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What the Heck Should We Wear to Our Engagement Session?

You've done everything else: you've scheduled your engagement session, picked the locations, and you're super excited. Only one thing stands in your way. You stand peering into your seemingly endless closet. There are so many options - what in the world will you wear?

1) Your engagement session is meant to capture your love of each other, not your love of your wardrobe. Outfit changes take time away from your shooting time, so I recommend keeping to a two outfit maximum, especially if we are doing a lot of walking for your session. Please don’t feel like you have to bring two options - many of my couples choose to bring only one! If you do want to bring two, a good idea is to choose one dressy outfit (think a date to the ballet) and one more casual outfit (something you’d wear on a casual date night).

2) Be yourself. Your engagement photos are an extension of the two of you. I want you to be perfectly comfortable and happy in what you've chosen to wear. If you wear bowties & suspenders every day, feel free to rock those for your session! And if you've never worn heels in your life, don't worry about starting now.

3) Coordinate colors and styles. Wear colors that coordinate, but don't worry about matching specifically. Just because one of you wears a blue shirt does not mean the other must also wear a blue shirt. Also, gone are the days of showing up to your session wearing matching white shirts and khakis. Let's see your STYLE! :) Just make sure you are wearing outfits on the same level of casualness or dressiness.

4) Choose your color palette. Neutral and soft tones (with fun pops of color) photograph very well and allow you to stand out from the background, though of course if you feel your best in jewel tones though or something bright, feel free to wear that! A statement red dress is absolutely gorgeous too!

5) Bring extra accessories! The quickest way to change up the look of your outfit is to switch out your shoes, add a sweater, ditch the scarf, etc.

6) Makeup. If you’re normally not a makeup wearer, just putting on mascara goes a long way for making your eyes pop (if you’re willing). If you love to go full glam, feel free!

7) If you can't decide or aren’t sure, talk to me! Text me photos of your ideas. Or bring them to the session and we'll pick what will look best, and you don't have to stress. I’m happy to help and do this all the time!

Fernanda & Matthew's Fredericksburg Wedding, 12.28.2015

Oh my gosh, these two. Seriously, they were so cute together (AND such troopers, but we'll get to that later).

Their venue was Lavender Heights Bed & Breakfast and oh my gosh how cute it was! I was so impressed by the venue itself, as well as the lovely innkeeper Jenny who greeted me at my car with details about the day.

And then I met Fernanda, and I couldn't get over how lovely she is. And so excited to be getting married to Matt!

I absolutely adored this couple and their sweet little December wedding. I also appreciated their willingness to hike through rainy (and I do mean RAINY) downtown Fredericksburg pre-reception (at Renato's) to take a few photos at Hyperion and in whatever light we could find!

Fernanda & Matt, your wedding was lovely, as are both of you! I wish you the happiest of happiness in your life together! :)

Enjoy!

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Ashley & Dan's Great Falls Engagement Session

These two. Seriously. I adore them. Ashley & Dan are two of my favorite people ever to photograph. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about them! They are totally awesome, super laid-back (my favorite) AND ridiculously cute together. I literally could have dragged them around Great Falls all day long. And needless to say I can't WAIT for their May wedding!

Left: official bling. Right: the real engagement ring.

Left: official bling. Right: the real engagement ring.

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They joked at the beginning of the session that they should have their phones on them for a few photos. We got back to the parking lot and decided to do it! :)

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Engagement Session Giveaway!

Hey! So exciting - I'm giving away an engagement session! Yes! A full engagement session! You can now enter via Instagram (HERE) or Facebook (HERE)! Winner will be announced on January 1st, 2016!

WHAT YOU GET:
- a two-hour engagement session
- an online gallery containing all final, edited photos, sized low-resolution for web/social media use

THINGS TO KNOW/RULES:
- Prints & High-Resolution digital files (along with printing rights) are sold separately.
- One entry per person.
- Session is non-transferrable.
- Entries must be submitted by 11:30pm EST on Thursday, December 31st, 2015.

HOW TO WIN:
- follow me on Instagram
- Tag at least 5 friends in my Instagram post.

Good luck! :)

This giveaway is not affiliated with facebook, instagram, or any other company.

Amber & Cary's Georgetown Engagement Session

Now that my wedding season is winding down, I can catch up on more of my awesome e-sessions from this fall! I met up with Amber & Cary to shoot their e-session in Georgetown on a perfectly beautiful day in October. They even brought their two fur babies with them! Perfect, right?

Amber & Cary - the moment I found out you met playing World of Warcraft, I knew we were going to have a great time! I absolutely loved meeting you guys. It was clear how happy you make each other.

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Melissa & Claire's Engagement Session

When I first met Melissa & Claire, it was for coffee. And when we laughed our way through the entire meeting, I knew I was going to adore these two. I was totally right! We spent an awesome evening wandering around Jerusalem Mill in Maryland, and these two can't be any more cute together! So I thought I'd put them up on the blog and let you sneak a peek at the cuteness!

Melissa & Claire - I can't wait to shoot your wedding! It's going to be so perfect.

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Jenna & Roland's Pleasant Springs Farm Elopement, 9.5.2015

Jenna contacted me about photographing her sweet little elopement and from the start, I knew she'd be a dream to work with and for. She sent me a link to her pinterest so I could check out her "wedding vibe" as she called it, and I was swooning from that moment on. When I arrived at this lovely little B&B tucked into the woods, it was like stepping into a Thomas Kinkade painting.

Jenna & Roland - you two were amazing and wonderful and all of those wonderful words and it makes me wildly happy that you picked me to tell your story. Your love for each other was so beautiful and unmistakable and is exactly why I love doing what I do. So thanks for being two of my new favorite people, and for risking sheep and spiders in search of beautiful wedding photos.

 ... And Blood Orange San Pellegrino may be my new addiction!

Venue: Pleasant Springs Farm B&B

 

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Katie & Sam's Fredericksburg, Virginia Wedding, 8.1.15

Katie & I met in high school, so when she contacted me about shooting her and Sam's wedding, I knew from that moment that it'd be a fantastic day. Katie is the epitome of a laid-back bride and I can't appreciate that enough! She arrived at the venue with a smile on her face and that smile only grew bigger as the day progressed.

Katie & Sam, you two were two of my most favorite people to photograph, hands down. It's also wonderfully clear how happy the two of you are together. Thank you for trusting me with your wedding day!

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Bevin & Brian's Washington DC Wedding, 5.9.2015

From the moment I met up with Bevin & Brian on their wedding day, I knew it was going to be magical. Though they had not seen each other that morning, their glowing smiles matched perfectly. It was a day filled with sunshine, donuts, laughter, mimosas, and love.

Bevin & Brian, you two were a dream to work with. Thank you for the blessing of asking me to capture your beautiful day.

Flowers: Shelly @ The Flower Biz
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The day started at the Courtyard Washington Embassy Row Hotel, at least for the ladies.

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Florist: Shelly at The Flower Biz

Florist: Shelly at The Flower Biz

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Brian and his brother (and best man) Adam started off the morning at the Grooming Lounge.

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The wedding was held at St. Thomas Apostle Catholic Church in Woodley Park.

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And as the last dance was Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds...

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Reecie & Aaron's Oregon City Wedding, 5.24.2015

Over Memorial Day, I flew to Oregon to photograph Reecie & Aaron's lovely wedding, held in the Tumwater Room at the Museum of the Oregon Territory, with beautiful views of the Willamette River and Willamette Falls.

The love between the two of them clearly triumphed over any worries of the day.  It was magical. Reecie and Aaron's family & friends made me feel like family right from the first moment I met them.

Reecie & Aaron, you two are amazing. Thank you so much for asking me to be a part of your day!

And now, the good stuff!

We started the day at the Dosha salon. Seriously the coolest place to get hair and make-up done - look at the cool mirrors and lights! The stylists and makeup artists did such a great job too.

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After a lunch break, we trekked to the Tumwater Room. Such pretty flowers surrounded the museum, I couldn't help but take advantage of them.

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The vows were exchanged and the glass was broken in the gorgeous Tumwater Room.

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The two families meshed together quite wonderfully - I wish all family formals were this fun!

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The reception started with toasts...

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Then the party started!

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There was even a stormtrooper toss. Reecie had caught the stormtrooper at a previous wedding and wanted to continue the tradition.

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Nikki & Thomas's Limestone, Tennessee Wedding. 6.28.2014

It's been one whole year (and a day) since Nikki & Thomas tied the knot at the beautiful Harvest Acres Farm in Limestone, Tennessee, and as such I thought their wedding would be perfect for kickin' off my brand new blog! Since a picture speaks a thousand words, we'll get right to the good stuff!

Nikki & Thomas, I wish you as much love and happiness for the rest of your lives as was felt on your magical wedding day.

Special thanks to Alyson at Photography by Alyson Lawton for second shooting with me!

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