Many of you have asked to see my engagement photos and I hesitated posting them. I just didn’t want to be all “here, look at pictures of me!” I shared my wedding because it is the whole reason this blog exists but I felt like posting my e-session was different. But the other day I was looking at a couple of our engagement photos, realizing how different I look, how much milage 4 1/2 years and one baby can put on you. But I also realized that our engagement photos are still relevant, fresh, and timeless. No trends for the sake of trend, just us, at places we love, being ourselves: what I think an engagement session should be. And although a lot of time has gone by, I can remember those feelings and that time like it was yesterday.
{Part I}
We did some portraits at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, because I’ve always loved the style and decor – it is very ‘me.’ The yellow chairs, the plate wall, the mirrors: it is the perfect combination of vintage and modern influences, and makes for some great pictures.
Since moving to California four years before, we’ve always loved the beach. We were starting our life together, and eventually our family, in California. What better place to have our engagement pictures than the beach and pier in Santa Monica. So after our portraits at the Viceroy, we headed for the beach and had some fun!
So if I could take this opportunity to give a few tips on what I think makes a great engagement session, it would be these:
1. Pick a place you love and that has meaning to you for at least some of your photos.
2. Get outside if possible – the light is always so much better!
3. Base your wardrobe on what your style is, what you are comfortable in, and something that isn’t so trendy that when looking back on your photos you’ll be able to place the year based on the clothes alone.
4. Don’t do something that isn’t you just because it is trendy or popular. If you have never had a picnic as a couple, do not have a vintage picnic e-session just because you’ve seen 100 of them!
5. Relax and try to have fun. And if you need a little help, have a drink first! We had a drink or two at the Viceroy bar before we started just to loosen up a bit.
Hope you enjoyed the little walk down memory lane with me and that you find the tips helpful. Thanks for indulging me the glimpse back in time.
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8 Comments
You guys are so stinking cute. Thank you for sharing your engagement photos, they are just beautiful! We just did ours the other day (despite the fact that we have been engaged for a year and a half, and the wedding is two months away). Posting on Monday, but was feeling a bit weird about it as well. I figured because our shoot was so rainbow-splattered (like the blog itself) it would be appropriate.
And who knew when you took these photos that just four short years later, the hubs would be shot in the head on cable while flipping the bird.
Thank you Natalie! And yeah, who knew!
I love the pictures on the beach. Love the sun!
This is the cutest shoot ever! You are so beautiful, Chandra
xo
Aw, thanks Rhi! That made my day
xx
What great pictures! I love looking back at my engagement pictures. I still can’t believe so much time has passed since then. We’ve been married for 6 years now, and each time we get into a disagreement, I pull out my engagement pictures. They remind me of the love we share. Then, we are happy again. Best of luck!
These are great! Yay for posting them
and I’m in love with the plates on the wall shots – superb!
You look gorgeous! I love that you chose two distinctly different parts of your personalities to show off – the glam and the beachy still go well together.
I feel like so many couples think they have to pick a garden location or something really stereotypically pretty, but some of my favorite sessions have been centered around an activity – like a hike, or dinner, etc.