I always suggest getting an engagement session on the calendar as soon as you’ve secured your wedding date — that will give you plenty of lead time to plan and will also make it much more likely we will be able to schedule your session for your first choice date. Some people like to do their engagement sessions early in the wedding planning process so that they can have plenty of photos for their save-the-dates and their wedding website, and other times people prefer to wait for their favorite season — fall leaves, the golden hills of summer, the wildflowers of spring.

I always try to schedule outdoor engagement sessions, when possible, in the last two hours or so before sunset for the best light: This will give you that special, warm glow of what we call the “golden hour.” If you’d prefer an indoor engagement session, in your home or in another indoor location you love, often morning or early afternoon will be the best times for beautiful, bright, clean indoor light.

I get this question often and I always encourage people to start by thinking about the overall vibe they want for their final photo gallery. If you are looking for a bright, airy look, wearing light colored clothes — whites, creams, light neutrals, or pastels — will ensure that the whole gallery maintains that really light, bright look. If there’s a particular color you want to include in your outfits, I find it’s easiest to think of a palette of three or so colors, so both of you can create complementary — but not matchy matchy — outfits that touch on all the colors of the scheme. I also encourage people to avoid too many patterns — this helps keep the focus where it belongs: on you two!

Lastly, don’t be afraid to wear a statement piece. You want to feel great, and sometimes that means reaching for that piece that you wouldn’t often have the opportunity to wear. Rent the Runway also offers a great Wedding Concierge program that helps brides with dresses for all of their pre-wedding events, from engagement sessions to engagement parties to rehearsal dinners.

In the Bay Area, we are lucky to be surrounded by the most beautiful and dramatic scenery of all types, all in very close proximity! If you don’t already have a location in mind, I will work with you to make sure we find the spot that perfectly captures the look you want for your engagement photos. Nearby we have the gorgeous California rolling hills of Mount Diablo and Mount Tamalpais; we have dramatic city skylines and awe-inspiring coastal bluffs; the most beautiful beaches and bridges; the ruins of Sutro Baths; and the romantic architecture of San Francisco City Hall, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Legion of Honor.  Gardens, vineyards, orchards, marinas, museums, ice cream shops, and bookstores — the list of options is really never-ending. Outside of the immediate Bay Area, we also have close access to Point Reyes, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Half Moon Bay, and the deserts and sand dunes of Southern California. I’m always open to traveling beyond these areas as well to make sure we capture your love story exactly the way you see it.

If you don’t know how to pose, that’s great! Truly! I strongly believe that the moments people most want to hold onto are the genuine ones, the ones where they are feeling something true and powerful. Those moments don’t happen when you are focused on a pose and looking into a camera, I promise! The aim of each and every one of my sessions is to let the two of you get comfortable and have fun, while I capture all those little in-between moments, those shared looks, the joy you bring to each other. I will start by gently posing you where the scenery and light will be most beautiful, snap that smiling shot for grandma’s fridge, and then we can just let loose and enjoy the time.

After your date is secured, we will work together (along with your entire vendor team) to create a timeline that will make your big day stress-free.  We will look at sunset, ceremony times, posed family and bridal party portraits, , and couple portraits.  We will talk about whether a first look is right for you.  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip.

More angles, different places at the same time, more photos in final gallery.  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip.

Also a great time to get detail shots.  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip.

Yes!  Mountaintop or City Hall, I love them all. Contact me for your elopement quote! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip.

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