photographs that bring out your personal love and natural beauty. If you want genuine, candid, and romantic photos, I’m your girl!
