1) Choose a Cool Location
Some ideas include where you got engaged or a mini date revolving around an activity. Here’s a few locations I love: Disneyland, Getty Center, hip hotels like Viceroy Santa Monica*, London Hotel* (has an awesome giant chess set!), The Queen Mary, Walt Disney Concert Hall, LACMA, Olvera Street/Union Station, Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier, beaches in Malibu*, Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills*, a lighthouse, county fair, ice skating rink, or the Canyons.
2) Wear Something You Love
You want to be comfortable and look like yourself, so if the last time you wore a suit coat and tie was to your Company’s holiday party last year, then chances are you wont be comfortable wearing it. During your session, you will have some time to do an outfit change, so if you want to bring one casual outfit and one more dressy, we can get a couple of different looks! Try to limit your mix to no more than 3 complimentary colors; any more than that images start to look cluttered and busy.
3) Shooting During Golden Hour
I just love all the pastel colors of a California sunset… the periwinkle blues, candy pink, and soft purples! It definitely sets a mood for romance, with soft lighting and a warm glow. To capture this kind of lighting, you will want to start your session about an hour before sunset and end about 10-15 minutes after the sunsets. To check sunset times on your photo shoot date click HERE.
4) Bring Some Props
Lots of couples choose to use their engagement pictures as wall art in their new home, wedding reception decoration, or for saves the date cards. Having props that tie into your theme would be a great idea! Some fun prop ideas include numbers of your wedding date (they make lots of really cute ones found on Etsy!), your initials (first and last), bubbles, lanterns, luggage, vintage chairs, pinwheels, craft projects, cupcakes, games, picnic stuff, candy, balloons, fishing poles, football, art stuff, etc. Have fun with it, make it personal, and get creative!
5) Professional Hair and Makeup
Get your hair/makeup professionally done for your photoshoot. Trust me it’s worth it, you’ll both look like a million bucks! Here’s some people I love: Kelly Zhang, Symmetry Beauty by Nyrie, Fiore. Additional beauty tip: apply Visene right before your photo shoot for natural white eyes!
For more information, contact sherri@sherrijphotography.com
(*Client is responsible for shooting permits, required at some locations. Travel fees beyond 10 miles of 90405 start at $3/mile.)
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