Engagement Session

Engagement Session: $150 weekday or $200 weekend.

Please see the Investment tab for complete details concerning costs and what is included in your session fee.

When should I schedule my session?

If you are already planning your wedding, and would like to share these images at your reception, please schedule your engagement session at least 4 months prior to your wedding date. The more time you allow between these two big life events the better. Showing the seasons is always great as well. For example, if you’re getting married in June, have your engagement session in early Fall of the year before. If you’re in the middle of a whirlwind romance, and your wedding is approaching soon, please call as soon as possible. Dates are often booked 1-2 months in advance.

Where should we have our session?

Every photo session is unique. Engagement sessions are best on-location. You will choose what location will be best for you. Try to choose a place that represents your relationship. Your photographer is trained to look for opportunity in any location, however, here are a few ideas to get you thinking: public parks, rail roads, ponds, lakes, large open fields, down town, your own yard(no expert landscaping needed), playgrounds, gardens, a little café, and much more. Find a place that suits your personalities. If you are just silly, then chose a fun place. If you are more serious, choose a place with a serious feel. Think outside the box.

Many are concerned with the beauty in the surroundings, but realistically, there are few locations where great results aren’t expected. The specialized equipment used for your unique session will accentuate the positive.

What should we wear?

Anything goes and clothes changes are acceptable. If you can’t decide, then bring a few options and we can look at them together. Consider one dressy and one casual outfit for you both. Don’t go too far out of character. One thing Vanessa G. Photography is known for is representing authentic people and moments. Your images will be best when you feel more comfortable. Clothing plays a part in that.

What if he doesn’t want to do it?

For those men who are not real excited about this type of session, you will be pleasantly surprised that things go more smoothly than expected. The only person you need to concentrate on is your lovely new fiancé. No fake, ‘say cheese’ required. You will be allowed to laugh, talk, and be the man she fell in love with. As a bonus, she will love that you did this!!…and you will too!

What if I don’t know how to pose or stand?

That’s ok! We are not trying to complete a list of poses like your boring department store photographer. You will do things naturally that will look great. If needed, a little direction will be given about how to use your body to accentuate the positive. Because we’ll be on-location in a place where your photographer may have never been, it will be fun scouting for interesting places to stop and hang out. The key is to relax and be your self. Even if that’s silly, serious, crazy, shy, loud, quiet, etc. Your session images will turn out fantastic, don’t worry about that. Expect a big variety, from far off images to very close, in-your-face images. If you want, you can check out a few in-style magazines to get some ideas. We want all sides of your relationship to show. We want to see all the reasons you fell in love and why this relationship works. And you do not always have to look at the camera, in fact, some of the best images are when you together are just being YOU together. You will not be forced to do anything you feel uncomfortable doing. Think of this session as a way to document the two personalities you were before the wedding because over the next few years, you will inevitably mesh into a new existence. Not a bad thing. It’s love that makes the world go round.

Copyright Notice: All images taken by Vanessa G. Photography are copyright protected by federal law. No reproductions, print or digital, should be made without written consent of the photographer. At your session you will be asked to sign a Session Contract and Model Release form acknowledging these facts.