Posts in the ‘Engagements’ Category

What is an e-session?
Why should I do an e-session? What do people use their session photos for?
What poses? And where should we go for our e-session?

An e-session is an engagement photo session. And no, it actually doesn’t have to be shot during you engagement, or anytime near when you got engaged. Quite counter-intuitive is you asked me. But my guess is that e-sessions started back when people still posted engagement announcements in the local newspaper. Some smaller town newspapers still do, actually, because I’ve actually received several requests in the last year.

These days, e-session is a whole other animal. I personally don’t think that e-sessions are the absolute essential in your wedding photography, but I do think that if you can, definitely do it. Because:

1. If you’re camera shy, it’s a first opportunity for you to experience what it will be like to have paparazzi surround you
   
2. You get to experience me at work, get used to some of my terminology when I give you instructions during the shoot, and well, get used to spending some time with me, because after all, I will be the one person who will be right next to you all day at your wedding
   
3. You get to use your photos in FUN ways to complement your wedding plans – guestbooks, wedding website, Save-The-Dates, invitations, table cards, thank you cards, slideshow, the list goes on. Personalize your wedding. Let your guests see the two of you together. You know what it’s like – many guests have only either met the groom or the bride but not both. You want your guests to get to know your new significant other.
   

The cost of an engagement session is typically included in your wedding photography package. If not, just ask. It NEVER hurts to ask. Unless you’re with a big chain photography company, chances are, it will cost you very little more, or if you’re lucky, your photographer might even throw it in for you. For me personally, I really enjoy e-sessions, when the couple enjoys it. This is why, I include it as a complimentary option. If you want it, we’ll do it. If you don’t want it, then we won’t. It’s that simple. Over the years, I have met couples who simply do. not. want. an engagement session. In that case, doing an e-session might actually hurt your relationship with your photographer, and create unnecessary stress, on top of all the other stresses of wedding planning. Yes, they’ll loose out on all the benefits that I listed above, but I respect and trust that they are happier people without those things, so we’ll keep it that way.

So let me introduce Teresa and Wilson. They did their e-session June – it was a nice, comfortable Spring-Summer afternoon. Perfect timing for an e-session!

First, I ask them if there is a special place they’d like to shoot, and whether they have plans to use the images for anything in the wedding (e.g., if they q
want to make a Save-The-Date with their images, I will plan the shoot/poses accordingly, and may even bring a few props). This is also when I toy with them the idea of having a themed shoot.

Then, the question that I get 100% of the time: What to wear????!! And my 411 to everyone is…

Dress up, dress nice, dress comfortably. Be cute, be fun, but DON’T LET YOUR CLOTHES DISTRACT, which means:
~NO to all black or all white (the little black dress is an exception!). All white attracts more attention than the people in the photos. All black makes you look like a blob of black
~NO to distracting patterns (plaids, stripes) and logos (imagine “Aeropostale” in every photo!)
~DO wear neutrals, jewel tones, pastels, but feel free to add a pop of color to reflect your personality. Just don’t let your clothes be louder than you
~DO wear comfy shoes (especially in the city) and bring an extra pair of flats if you want
~You don’t have to match each other in terms of colors. But do dress to complement each other in terms of “dressiness” (e.g., a cute black dress does not go with shorts and sandals)
~ DO dress appropriately for the weather, even if that short skirt is cute in the snow – you’re gonna regret it later.
~ DO accessorize
~ MUST leave the big handbag behind! The last thing you want is photos of you holding a big bag.
~ MOST importantly, bring your happy mood! =)

And then, the next most popular question – “what poses do you suggest?” Uh..no. It’s 2011, and we don’t do poses anymore. Poses – is not my thing. But I will give you some guidance on what to do and how to interact with each other, that will make for good photos. I will tell you places to stand, sit, “hang out,”..etc. and, I give you “things” to do while you’re “hanging out”. Not poses.

So back to Teresa and Wilson. They took full advantage of making the session THEIR OWN. Teresa took us to Pilsen, the neighborhood where she grew up. The area was also full of murals that carried alot of meaning for Wilson, who’s a professor in Sociology and American Studies. This was perfect backdrop that represented BOTH their personalities!

See the images and captions for more details on what we did during the shoot and the story behind each image!!