Welcome to the Birmingham engagement session locations and prep guide. Now that you have picked a date, and probably a photographer and venue as well, you can celebrate! Those are some of the toughest decisions in wedding planning and you can cross them off your list. Now on to the fun stuff…like your engagement session.
It’s always a little intimidating to have your picture taken…even if it’s just a photo on an iPhone that is taken by a friend. We still want to look nice, make sure nothing is in our teeth and that our hair is behaving. Preparing for your engagement session can be a little overwhelming. This post provides tips for outfits and how to get the most out of your session.
The Basics + What to Bring
POCKETS | Empty your pockets! You don’t want to have key chains or phones showing through your pockets. This is easy to overlook but very hard to edit out.
TIMING | The optimal time for portrait sessions is two hours before sunset to take advantage of the most flattering light of the day. Quality light is the most important variable in creating beautiful portraits.
ARRIVE EARLY | Leave home early to avoid stressful traffic and delays. The goal is to have a stress free, fun session and the best way to start is to be on time.
MANICURE & RING CLEANING | If possible, it is ideal to get a manicure and to clean your ring before your session.
HAVE FUN | Enjoy this time together and make a date out of it! Plan dinner afterwards and celebrate!!
CLOTHING | Some couples like to bring one casual outfit and one dressier outfit. Be sure to dress for the season. There’s nothing more miserable than wearing a jacket or sweater in 100-degree temps. Keep reading for style tips in the next section.
LIP COLOR & HAIRSPRAY | You may need to apply more lip color after one outfit change and a few kisses. (If you have a bold lip color, try to have a matte finish so it won’t transfer to your groom as intensely!) Hairspray and a brush will be helpful if your hair struggles in the humidity.
SKIP THE SPRAY TAN | Despite its initial appeal, opting out of a spray tan before your engagement session or wedding, even if it’s done a few days in advance, is well advised. Despite professional application and subtlety, spray tans often photograph with an orange tint that’s difficult to repair in post-production. Embracing your natural skin tone will result in the most beautiful and authentic photographs.
FLIP FLOPS | If you’re wearing shoes that are difficult to walk in but look awesome, bring some comfy shoes to change into while we walk to each shooting location.
EAT & STAY HYDRATED | Have a good meal but nothing too heavy a couple of hours prior to your session and bring your water bottle.
BRINGING YOUR DOG? | Some locations don’t allow pets so plan strategically. Bring a squeaky toy, treats and an extra person. Your pup may not last the entire session.
Birmingham Engagement Session Locations
Choose a location that’s special to you such as a park that you frequent together or the site of your first date. Two locations max is recommended. Be sure to choose locations that are close to one, another so you won’t lose too much of the valuable daylight. The rule of thumb is the more locations and outfits, the less images, but the more variety you’ll have. Here are some Birmingham location suggestions: The Birmingham Botanical Gardens and downtown Birmingham such as Railroad Park, Robert S. Vance Federal Building, Rotary Trail and the Rainbow Bridge will give your session a lot of different looks and the commute from the gardens to downtown is only a few minutes. Other Birmingham area locations include: Aldridge Gardens in Hoover, Sloss Furnaces, Tannehill State Park and Vulcan Park.
Outfits & Styling
Believe it or not, you have so much control over the outcome of your shoot and what it looks and feels like! What you choose to wear is a big decision that often causes some stress for the bride beforehand. However, with a little education, you will be able to determine the style and feel you desire for your shoot which will make your outfit selection so much easier and less complicated! Let’s start by debunking some very common outfit myths that a lot of people believe about what they should wear to their session.
Outfit myths:
- MYTH ONE: Avoid neutrals, they wash you out!
Whoever started this myth couldn’t have been further from the truth. There are some colors that don’t work for some people, but most people look amazing in neutrals and those colors shouldn’t be avoided. The truth is neutrals are the most photogenic color for portraits. Neutrals include colors such as beige, cream, gray & white.
- MYTH TWO: Always wear black or you won’t look thin!
Sure, black is slimming, but it also photographs very heavy in portraits. There is nothing wrong with black, but if you’re only wearing it to look thinner and deep down you’re hoping for light and airy portraits, it may not be the best choice.
- MYTH THREE: You two need to match!
Please don’t try to match your significant other. Instead, try to coordinate. Coordinating is a completely different concept than “matching.” Coordination means you are usually choosing different colors that look good together but are not close to being the same.
- MYTH FOUR: Your location determines your style more than your outfit.
False! Your outfit has way more impact than your location. Your location is just a setting in the background but you two will still be the focus of the images. If you want an overall romantic look to your photos, you will need to wear lighter, more neutral colors in your photos to achieve this look!
- MYTH FIVE: You have to buy something new.
False! If you know you look awesome in an outfit that you already have and it fits the style you want for your engagement session, that would be a great choice!
What style do you prefer?
BOLD or NEUTRAL
DRESSY or CASUAL
CLASSIC or TRENDY
These choices represent the three main decisions you will have to make regarding to your outfit choices. There are no right or wrong answers! Maybe you want one outfit to be dressy and the other to be casual. Maybe you want one outfit to be very light and neutral, but you want to wear more color in the next outfit. These categories will hopefully help you determine what you’re hoping for in your engagement session. If you’re feeling stuck and can’t seem to determine what you prefer, that’s very normal!
Here are some general “rules of thumb” when it comes to styling during an engagement session. Once you read through these, you may have a better understanding of what you prefer, and you can start planning your outfits. Keep in mind that these “rules of thumb” aren’t concrete rules that can’t be broken.
Things to Avoid:
- Colors to avoid: bright reds, neons, bright oranges (they reflect color onto skin and can be difficult to edit!).
- Avoid patterns smaller than a quarter: Tiny patterns cause something called “Chromatic Aberration” in digital images. Men’s checkered shirts are fine if the “checks” are on the larger side.
- Alternate Heaviness: If one of you is wearing very dark jeans, the other may want to wear lighter pants. If one of you is wearing a navy top, the other shouldn’t wear a dark/heavy-colored top. To a certain degree, alternating the “heaviness” of your outfits can make your images look more balanced.
- Avoid one of you being casual while the other is dressier: This can look a bit awkward in your photos.
- Other things to avoid: Tennis shoes, Graphic tees, Bold logos on shirts, Sunglasses & Baseball Hats.
ROMANTIC STYLE RECIPE
If you’re hoping for a more romantic style of shoot that includes “light” and “airy” colors, you can make outfit choices that will allow your images to turn out brighter, softer, and extra photogenic! Here are some ingredients that go into creating a romantic-styled shoot. It’s important to note that you do not need to choose all of these ingredients in order to have a light and airy style to your images but the more ingredients you include, the more romantic and bright your images will be:
– Neutral Colors: Blushes, tans, light pinks, faint blues and light minty teals, creams, grays and whites will always result in more of a light and airy look in your images. These colors photograph softer and more romantically!
– Long, Flowy Skirts/Dresses: Dresses and skirts with feminine ruffles, multiple layers of fabric and the ability to blow and move in the wind will always photograph beautifully! You would be amazed at how impactful moving fabric softens an image.
– Khakis vs. Jeans: If you really want your images to be as bright as possible, consider having your groom wear lighter pants instead of dark dress pants or dark jeans.
BRIGHT & BOLD RECIPE
Just like the “Romantic” recipe, you don’t have to apply all of these “ingredients” to get a perfectly BRIGHT & BOLD look to your engagement session. These ingredients include:
– Only One Wears a Pattern: If one of you has a bold pattern, it’s very important that the other doesn’t. The bolder the pattern, the more important this rule becomes!
– Bold Backgrounds: A lot of time, if my couples are going for a bold and bright look, I will look for solid-colored backgrounds to use for part of their engagement session. It’s a double win if the background coordinates with their outfits.
– Only One Bold Color: If you really want a bold and bright look but you want to do it well and tastefully, one of you should have a bright and bold colored outfit and the other stay in a solid neutral to avoid overdoing it.
– Large Patterns are Preferred: If you really want to wear a pattern, your pattern should be on the larger side. Patterns that are smaller than a quarter can be difficult to photograph. This isn’t true of all patterns but it’s a good general rule to go by.
– Consider Muting your Favorite Color: If you love a certain bold color and want to include it in your outfit selection, choose a muted tone of this favorite color. For example, if you love purple, instead of selecting a deep, dark, and bold purple shirt, you can get the purple vibes through a lavender or even a periwinkle color.
Style Tips for Your Groom
Elegant Attire
A well-tailored suit exudes confidence and elegance. Consider investing in one that will stand the test of time. Surprisingly, quality suits need not break the bank; many renowned brands offer off-the-rack options at affordable prices. Choose solid shades like gray or navy, as they complement most women’s outfits seamlessly. Avoid distracting patterns like pinstripes or plaids.
No Suit, No Problem
If a suit isn’t your style, dark jeans or light-colored khakis paired with a coordinated long-sleeve dress shirt can create a polished look.
Attention to Detail
Choose long pants, long-sleeved dress shirts, and closed-toed shoes for a polished and flattering look. They draw attention away from your legs, feet and arms and place it on your face. It’s best to leave casual items like shorts and sandals at home. Accessories such as ties, bowties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests, and watches add a sharp finish to your ensemble. Consider bringing multiple accessories to switch up your look during the session. Mixing and matching accessories can complement your partner’s attire without the need for a full wardrobe change.
Engagement Session Check List
- Set time, date and location
- Review guide for style tips
- Schedule hair and makeup appointments
- Choose your outfits
- Get your nails done
- Clean your ring
Pack A Bag With:
- Flats or flip-flops for walking between photo locations
- Water bottle
- Coat or cover up for colder sessions
