PLANNING YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION
THIS IS THE ADVICE WE GIVE OUR COUPLES WHEN THEY ASK
WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO BRING, AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION!
EVERYONE GETS NERVOUS WHEN PLANNING THEIR ENGAGEMENT SESSION! LET'S DIVE IN...
ENGAGEMENT SESSION PLANNING MADE EASIER
• WHAT TO WEAR?
This is probably the hardest question to answer on your own and the most asked. Our mantra has always been "If you think you look good, you'll look good in your photos". Think about it...if you're wearing something you don't feel nice in, you'll be uncomfortable, edgy, and not yourself.
• WHAT TO DO?
Another big question! What to do! You should try to be yourselves and if that isn't going to happen, we'll help you. Typically we don't try to pose you or ask you to do anything out of the ordinary. We will, however ask you to get close, kiss, hang out, or walk closely together. The photos will end up being so much better if you are not "camera aware" and looking at us the whole time. We'll be sure to tell you when you should look at the camera, but for 90% of the time we'll just be photographing the two of you together, doing your thing!
• WHAT TO BRING?
Bring several different outfits to change into. Our Sprinter van is huge! It's got plenty of room to change in. Bring colors, bring hats, bring your scarves, bring your bling, whatever you want! We love things that move with the wind too!
You may want to bring shoes or sandals to change in and out of for a better footing while hiking. Some do, some don't!
• WHAT TO EXPECT?
Depending on the amount of time we have together, two, three, or four hours, we have options. We can go to several different places right off the roads around here and in RMNP, or we can go for a hike to a remote peak, forest, or lake. It's really up to you and what you wish. For the two hour session we really only have time to be at two or three places effectively.
• WHAT WILL YOU RECEIVE?
For each hour that we're together we average about fifty images in your gallery. You'll have that gallery for a year to download, print from, and share with anyone you wish to give the password to. We archive them after a year, but still have them if you need them after that.
If you'd like to have your photos on some sort of drive or somewhere else, let us know. We can accommodate!
• WHEN SHOULD WE PLAN IT?
This is another great question. Some photographers will want to do it in the morning, at sunrise, which is really cool. We choose to do it in the evening because we love the light then. Typically we'll try to be at the location within the last two hours of actual sun. What does "actual sun" mean? The sun here in the Rockies goes behind the mountains long before "sunset", meaning that there is good light for a while after it goes behind the mountains and it won't get dark until later. We love to have the sun in the photos for sunflare and effect, but we also love the soft light that is around after the sun goes behind the divide.
WHY CHOOSE JOE AND KARI?
We realize that you have literally hundreds of people who can photograph your engagement session. What do we bring that they don’t? Good question. The answer is best given with a description of our time together:
We meet you in town in our 4X4 Sprinter van that is built just for couples. It has a fridge and plenty of room to change. We bring beverages of your choice too. Once we have picked you up, we drive to the designated places, all while having good conversation and hopefully putting you both at ease.
Once we have gotten most of the photographing done, we typically will find a place to enjoy a drink with you two. It’s a time to reflect on our time together and just chill for a bit. In the spring, summer, and fall, we will go to Rock Cut at the top of Trail Ridge road and set out a few chairs. If you haven’t been there, go. It’s amazing!
At the end of the evening we drive you back to your AirBnB or car and we part ways. We then get in touch within a day or two with a few edited photos for you to share until the rest are edited, which typically takes about two weeks or less.