Some couples want an engagement session to get comfortable with their photographer before the wedding. Others feel it is an unnecessary expense or worry it will feel staged. Here is everything you need to know to make the right decision for you.

What is an engagement session?

An engagement session is a portrait session of the two of you. Sometimes it serves a specific purpose: Save-the-Date cards, display at your reception, or on your wedding website. Sometimes it is simply a wonderful opportunity to have professional photographs taken during this time in your lives. The engagement period is a sweet time in a relationship, and it is lovely to commemorate it.

How does an engagement session work?

We choose a location, set a time, and meet there on the day of the shoot. Instead of walking from landmark to landmark through a set of pre-chosen poses, we take a walk and stop to shoot along the way. I am looking for beautiful light, interesting backgrounds, and compositional scenarios for your portraits.

The scenarios I put you in are gentle guides to interaction, not rigid poses. I want to see how you are together and how comfortable you are. If you are less inclined toward public displays of affection, I will not have you do anything that does not feel natural. If you are exuberant and outgoing, I will not put you into reserved, hands-off poses.

I might have you take a walk down a long tree-lined path and instruct you to talk to each other the entire time without looking at me. What I am looking for is how you make each other laugh, your reactions to what the other says, and the natural cadence of your interaction. Your emotions and interactions are entirely your own. That is why clients remark on the believability of my engagement images. They are real moments.

How do we pick a location for our engagement session?

If you have a location in mind, I would love to hear about it. Many clients know precisely where they want to shoot because it is meaningful to them. A childhood neighborhood, the street you live on now, and the park from your first date. Choosing a location that matters to you gives your images even more impact.

I recommend staying away from locations you have only seen on blogs or Pinterest unless they are genuinely important to you. If you are not sure where to shoot, I am glad to offer suggestions. I travel often for engagement sessions and would love to hear about your plans wherever you are.

What days and times work?

Timing depends on location and time of year. In the city, the sun goes behind the buildings before it reaches the horizon, so you lose the light earlier than sunset. As a general rule, I recommend starting sessions in the warmer months around 6 pm and in winter around 3 pm.

Engagement sessions are available Tuesdays through Thursdays, with occasional availability on Fridays. Due to a heavy wedding schedule, sessions are generally not available on weekends.

What should we wear for our engagement session?

First and most importantly: feel like yourselves. If you are a jeans-and-t-shirt couple, will you feel comfortable in cocktail attire? If you love flats, will you feel natural in heels? Do not dress in a way that does not represent who you are. Gothic cape? Go for it. Overalls? Fine with me. Casual black tie ballgown? Bring it all on.

You do not need to match each other. Coordination is fine, but I do not encourage identical outfits. Look for colors that complement each other or sit in the same color family. Avoid bright whites, highly visible logos, or patterns that compete for attention. You do not want your outfits to pull focus away from your faces.

Consider your location when choosing what to wear. Casual dress or jeans and a vintage top work beautifully in a park or field. A cocktail dress or sleekly tailored coat fits a downtown Manhattan session. Deliberately contrasting your outfit to your location can also be very compelling.

Can we bring our dog? Our kids? What about props?

Pets and kids are welcome, but I strongly suggest limiting their involvement. Include them briefly at the beginning of the session, then have a trusted person take them home. If you spend the session managing children or holding a leash, you will not be able to relax and be together. That affects everything.

Props, I gently discourage. The point of the engagement session is to create beautiful portraits of you two together. Props become the story rather than you. If you have always dreamed of running across the Brooklyn Bridge holding a huge cluster of balloons, let us do it, and then put them away. If you have a Save the Date sign, shoot it quickly and tuck it in your bag. I want to bring your vision to life, and I also want the focus to stay on you.

We are super nervous in front of the camera and take terrible, terrible pictures. Can you help us learn to pose?

Please do not worry about being bad in front of the camera. I have been photographing weddings and engagements since 2001 and have documented hundreds of couples. Not a single one of them, no matter how much they insisted they would be terrible, was actually terrible. Awkward sometimes. Uncomfortable at first. My job is to help you feel less awkward and uncomfortable, and I am good at it.

You are having these pictures taken to document your love for your partner. If you concentrate on that and focus on your upcoming marriage, you are going to be just fine. I promise.

What if the weather is bad?

I watch weather apps closely in the days leading up to your session. If it looks like rain, we will connect a few days in advance to discuss a game plan. Ninety-nine percent of the time, that means picking a new date immediately. Sometimes people prefer to wait until the morning of the session. I am fine with that, but if we start and it gets rained out, there will be a rescheduling fee. In my experience: reschedule right away when it looks like rain. Lock in a new date as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions: Engagement Sessions

Do I need an engagement session before my wedding?

You do not need one, but most couples who do one are glad they did. The primary benefit is getting comfortable in front of the camera and with your photographer before the wedding day. A couple who has already worked together with me comes to their wedding more relaxed, and that shows in the photographs.

How long does an engagement session take?

Most sessions run one to two hours. That is enough time to move through a couple of locations, settle into the experience, and get past any initial awkwardness. Rushing produces stiff images. Having enough time lets you actually relax.

Where should I do my engagement session in NYC?

Wherever feels like you. Central Park is beautiful and endlessly versatile. DUMBO gives you the iconic Brooklyn bridge framing. The West Village has cobblestone streets and brownstones that photograph beautifully. If you have a place that matters to your relationship, that is always the right answer over a location that just looks good on Instagram.

How much does an engagement session cost in NYC?

It varies by photographer. Some include engagement sessions in wedding packages. Others offer them as a standalone add-on. Ask specifically what is included in your package and what an additional session costs before signing.

What should I wear for an engagement session?

Something that feels like you. Coordinate with your partner without matching exactly. Avoid logos, bright whites, and busy patterns. Wear shoes you can actually walk in. And bring a second outfit if you want variety in the gallery.

Can we do an engagement session if we are visiting NYC from out of town?

Yes, and it is one of my favorite kinds of session. Couples visiting New York City bring a sense of genuine excitement to the city that reads beautifully in photographs. If you are planning a trip to New York and want to schedule a session, reach out well in advance so we can find the right timing and location for your visit.

Do you do engagement sessions?

Yes. If you are planning a wedding or simply want portraits taken during your engagement, I would love to talk about what that looks like. 

If you have any questions at all or want to talk through whether an engagement session makes sense for you, I am always glad to chat.