Raise your hand if getting your picture taken makes you feel awkward and uncomfortable 🙌🏻 And keep it raised if you feel more awkward when it comes to engagement photos! I remember when Robert and I were getting ready for our engagement pictures, I was worried about looking as dorky as I felt inside.
Now that I am on the other side of the lens, I realize all couples feel awkward in front of the camera. In fact, I find men to feel more awkward than the women. Which is why they are typically vocal about not wanting to take pictures, and a lot of times dread it.
But you know what? I have some tricks up my sleeve! In fact I have a few tricks to make you feel less awkward. So let’s dig into my secret stash of tricks!
Houston is a pretty big place, so finding a spot to do your engagement session can be overwhelming! I have compiled a list of my favorite spots around Houston to help everyone with this arduous task. And honestly? Don’t feel like you have to find the most exciting or best spot ever. Truth be told, I have put couples in a ditch because the area around them looked great! I kid you not! What is most important is showing off the love between the two of you!
The first thing you need to think about is your love story. Where did you meet? Get engaged? What do you love to do together? Any of these answers can help you find a spot for your engagement session. Is there a spot in Houston you have your heart set on? I encourage doing it where you will most happy.
Park
There are a ton of parks in the Houston area. Also, a lot of them are now charging fees. Centennial Gardens? Fee. Arboretum? Fee. Japanese Garden in Hermann Park? No professional photography is permitted there. Disappointing, right? But, there are other parks that are just as beautiful and are free. Eleanor Tinsley Park has the skyline of Houston behind it, and it’s on Buffalo Bayou, which is perfect. Discovery Green has a wealth of spots, and is a short walk to downtown, where you can do some urban looking pictures. Sam Houston Park, Helen’s Park, Fernland Historical Park are all awesome options! Most couples choose parks because they like the greenery in the photos, they might love a bridge or water feature as well. You can set up a picnic or sit on a bench. Plus there are usually places you can get changed in if you want to do more than one outfit.(more…)
What to wear for any session is a hot button issue for all my clients. I was such a popular topic that last year I invested in a stylist to help me work with portrait clients. Her advice was so helpful that I have taken some of her advice and applied it to engagement session clients. So where do you start with clothing?
Tips for the Women
Have you pondered rocking a sequined gown, tulle skirt or flower crown but just never had a real reason to get that outfit? Guess what!! This is your chance to do it up! Remember: There is no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your engagement session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! If you don’t want to add a new item to your collection, a lot of my brides love Rent the Runway for their engagement photos because you don’t have to spend a lot to feel like beautiful. Plus, you can send the outfits back when the session is over. Other brides love having a great excuse to bring a new permanent item for their closet!
The Case for a Dress…or two
Long, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Especially when captured with nature whether it’s greenery or the beach. Shorter-length dresses photograph beautifully too! Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they really flatter a woman’s figure, and they make you feel super confident! I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress.
I love that I live so close to Galveston! It means we get to do engagement sessions there frequently, and then I get to spend the rest of the day there, or go early and prowl around before the session. My favorite spot? The historical strand area, there are so many gorgeous doors and architecture!
Cheyenne + Isaiah
These two are so in love. They have been together since high school and have a connection that can’t be faked. As you can image, they have been through their ups and downs since they have been together for so long. When we were discussing possible locations for their session, it was instantaneous–Galveston! Cheyenne and Isaiah are having a destination wedding so having a beach feel to their engagements kept everything consistent. We also got a few pictures in the historic downtown and snuck their adorable pup into some pictures!
I love their outfits too, it’s put together without trying too hard!! Plus, they have a slight nautical feel the outfits, which is perfect!!
Enjoy the photos!
Love my work? Want me to capture you and yours? Let’s talk!! It’s easy, my email address is Christine@swishnclick.com. Let’s have a heart-to-heart, get excited about the possibilities of your wedding or session and come up with a plan that is uniquely you! I want to hear from you!
You’re probably wondering what’s in store for you with a blog title that includes the word “dinosaur”, and I think you need to buckle in! Erin and Carter are having a dinosaur themed wedding!! So obviously, when we were planning their engagement session, I knew it was going to be filled with fun. Since I am an enabler, I threw out ideas like t-rex outfits, so that way their engagement pictures tied into their wedding theme. What they decided on was just as good!
We decided the best location was to do them at where they are getting married: at Rice University. It is the perfect location for fun-filled engagement pictures! Erin and Cater were clear on what they wanted: fun photos, lots of laughter, nothing serious. I think it’s safe to say, we captured that and more!
And I need to share that with their wedding coming up this weekend, we are going to have a blast! I heard through the grapevine that there will be dinosaur balloons, a dinosaur themed cake and tiny dinosaurs hidden around their reception. I can’t wait to see these two best friends get married, I just know how much of a blast we are going to have!
This engagement session is close to my heart–Adam and Adriana are lovers of a lot of fun things, from Harry Potter to gaming to watching the latest movies. We obviously bonded instantly!! For this session, we did added a bit of magic to the images, by having them cosplay as Newt and Tina from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them! They carefully picked out their outfits, wands and how to swish their jackets. Now of course the entire session isn’t them dressed up, but let’s not lie, that’s the best part of this session!! As Adam + Adriana are from the Alvin area, we did pictures in a local park and a local historic building.
About the Couple
These two met in high school and haven’t looked back. I love it that they have been together this long, growing up and growing together as a couple. They shared from the start a passion for gaming and movies. This matured into a passion for food, trying new places to eat and exploring the amazing food scene in Houston. One of their favorite places to eat is at Gordon Street Tavern, and I don’t blame them–that place is delicious!!
The Proposal
They took a birthday vacation to New Braunfels and stayed in Fredericksburg for a couple of days. They walked the town, and went to take a scenic look around the churches close to sunset. Adam proposed outside one of the churches while Adriana {channeling her inner photographer} was attempting to take pictures. She said yes {duh!} and the rest is history!
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