We are beyond excited to have the opportunity to work with you for your engagement session! You may be feeling a little anxious about it, and that's normal - even we get butterflies before having our photos taken and we do this for a living!


Engagement sessions are truly one of a kind. Not only do they allow you to become familiar with being in front of the camera, but they also give us ample time to experiment with poses and angles. On a wedding day, photography timelines can be very tight, often giving us only 30 minutes for taking portraits. To ensure that your special day is captured perfectly, we highly encourage couples to do an engagement session prior - it will make the experience so much smoother on your big day!

Couple on the Beach Kissing for Engagement Portraits on Hilton Head Island Photographer Captured

Second, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is signficant to the two of you (and even include pets!). While they’re great for save-the-dates, we’ve taken engagement photos anywhere from 18 months in advance to a few days before the wedding. 

There is a lot to think about when it comes to planning a session and since we get asked the same things over and over again, we thought it would be the most beneficial if we put together a guide that walks you through everything you need to know. 

We’ll cover what to wear, whether to bring pets & how to manage them, location ideas and more!

– RODNEY K. GARY

Engagement Photographer in Savannah Georgia Photography for Couples at Forsyth Park

A NOTE TO

The Guys

We get it. Having your picture taken for 1-2 hours might not be in your top-10 favorite things to do during your downtime. And at first you might feel sort of awkward being in front of the camera. But I think you’ll find that by the end of the session, it’s a lot easier than you thought, and you even had a little fun. I look forward to it because it’s a great opportunity for us all to hang out a bit before the wedding day.


A NOTE TO

The Guys

We get it. Having your picture taken for 1-2 hours might not be in your top-10 favorite things to do during your downtime. And at first you might feel sort of awkward being in front of the camera. But I think you’ll find that by the end of the session, it’s a lot easier than you thought, and you even had a little fun. I look forward to it because it’s a great opportunity for us all to hang out a bit before the wedding day.


TIME & LIGHT


Is there a "good" time to take photos?

Engagement sessions can take place anywhere from immediately following a proposal to just a few days before the wedding. We’ve found that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos. We normally plan sessions based on a particular “look” a couple has in mind, spring flowers for example, or based on schedules.


Sessions typically last about an hour and a half and when we can—we love to begin sessions about two hours before sunset. We prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise is also an ideal time to shoot.


We schedule sessions during what we believe will be the best light of the day – which means that it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets harsher as it rises. 

Save-the-dates

If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 and 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 8 to 10 months before the wedding.


If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to send out your save-the-dates. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates, and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.

Locations

South Carolina & Georgia Engagement Locations (and we'll travel to a exclusive destination)


We love when couples choose a location for their session that complements their wedding. For example, if you’re planning a chic, elegant wedding, it may be fitting to take your engagement portraits among the classic architecture in downtown Savannah, while a local park or flower-filled fields may be more fitting for a couple planning a more rustic affair. The best session locations are often meaningful places to the couple; however, we’re also happy to make recommendations. From waterfalls to lavender fields to apple picking and college campuses, the options for engagement session locations are endless! 


Classic & Elegant


SC Statehouse

The Vista (Columbia, SC)

Historic Homes

Beach


Tybee Island Beach

Sapelo Island

Driftwood Beach

Daufaskie Island

Hilton Head Island

Coastal


River Street (Savannah)

Botanical Gardens

Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens

Edisto Gardens

Atalaya Castle

Rustic


A Vineyard

Tree & Flower Farms

State Parks

Adventure


Cooking Class

Hiking

Sailing / Boatingg

Mountain Climb

Urban


Basketball Gym

Downtown Savannah

Destination Engagement Sessions

The Lace House of Columbia South Carolina Engagement Wedding Day Photographer

While we take most of our engagement sessions in the Maryland area, 
we’ve photographed sessions everywhere from Richmond to New York City to Austin, Texas. If you have a location in mind that is significant to the two of you, let us know because if our schedules align, we might be able to take your engagement photos outside of our normal area.

Travel fees may apply depending on the location and our availability.

Outfits

Tips for Looking Your Best


When picking outfits we recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if the groom-to-be is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, the bride-to-be may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones. 


Generally, couples pick two outfits for an engagement session: a more formal outfit and a casual outfit. We recommend saving your favorite outfit for later in the session when couples usually feel more comfortable in front of the camera. And don’t forget to bring a few accessories! Statement necklaces, cute shoes, and classic watches are great ways to add detail to outfits. 


Inclement Weather

Schedule Your Engagement
Savannah Georgia Intimate Wedding Elopements and Micro Weddings Forsyth Park Wormsloe Historic Site

What to do if it rains

It’s typical for us to schedule two engagement session dates. A primary date and a rain date. Having two dates helps us make sure that your photos happen in a timely manner. Coordinating schedules can be tough and we’ve found that the best way to make sure our couples get the look they have in mind for their photos is to schedule two dates at the same time.

We’ll check in the week of your engagement session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. We know it takes a lot of time to get

Engagement Couple in Columbia South Carolina at The State House wearing Black and Red

PROPS


If you’re planning to bring props to your engagement session, we recommend including them only if they’re meaningful to you. Shots of drinking coffee at a local coffee shop would be cute if that’s where you met; however, trying to fly a kite together when it’s not a part of your relationship may come off as contrived.

PROPS


If you’re planning to bring props to your engagement session, we recommend including them only if they’re meaningful to you. Shots of drinking coffee at a local coffee shop would be cute if that’s where you met; however, trying to fly a kite together when it’s not a part of your relationship may come off as contrived.