Holly D Shoot Tips…

Time Matters –

*Please be on time! I’m a natural-light photographer, so the sun dictates how long I can photograph you. Please make proper considerations for traffic, hair delays, and fashion emergencies! 😉 An average shoot lasts 1-1.5 hours…if you show up 30 minutes late, the session is not extended, but, rather, ends at the regularly scheduled time. Please don’t think ill of me…I just want to be honest in advance and let you know I want the BEST photography experience for you. And being on time achieves exactly this! 🙂 If you do happen to want night photos it is great to talk to me ahead of time so we can plan everything out.

What should we wear?

Here are a few tips I like to share when you’re thinking about what to wear for your engagement session:

• Avoid being too matchy-matchy. Gone are the days of both couples wearing white t-shirts and jeans. You’ll want what you wear to complement each other, not copy! (Using a pop of color to tie both of your outfits together always works well).
• For women, avoid shirts that are baggy or super-loose. Sometimes the camera can exaggerate the looseness in the clothing, which can cause one to appear more round than they really are.
• Feel free to bring an outfit change (one casual look, one dressy look). It’s always good to switch things up a bit and if we change locations, it will essentially be like you had two photoshoots.
• Solid colored clothing items are great, and if you want to bring in a pattern, have only one person wearing the pattern.
• Wear what you feel comfortable in. If you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing, it often shows in the images.
• If you wear heels, also bring flip-flops or other shoes that you can be more comfortable in while walking in-between shots.
• Try on everything a few days before the shoot. You’ll want to make sure your clothes fit correctly and you don’t have distractions from panty lines, bra straps, poor fitting clothing, or wrinkles!

Should I get my hair & makeup professionally done?

There are many benefits to getting your makeup done professionally:

• Makeup looks different on-camera than in-person, and a professional makeup artist will know how much more makeup you’ll need to show well on camera and make you look your best!
• Your skin will look great in-camera, and you’ll be amazed how awesome your skin looks! In my experience I have found that girls feel more confident once they get this done.
• It’s a great trial run for your wedding day! You can find out what works and what doesn’t, and make adjustments for your wedding day.

Double Checking Location –

*Don’t hesitate to check out the photo shoot locations beforehand. Sometimes there may be different events that happen on specific days at the location you love and it may interfere with your photos. The couple below had another location in mind but there was an event filled with hundreds of people there. I went to the location early and found this out so I drove around and found this beautiful hidden location that had everything that they still wanted. I encourage you to find a spot that reflects your love and a place you’ll both feel comfortable. And please note that there is no such thing as an ‘ugly’ location….there is beauty everywhere….we just have to find it! I’ve shot pretty much in every location imaginable (dumpsters, graffiti walls, etc), so please know that the location doesn’t necessarily have to be pretty at every corner 🙂

Props –

*It’s always fun to bring along props. I view every engagement session like a mainstream shoot–complete with models, props and scenery. I want every engagement shoot to look like it could be in a magazine, so feel free to bring things along that really reflect your fantastic personalities. For instance, I’ve had a couple bring along their dog another couple brought cotton candy and had fun eating it together. Another couple had matching iPods, so they brought them along because they’re both really into music. The list is endless! Suggestions: Bikes, Polaroid camera, hats, fun shoes, a pet, sports, a car, magazines you like reading. Anything! 🙂 Don’t hesitate to bring anything that truly reflects you individually or as a couple.

Blog –

*Be sure to check out the blog for engagement sessions and engagement slideshows before the shoot. I’ve also discovered that when the prospective groom views a slideshow in advance, it helps him feel comfortable in front of the camera. Girls are usually more likely to model or what I lovingly refer to as “work-it” in front of the camera. Guys, on the other hand, are sometimes not. However, if they see some of my images and poses beforehand, they know that I’m only there to make them look extra handsome. 

Is there anything else we should bring?

Bring powder to help eliminate any shine on the skin, lipstick, and hairspray for any flyaway hairs.