You might not have ever hired a professional photographer before. Engagement shoots are a great opportunity to work together so you know what to expect on the wedding day. So when the wedding day comes around it is one less thing you need to think about and you can feel totally comfortable with the paparazzi following you around. It’s painless and fun, trust me. Actually, I always recommend engagement shoots for those that think they might feel uncomfortable in front of the camera or for those grooms and brides that don’t want a lot of photos taken… they end up usually having the most fun by the end of the engagement shoot and psyched for the wedding photography.
The engagement shoot will be a lot of fun and mostly just us talking and hanging out. I try to just put people in awesome locations where the light is good and then just talk and keep it casual. But if you want me to pose you or you have specific things in mind I can do that too.
Locations:
I usually photograph in public outdoor spaces because we do not need to pay a fee or ask permission. In general, private spaces or indoor spaces require special permission and the venue usually charges an additional “photography fee” above the standard entrance fee which you would be responsible to pay.
You can view my Engagements page or view some locations listed below where I have photographed at previously to give you some ideas. I love to try new things and come up with unique ideas so if you want to try something different or have your own ideas just let me know… I would love to go the extra mile to try something different.
- Some awesome public free locations include South Pointe Park, Matheson Hammock Park, Crandon Park, and Bill Baggs Park.
- Some spaces that are gorgeous but carry a small fee are Spanish Monastery, Vizcaya, Deering Estate, Fairchild Gardens, Wynwood / Arts District, Bonnet House, or The Kampong.
- Some really unique places are Wings Over Miami airplane museum or Gold Coast Rail Museum.
Time:
The best time to photograph outdoors is the hour and a half leading up to sunset or the hour and a half after sunrise (sunset calendar). We want to avoid midday so that we can keep you cool and comfortable, to avoid squinting in the bright sunlight, and to avoid harsh shadows. Some couples like to just do a quick 20/30min shoot while others like to photograph for a full 2hrs. Let me know up front what your thoughts are so I can plan to get my shots.
Weather:
Sunset and sunrise on a relatively clear day are probably the best conditions, but an overcast day can be nice because of the cool weather and lack of shadows. If the weather on the scheduled dates looks less than desirable, I prefer to reschedule for another day with the best conditions. But I know you both probably have busy schedules or you might be in a rush before the wedding. So, we will stay in touch in the days leading up to the shoot and the day of and you can guiltlessly reschedule if you would like.
What to Wear:
The most important tip I can give is to be comfortable and confident… the best way to look good is to feel good. My only real discouragement is to avoid a lot of solid black. It’s a great idea to swap out outfits to make the most of the shoot. Most locations have a bathroom for a quick change.
After the Shoot:
A couple days after the shoot I will send you some ‘sneak peek’ photos for you to throw up on facebook etc. and for you have the opportunity to give me any feedback on color, tone, etc. In about a week or two I will post the rest of the images to an online gallery for you to view and download. Those images will be high resolution without my logo (they just show up on my site with logos but will not have the logo when you download) which you can print yourself or post to facebook or pretty much do whatever you would like.
Questions:
I love ‘em. Call or text me any time.
Cheers, Evan
