COUPLES SESSION GUIDE
About Your Session
THIS GUIDE IS PRINCIPALLY FOCUSED ON SESSIONS FOR COUPLES, BUT MANY POINTS ARE RELEVANT FOR FAMILY SESSIONS TOO. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE TOO LONG TO READ - MAYBE TEN MINUTES? GRAB A COMFORTABLE SEAT AND DIG IN...
CHAPTER ONE
SESSION SCHEDULING
If I had to suggest the best time for your session, I’d most likely say a weekday, and ideally in the early evening. A weekday because it’s generally less busy outside, and the early evening because the best light is around the two hours before sunset.
You’ve probably heard of the phrase ‘golden hour’.
That’s the light that’s warm and flattering, if it’s not too cloudy. That being said, I’m fine with shooting any time of day that works best for you. If that’s 2pm on a Saturday, then hell, we’ll make it work.
Whatever time we choose, sessions usually last about an hour, hour and a half - there are a couple of factors that will influence the photos, like what you choose to wear, and the locations you’d like to shoot in. I’ll get to those in a sec.
In terms of scheduling your session, if this is a couples shoot you want to use your photos for ‘Save The Date’ / pre-wedding invitations, then it’s worth thinking about when your wedding date is, and then jumping back around 6 months.
Save The Dates are usually sent out around then. The average edit time for engagement photos is 1 to 2 weeks, so bear that in mind too. So about 26 weeks prior to your wedding day, if you want to be specific…
Chapter Two:
About Your Session
Unless you’re a professional model or equivalent, you might think the whole process of taking photos can be a bit weird and awkward, and you’d probably be right. But it doesn’t have to be! It doesn’t matter if you’ve never had your photo taken by a professional before, the environment I strive to create together is one of mutual support, fun and creativity.
In that vein - things might get weird. I might ask you if you’re cool with lying down, I might hold something strange up in front of my lens, I might ask you to stand by that old wall when it seems there’s a perfectly picturesque couple of trees over there.
But if you trust me, relax and are open to possibilities, it means we’ll come up with images that are unique and tell the story of you.
That said, I’ll never push you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. Don’t want to stand on that wall because you’re afraid of heights? No problem at all, we’ll find something else to shoot.
You don’t have to worry about researching poses, you don’t have to think about what’s your ‘good’ side. (But of course you can if you want). My job is to make you look amazing and have photos that you’ll look back on fondly for the rest of your lives.
But putting the photos aside, if this is an engagement session (and you like me to shoot your wedding) this is also a great opportunity for us all to get to know each other so that when it comes to your wedding, you’re excited, comfortable and know what to expect, so everything runs as smoothly as possible.
It’s also a chance for you to change things up come wedding time. Want more serious, Wes-Anderson style portraits? By all means. Want more Love-Actually, Princess-Bride passionate epic kissing shots? As you wish. Would prefer that you didn’t see so much of that dodgy tattoo you got during spring break when you were 18? Well, there’s not a lot I can do about that. We should celebrate our happy little accidents!
Chapter Three:
Location, Location, Location
The best places to shoot are ones that are personal, reflect your characters, or have some kind of link to your background together. Just because you saw somewhere on Instagram doesn’t mean that it’s the best place for you.
Your session could be as simple as a walk round the neighborhood you spent your first few dates, as off-kilter as vaulting walls in abandoned grafitti-scrawled railyard, and anything in between.
Think about your hobbies or passions, sentimental memories, distinct buildings, nature, industry, movies, patterns, food, public art, murals, pets, sports, restaurants, markets, modernity, vintage, geometry, books and travel.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, just some words to spark your ideas. All this to say, I’m happy shooting almost anywhere, and love the challenge of finding new and interesting setups. If you need any suggestions, let me know!
Bear in mind that some locations might require a permit for shooting photos. Sometimes you can get away without one, but we might be asked to move on if we overstay our welcome.
Lastly (and leading into the next section) when you’ve chosen your location, have a think about the predominant textures, color and style of the place, and select your wardrobe accordingly.
If you’ve chosen some woodland, then perhaps high-heels and a floor length silk dress aren’t the most practical options, but whatever floats your boat man.
I’d say matching outfits aren’t the world’s best idea. Neither are massive logos or super intricate prints. There are always exceptions to the rule, but generally you want to look back at these and not cringe…
Oh, and if you want to bring your pets, that’s cool too!
Chapter Four:
Outfits
Rule number one is that you should feel comfortable and awesome in whatever outfit you’ve chosen. Something that compliments you physically and as an individual. Don’t be afraid to wear bold colors to make you stand out from your background. These are photos of you, after all!
Casual is a good bet, since (again, if these are engagement photos) your wedding is most likely more formal, but whatever you choose, it should fit you well and you shouldn’t be worrying if straps or labels are showing, seams pulling or an item doesn’t sit right.
Oh, and don’t forget comfortable shoes. If you want to wear heels, that’s fine, but it’s a good idea to bring something you can wear between shots, as we’ll probably do a bit of walking.
This is your session and your time, so I’d generally suggest just the one outfit to maximise our time together. But no more than two, otherwise you’ll be spending most of your time changing and not taking photos!
To minimise distractions, it’s a good idea to leave your purse, bag, phone etc in your car or at home before your session. You don’t want to be worrying about who that text message is from, or where to put your bag while we take a photo. I can also carry your stuff if you need.
Chapter Five:
Family Shoots
In terms of family shoots, many of the prior tips are just as relevant, so if you’ve skipped to this chapter, then be sure to take a brief look at the others as well if you have time.
Location wise, in and around your family home is a great choice. It’s familiar, it requires no travel, and you have everything at your fingertips should you need an emergency change of clothes etc.
That said, if you want to make a go of it and choose a different location, then as a Dad, I’d recommend treating your family shoot much like any other family trip:
• Try your best to schedule it when the kids will be active and happy, not cranky and grouchy. Obviously this can sometimes be a crapshoot, so with that in mind…
• Bring treats to coerce your little darlings into behaving, even for just a little bit.
• Bring extra clothes, just in case. I’m absolutely not a stickler for ‘perfect’ outfits, clean faces or combed hair, so as long as the littles are comfortable, that’s a win.
FAMILY SHOOT STRUCTURE
I aim to spend fifteen minutes or so to get some ‘formal’ family shots first, so that everyone is comfortable. By ‘formal’ I just mean that everyone’s sitting down, all together. It’s extremely relaxed and I’m not going to direct you a whole lot, so don’t worry about that.
Then once that’s out of the way, I really just want to be there to capture your family interacting - it doesn’t really matter what activity you bring or do. It can be something intimate like sitting and ready a story together as a family, making Play-Doh animals or running around chasing bubbles or balls. Or all of the above.
And don’t worry if there isn’t enough wind to get the kite in the air, what matters is that you’re talking and laughing and looking at each other.
So, To Recap:
• Weekday evening sessions work best, in the couple of hours before sunset.
• If the photos are going to be used for a Save The Date-type invitation, ideally schedule your session for around six or seven months prior to your wedding, if possible.
• This is supposed to be fun. Go with the flow and let’s make some fun images. Obviously I’ll never push anything you’re uncomfortable doing.
• Choose a location that means something to you, not just somewhere you saw on Instagram.
• Think about your outfit, if it compliments both the location and you as a person. But most important is that you’re comfortable wearing whatever you choose.
Epilogue
This little guide is just that, a guide.
Nothing is set in stone, so if you have any questions, concerns, random facts about pâté or playlist suggestions, please please get in touch and let me know!
This session is about you, so I want to make you as comfortable as possible and for you to have such fun that it’s over before you know it.