8 Tips for an Awesome Colorado Engagement Session
Holy shit, you said YESSS!!! Now as the butterflies start to settle and you get back into your normal headspace you realize you have to plan your engagement session in Colorado, and where the heck do you start with that? While it might seem overwhelming, the good news for you is that I LOVE engagement sessions, and I have lots of tips and tricks for you to make sure your session is the best it can be! Keep reading to know my top 8 tips for planning your engagement session so that you make yours THE best it can be!!
1. Choose the Right Location
The very first step of planning out your engagement session! I know that here in Colorado, we are so fortunate to have so many incredible backdrops available to choose from for your engagement session. We have stunning mountain views, dense forests, red rocks, grasslands, epic sand dunes, and lakes. And if the outdoors aren’t your vibe, Denver has a great art scene, or city vibes for those dramatic engagement photos.
No matter the setting or style you want for your engagement session, I have an unending arsenal of locations in Colorado that I can recommend! As you start to think about what kind of location you want to have your engagement session in, ask yourselves these questions to help guide you.
Is there anywhere that is special to you that you want to include in your photos? It could be your first date spot, or your favorite hiking trail. Including a spot that is special to you, and not just popular, will make your photos feel even more personal!!
Do you want to do any activities? If you guys like going to breweries, why not do it for your engagement photos? Doing an activity during your engagement session both adds to the fun you’re having and the personality in your engagement photos!
If you are really wanting to head up into the mountains, are you willing to do a little hiking? Or would you rather find places close to the road? This will really help me figure out the best options for you during my location scouting process.
2. Choose the Right Outfits
“What should we wear?” This is maybe the most asked question I get leading up to any of my Colorado engagement sessions! All of my couples do get an in-depth outfit guide from yours truly, but here are some tips to get you started with picking out an outfit:
Pick Something COMFORTABLE
This is THE most important tip. If you pick an outfit you’re uncomfortable with, you are going to look and feel uncomfortable in your photos. Pick an outfit you feel confident in so that when we’re taking your engagement photos you’re both looking AND feeling your best!!
Coordinate, Don’t Match
I’m gonna be honest with you. me and my mans have two sets of matching sweaters, and we LOVE them. That being said though we aren’t EVER going to wear them to a photoshoot! Even we try to clean up nicely. What I’m getting at is that matching outfits can have their place in your lives, but that place is not at your engagement session!!
Bring Two Outfits
I practically always recommend my couples to bring two different outfits along to their Colorado engagement session! This is a great way to get a lot of variety out of just one photoshoot. I usually recommend an outfit that’s a little bit on the fancier and more formal side, and then one that is still cute, but more laid back. Check out Ana and Zach’s session to get an idea of what I mean!
Colors
You know what colors look good on you, so let’s start with those and work from there. From the colors that you know you like, I recommend that you go with neutral colors that aren’t going to be super distracting! We want the focus to be on your beautiful, happy faces!! You can also think about where we’re going to be shooting. If we’re going to be in the golden aspens on Kenosha pass, maybe don’t wear a yellow shirt as you’ll blend in!
Try to think about complementary colors. Cade and Ethan’s session is the PERFECT examples of outfits that complement one another. One more thing, avoid colors that majorly clash. Think, neon pink with mustard yellow! Gross!!
Patterns
If I had to force you to pick between solids and a pattern, I would usually err on the side of solids. That said, some patterns actually do photograph really well! Think small floral prints, plaids, and other SMALL patterns. Really loud, busy patterns, or shirts with big logos and big print are very distracting and not something I recommend. That being said, if one of you does want to wear a big pattern the other person should wear a solid color to balance the two of you out. Lastly, avoid logos and large words. That is UNLESS it's very specific to your love story! If you guys LOVE the Avalanche, then bring your Avs jerseys!
3. Choose the Right Time
You’ve probably heard of golden hour at least once before, but you’re gonna hear me talk about it a lot! Golden hour is immediately after the sun comes up, and the hour before the sun goes down. The light during this time is softer, warmer, and glowy. Golden hour is the best time to shoot if you want that romantic, gorgeous light!
Blue hour is also an amazing time for your engagement session, and it happens right when the sun goes down, or right before the sun comes up. We should incorporate a little bit of blue hour into your session if we can, because it can look AMAZING. Also, don’t worry as I will always give you SPECIFIC time recommendations based on the time of year, location, and lighting goals you have when we schedule your Colorado engagement session.
4. Bring Your Pets and/or Your Kiddos
All the pets, please! I am a crazy animal lady, so if you have a pet of any kind, (except maybe a tarantula), I will be so happy to have them at your session. If your pets won’t travel well, I’m happy to meet you on familiar territory so that we can start your session with some shots of your fur babies. Then we can head out and take some photos without them, leaving them comfy and happy at home!
If you guys have kids, bring them too! Even though this is an engagement session, they are part of your family and your story. One thing I do recommend for both bringing your pets or your children to your Colorado engagement session is to have a friend come with as well. That way when your pet or kiddos aren’t needed for the next photos they’ll have someone to look after them and keep them occupied until they’re needed again!
5. Pack a To Go Bag with Essentials
Having a bag with the essentials of your session in it is going to help you feel more prepared, and will definitely come in handy. Here are a few items I recommend to give you an idea of what I mean. One more pro tip, pack the night before and go through your packing list together so you’re sure you have everything for your Colorado engagement session!
Water. Please bring water, especially if we’re going hiking in the mountains. Dehydration is real!
Snacks. We can all get a little hangry, which unsurprisingly isn't ideal for your photos!
Pet treats (if you’re bringing a pet). This is huge to help get your furry friends to cooperate!
Blanket. I usually keep a picnic blanket with me in case we need/want it, but bringing one that you actually like and that coordinates with your outfits is best.
Extra layers. The weather in Colorado is unpredictable, so keep an eye on the weather and bring something warm and a waterproof layer just in case.
Extra socks. If you accidentally step into a stream in the middle of your shoot, having cold, wet feet isn’t going to make for comfortable photos. They’ll also be nice to change into once we’re done!
A draaaaank. Yep, I said it. Bring a White Claw or a beer if that is going to help take the edge off.
Champagne? Sure! If you like the idea of popping bottles for a picture, I’m down. If you don’t want to get sticky and waste champagne, you can also bring a bottle of sparkling water!
If you guys made some cute signs with your date on it, bring them! Anything special you’d like in your photos, don’t forget them.
6. Get Your Ring Cleaned
Make that bling sparkle baby!! It sure deserves its time in the spotlight, and I always LOVE doing ring shots while you and your boo are changing into the second outfit. Having a clean, sparkly ring will help it photograph its absolute best for your Colorado engagement session. Colorado is home to PLENTY of jewelers that offer ring cleaning services, such as Thollot & Co.
7. Have Your Hair and Makeup Done True to YOU
If you feel so inclined to get your hair and makeup professionally done, that is awesome, and if not, also awesome!! If you do decide to go for it, have your makeup done in a way that looks natural and true to your style. Your engagement session isn’t really the time to risk it all and try bright blue eyeshadow and a statement lip if that really isn’t YOU! Now if that actually is your style, right on, let’s rock it!!
This is true for your hair, too. Don’t do anything super crazy that you might not like just for your engagement session in Colorado. Just keep in mind that you’ll be looking back on these photos years from now, so be true to yourself and your style.
8. Try and Make a Day of Your Colorado Engagement Session!
Your Colorado engagement session with me is going to feel like date night, with an added bonus of a super fun third wheel to capture all the fun! Leading up to that super fun date night, I would recommend making a day out of it if you can. Even if you can take a half day off work to spend some time together before your session, relax, and have a bite to eat. You will feel so much better before your session. Avoid the feeling of rushing home from work, throwing on your outfit, and meeting me somewhere feeling frazzled. Take some time with your boo to enjoy the day, and savor this time of being engaged and crazy in love!
I’m sure after reading through my top tips for planning your Colorado engagement session you’re even MORE excited to start planning your own! If that’s the case and you still need a photographer for your wedding and engagement session send me an inquiry so we can chat about your day and your plans! And if you’re looking to see more of my work head on over to my blog page or my portfolio for some added inspo!!
