planning your
engagement
session
choosing the perfect time, location,
outfit & more!
WELCOME
a note about this guide
We’re so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait for our time together during your engagement session! It’s normal to be a little nervous about your session. We always tell people that we still get nervous before having our photos taken – and we do this for a living!
We’re big fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. First, they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera. It takes time for most couples to warm up to being photographed and understand how we pose. You’ll get all your nerves out at your engagement session instead of your wedding day! Timelines can be pretty tight on weddings days, which is why we’ve found that wedding day portraits turn out so much better when couples do engagement sessions ahead of time.
Second, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you (and even include pets!). We’ve taken engagement photos anywhere from 18 months in advance to a few days before the wedding.
This guide covers some of our best tips for couples as they prepare for their engagement session and covers the frequently asked questions we receive from couples.
We’ll cover what to wear, whether to bring pets & how to manage them, location ideas and more!
– JEN
a note to
Those Who Don’t Love Having Their Photo Taken
We get it. Having your picture taken for 1-2 hours might not be in your top-10 favorite things to do during your downtime. And at first you might feel sort of awkward being in front of the camera. But I think you’ll find that by the end of the session, it’s a lot easier than you thought, and you even had a little fun. Plus, you get to spend time with your fiancé, which is always a good thing!
Seasons
While we shoot most of our engagement sessions between mid-April and mid-November, sessions can take place all year. Most of our couples choose a season based on the location where they want to shoot.
Spring
fresh flowers & sunny days
Even though spring technically in March, we typically don’t begin shooting sessions for another 6 weeks because Iowa weather can be chilly until end of April. If you’re hoping for pretty flowering trees, you’ll want to schedule for the first week of May. Flowering trees only last for about a week!
Summer
walks on the beach
In spite of the heat, we are big fans of summer sessions. Because of the later sunset, sessions typically begin after 6 PM. If you’re choosing a summer session, we recommend bringing makeup touchups and extra shirts if you tend to get sweaty.
Fall
Colorful leaves & snuggling close
Fall is one of the prettiest times of year, but also very popular! Our schedules for peak fall dates in October book far in advance, we recommend reaching out ASAP if you desire a fall date.
Winter
snowfall & hot cocoa
Don’t discount winter – they can be super special for engagement sessions! Because the sun sets so early, it’s not uncommon for us to begin at 2:30 or 3 PM. Dress in layers, bring a blanket, and embrace the winter wonderland!
time & light
Is there a good time for photos?
Engagement sessions can take place anywhere from immediately following a proposal to just a few days before the wedding.
We’ve found that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos. We normally plan sessions based on a particular “look” a couple has in mind, spring flowers for example, or based on schedules.
Sessions last between 1-2 hours depending on what collection you’ve chosen, and we typically time this to begin 2 hours before sunset. We prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise is also an ideal time to shoot.
Please note that we will send you a scheduling email prompt a few weeks after you book with us, however it is the client responsibility to schedule within the timeframe that you need your photos. Please don’t wait to reach out to schedule your session in advance!
Save the Dates
If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding.
If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates. The process of delivering your photos, plus designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.
We typically have photos back to couples within 2-3 weeks after their engagement session.
Locations
IOWA ENGAGEMENT LOCATIONS
We love when couples choose a location for their session that compliments their wedding. For example if you’re planning a chic, elegant wedding, it may be fitting to take your engagement portraits among the classic architecture of a downtown area.
If you love a more natural setting, a local park or flower-filled fields may be more fitting. The best session locations are often meaninful places to the couple; however, we’re also happy to make recommendations. From mountain sides to rolling hills to apple picking and college campuses, the options for engagement session locations are endless!
CLASSIC & ELEGANT
College Campuses
Des Moines Riverfront
Old Capitol Iowa City
Country Clubs
Historic mansions and streets
GARDENS & ESTATES
Des Moines Botanical Gardens
Des Moines Art Center
Reiman Gardens
Newton Arboretum
World Food Prize Garden
Brucemore Estate
Salisbury House & Gardens
Raspberry Hill B&B
URBAN
Downtown Des Moines
Downtown Iowa City
Downtown Cedar Rapids
Capitol
Historic Small Towns
BEACH
Lake Red Rock
Rock Creek
Racoon River
NATURAL & RUSTIC
A Vineyard
Tree & Flower Farms
Brenton Arboretum
Waterworks Park
Jester Park
Palisades Park
Ledges State Park
Kent Park
Squaw Creek Park
Terry Trublood
Nature Preserves
Amana Colonies
ADVENTURE
Apple Orchard
Flower Farm
Cooking Class
Hiking
Sailing/Boating
Your Home!
the above locations are all beautiful but we also love exploring meaningful locations with our couples!
Travel
We love the opportunity to photograph in new places! Within Iowa, there are many MANY beautiful locations and we can help recommend options (see the list above) but we are also willing to go to uncharted territory. When planning your engagement session, you’ll want to take these travel considerations into mind:
- If you decide to have your session near us, within 30 minutes of Grinnell, or sessions held in the Des Moines metro area or Iowa City metro area, travel is included
- If your location is further than a 30 minute drive, there is an additional travel fee of $70 per hour for additional roundtrip travel time
- We have an add-on engagement option that includes more time for your session & extra travel, as well as options for makeup and hair styling!
If you have specific questions about your location, let us know!
Destination Sessions
While I photograph most of our engagement sessions in the Iowa area,
I’ve photographed sessions everywhere from Chicago, Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Las Vegas, Colorado, Los Angeles, Disney World, Atlanta, Washington DC, Boston, London, Barcelona, and Amsterdam!
Around 75% of our couples live outside of Iowa, and I would love to come to you (or a different location!) for your engagement session! If you have a location in mind, just ask – more likely than not, I’ll say yes if we can make it work with my schedule. It’s also worth checking my personal travel schedule – it might line up with a place you’re dreaming of!
P.S. Most guys get excited about engagement sessions when you help them think outside the box – so dream a little together and see what you can come up with!
Pets
your fur-baby is your first love, right?
Your dog is huge part of your family, which is why we love when couples choose to incorporate pets into their session! Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet-friendly location.
We recommend planning for your pet to be at the first or last part of your session and then either dropping them off or having a friend take them home. We won’t have your pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold him or her in between shots.
If you’re going to bring a pet, we recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot. And a lint brush can be a good idea for yourself!
Inclement Weather
We know you want beautiful weather for your engagement session! Iowa can be a tad unpredictable during the summer months, but over time, we’ve learned to go with the flow and make sure you look your best.
We’ll check-in the week of your engagement session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. Please understand that in most cases, it is best to be flexible and embrace whatever comes our way.
Often rescheduling is difficult, and hoping for better weather typically doesn’t materialize. We know it takes a lot of time to get ready for engagement session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain. We typically try to make the call at least 3 hours in advance.
All that being said – stormy skies and rain CAN be super dramatic and make for some truly unique photos! So don’t discount rain as the end of the world!
what to wear
Outfits
tips for looking your best
When picking outfits we recommend keeping in mind the word “compliment” rather than “match.” For example, if the groom-to-be is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, the bride-to-be may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.
We have two different types of engagement sessions: simple, and full. Our simple engagement session (included in our 8 hour bronze collection) includes one outfit. Couples who have booked our collections that include our longer full engagement session or have upgraded their session may have up to two outfits for an engagement session: a more formal outfit and a casual outfit.
for the ladies
Wardrobe Tips
High heels lengthen legs, but if you’re not comfortable walking in them, bring an extra pair of casual shoes for walking between locations or from your car.
Softer pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors, especially since bright colors can reflect onto your skin. Neons in particular can make your complexion have all sorts of crazy colors.
for the ladies
Accessories & Style Tips
Jewelry is a great way to add color & interest when wearing simple solids.
Long flowy dresses look especially romantic – look for skirts with lots of movement and fabric when you spin around! Well-tailored fitted dresses or A-line dresses are stylish and chic and look good on every figure.
Above all, choose an outfit you are confident and comfortable in, and don’t be afraid to dress up!
for the ladies
Hair & Makeup
Engagement sessions are the perfect time for a makeup trial or for a little pampering.
Professional makeup holds up better in heat and humidity, and a nice blowout or professional style just FEELS good anytime, right?
for the ladies
Manicure
Throughout your engagement session, we will be photographing your hands, sometimes up close. We highly recommend tidying your nails (guys too!) and if you love a fresh mani, nows a great time for it!
for the guys
Wardrobe Tips
Trust me when I say this, you cannot go wrong with a suit and tie. Consider pulling out that suit you had to wear the last time you were a groomsmen! Or make it more casual and layer a blazer over a nice shirt with jeans.
Cozy sweaters layered over a button up shirt is a great way to stay stylish when temps get cooler.
for the Guys
Accessories & Style Tips
Don’t forget appropriate footwear and socks! This is a commonly forgotten detail at engagement sessions that can make or break a look.
Choose clothing that fits you well. Oversized or ill-fitting clothes tends to look sloppy. Similarly, please press & iron all shirts and keep them on a hanger until you arrive at your session in order to keep wrinkles out.
for the Guys
Be Yourself
For some guys, dressing up in a suit seems inauthentic. If that sounds like your take on things, instead, be yourself – just be the dressy version of yourself. We are in Iowa, and I photograph quite a few grooms who are farmers who love getting dressed up, but it might mean a clean pair of nice pants and your best sweater. That is totally okay!
Ring Cleaning
When we can, we always try to take a photo of your ring during your engagement session – so it’s a good idea to have it cleaned or clean it yourself before your shoot! To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed. Many jewelers will offer free ring cleaning as well.
Props
champagne is always a good idea
If you’re planning to bring props to your engagement session, we recommend including them only if they’re meaningful to you. Shots of drinking coffee at a local coffee shop would be cute if that’s where you met; however, a trying to fly a kite together when it’s not a part of your relationship may come off as contrived.
Date Night
The day of your engagement session is the perfect occasion for a date night (or brunch if your session is in the morning!) since you’re already dressed up.
The engagement session is another part of celebrating your love and heading off to dinner is a great way to end the session. If we’re available after your session, we’ve been known to treat our couples to a drink afterwards too 😉
POSING
“What do I do with my hands?
When it comes to posing for your engagement session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! We’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with poses that are super easy and natural. If we tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because we know it’s going to make the two of you laugh – and that’s the photo we’re actually looking for!
Throughout your session, we’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. We want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
And if you really are curious to know what to do with your hands – you can always hold hands, put an arm around each other, and guys can always have a free hand in their pocket. We promise we’ll explain everything and it will feel natural and be very easy!
When to Expect Your Images
After your session, we’ll work our magic on all your images! You can expect to see your images within 2-3 weeks after your engagement session.
Not only will you receive digital images from your session, but you also have the opportunity to have a beautiful engagement book, save the date cards, and wall art from your session. All options are available directly within your online gallery, saving you time and guesswork!
We’re also happy to set up a video chat or in person appointment at the studio to go over design options. Showcase and PRINT your photos! They are meant to be enjoyed!
a note about
Communication
We know you’re busy! Throughout your wedding planning time, we understand you’re going to be communicating with various vendors, but you also have a LIFE! We promise not to inundate you with unnecessary communication and only pass along what we truly believe will be beneficial.
To make things easier for you (and us!) we ask that your primary communication with us be via email so that we can keep track of all communication regarding invoices, questionnaires, and planning. This enables our entire team to access all the important details at any time.
If it’s the day of a photoshoot and you need to reach us last minute, typically calling us is best.
EMAIL ADDRESSES:
info@jenniferweinmanphotography.com
beth@jenniferweinmanphotography.com
PHONE:
Jen – 641-200-0660
Beth – 641-781-1315
If you need to set up an appointment either in person or virtually, including engagement session, final consultation prior to your wedding, or your album design appointment after your wedding, you can do each of those following the link below.
Albums
the perfect way to remember your day
After all that planning, the one thing you have left to remember your day is your wedding album! Every JWP couple receives either a memory book or album in their package. We recommend you set aside any extra wedding funds to customize and add extra pages to your album after your wedding – we promise that this is one thing you will WANT to invest in and while our base options included in packages are a good start, most couples spend quiet a bit more since it is the one thing they will enjoy for years to come.
Thank you!
We know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your engagement session! However if there is something we missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email
info@jenniferweinmanphotography.com
