Liz & Arnold, Engagement Shoot

First of all, we know you’re sick of hearing it. but Congratulations!

An engagement session is an important part of our photography services here at Noah Wedding Photography of Los Angeles. It’s not only a great time to capture some portraits that can be used for the wedding, but it’s a great way to get a more casual portrait that can be loved for generations to come. It’s also a great time to get to know us. we want you to be comfortable with being in front of the camera before the wedding. Your wedding day is stressful enough, It’s best to be comfortable taking professional photos BEFORE the wedding day.

Our engagement photography session is included in all of the packages that we offer except for the base package. Some couples aren’t having their wedding in the Los Angeles area, or just want to try out our services, and that’s fine. That’s why we offer a separate engagement session. But of course remember, we do and have traveled to different states to shoot weddings. We’re always willing to travel out of country as well.

There are a few things that I am afraid of… and one of them is boring photos. Photos that don’t capture the romance or the emotion. You just got engaged, you are feeling incredible, our photography should portray that. And at the same time, there are artistic aspects like lighting, and backgrounds to work with. It’s a fun job, but it’s still hard work. a LOT of work. But we LOVE it!

The truly stunning photographs come from our ability as photographers to connect with you. We consider the couples that we shoot to be our friends. Our lines of communication are über important. We usually go on a double date with our couples before we photograph the engagement session. We like to have some fun and get to know everyone. Just a time to relax and have some fun, whether it’s a night in, or in Old Town Pasadena, No wedding talk allowed, unless you bring it up of course.

Pat & Jenna, Engagement Shoot

That’s where communication comes in. You need to be able to say what you hope for in the photos, and we’ll exchange ideas with you. We are always looking at different photographer’s work, and are inspired often, so we love experimenting with new styles. Don’t feel embarrassed if you come up with a great idea for a shot. You know yourselves the best after all, You have a lifetime of memories and shots. You know what side of your face photographs the best(All of which we’ll ask of course.)

Now, as far as your comfort having your portraits made, obviously, everyone is different. Some people love being in front of the camera, others aren’t as comfortable. One reason we go to such great lengths to befriend you is for your own comfort. We want you to not see us as the hired “Professional Engagement Photographer”, we want to be just a couple friends that happen to have really nice cameras. Who are you more comfortable in front of… Your friends with their cameras or the guy at the dmv taking your photo? I personally like the dmv…. I don’t know about you. It’s also our job to find the best way to photograph you. Even the most beautiful people have a certain pose that they know looks best on camera, on the flip side, every beautiful person knows how not to pose for a photo. Leave it to us to get the most flattering portraits of you.

Location?

We get a lot of questions about what the best location for our client’s engagement photo session. Los Angeles has a HUGE variety of locations, mountains, beaches, downtown, suburbia… Almost anywhere you could think of L.A. provides it. We’d suggest photography sessions in rose gardens, Downtown L.A., Beaches(Leo Carrillo is my favorite,) Santa Monica Pier, Union Station, and of course the first place you met or went on a date is always a great idea.

Here comes one of the hardest parts… You(and we) need to do some brainstorming about a location that suits you. Think about where you love to go or what you love to do… If you go to Lucky Strike Bowling every Tuesday, why not take your engagement photos there? Are you city people? What about downtown L.A. or 3rd Street Promenade? do you love hiking? Malibu Creek state park has some great secluded trails. Rock-climbing? Amazing stuff in Simi Valley. Biking? Ping-Pong? Badminton?

We get a lot of people asking for beach engagement photos, and we have to ask them how often they go to the beach. and if the answer is less than twice a year, I have them reconsider. My case is special, I proposed to Sarah on Topanga State Beach, so it was only natural to go back to Malibu for our engagement session.

Clothing?

What’s more important than what you are wearing is how comfortable you feel. nicer than casual is usually suggested, but here’s the golden rule: make the dress appropriate for the location. If we’re going to the beach, dress a little more casually than if we are going to do a downtown, higher-end shoot.

We don’t want to downplay the importance of the clothing in the e-session, they are of course important to the final image. Try to wear clothing that is color coordinated, blacks with blacks, browns with browns, blues with yellows, and such. But don’t, as Sarah says, be too “Matchy Watchy.” You don’t want your images to look produced. You want them to look like you and your fiancé just happen to be wearing nice clothing, and are hanging out with their good friends that happen to have really nice cameras, in one of your favorite spots. Another thing to keep in mind is to wear layers. It’s ok to bring a change of clothing or two, but layers will take any outfit and transform it into multiple outfits. WE usually find it to be distracting to be thinking about clothing changes though. Most of our brides usually wear only one outfit during the entire shoot, and that’s ok.

Along the lines of color coordination, pick colors that complement both of your skin-tones, eyes, and hair. Make sure it’s well fitting as well.Flattering clothing goes a long way to hide any “imperfections.” Also we strongly recommend investing in professional make-up and hair-styling. If you need references please ask. Also tell your make-up artist that this is for your Engagement Portrait Session. Photography make-up tends to be a bit stronger, but it comes out beautifully on film.

Time?

Any time of the day works, we use a lot of light modifiers to make sure the lighting is perfect in any condition. But we usually suggest scheduling your engagement shoot in the late afternoon, a couple hours before the sun sets. The light looks absolutely beautiful and warm around that time of day.

The shoot usually lasts 2 – 3 hours for a standard shoot while a lifestyle engagement session will usually last all day, and vary with multiple locations, and wardrobe changes.

Cost?

The investment of an engagement shoot starts at $700 for the standard shoot, while the Lifestyle engagement session goes for $1500. All couples receive edited high-resolution files, and a web gallery where you and your family can order prints, albums, and other products. For an additional charge of $500 we can create a “Save the Date” video (NEW) that you can either send out to your family or guests,  or that you can embed on the front page of your website that features you and your fiancé announcing your engagment.

More Info:

Engagement sessions usually take place during the week, as weekends are usually booked for events and weddings. If this package is purchased before you decide to book us to photograph your wedding, there might be a slight reimbursement of  charge, due to the fact that some packages offer engagement sessions. If you plan on a beach engagement shoot please look into obtaining a photography permit from local authorities. They range from $150 to $500. We will not ask for proof of the permit, but if officials demand proof, we are not liable for any legal recourse.(this has never happened to us by the way)

One last piece of advice? Be yourself. Do the things you normally do. Don’t feel embarrassed to kiss, hold hands, sit on his lap, dance, and of course remember to laugh and have a good time. If you absolutely HAVE to have a drink to loosen up, please limit yourself. Being drunk is obvious on camera, and it is not fun or flattering.