E    S E S S I O N S

If you don’t normally like being photographed, engagement shoots are a great way to discover that it can be a very fun experience. It will also give us a chance to get to know you a bit more before your wedding and you’ll get an idea of how it will feel to have us photographing you on your wedding day.

Your engagement session is also a good time to express your personality as a person and a couple and it can be fun and very casual if you want it to. In fact, we advise that you make it as fun and as casual as possible.

Treat it as a fun time to spend with your partner away from your wedding planning and the rest of the world. You’ll discover that the love between you and your partner will become renewed all over again. This is because even though you didn’t notice, all that stress that comes with wedding planning was getting to you and your engagement shoot became like your vacation away from it.

We’ve had couples walk away after their engagement shoot and fall in love with each other all over again, remembering the reason why they wanted to get married in the first place. When you’ve been planning your wedding for a while, you’ll need time to destress and your engagement session can be that time.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION?

Well, apart from the 2+hour escape from reality that you’ll be getting, we will also take some photos of you to capture your true-life personalities. We try to direct it in the most fun way possible and we also know when to back off and capture things that are happening spontaneously. We love to capture the story of our couples, so be ready to tell your story. No stiff poses will be allowed!

Here at Butterfly Kisses and Coppola Films, we strive for our images to be a unique blend of art and photojournalism. We always go for images that look modern but timeless and most of all, natural. We know that sounds a bit complicated, so in simpler terms, we love photographing engagements and we thrive on the excitement, emotion, and enjoyment of that day!

WHAT SHOULD YOU WEAR?

This is one of the most common question that couples ask us and our answer is not complicated at all. Wear something that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and ready to take on the world! You can combine bold colors, patterned fabric, and some casual accessories. Feel free to explore and get creative with your wardrobe if you have to. We also have these other advises where your clothing is concerned:

One, if you are going to “dress up” bring it down a notch and casual up your dressy outfit. So, if you are going to wear a dress, for example, throw on a cute little jean jacket, or flip flops for a bit more of a casual look. Just keep in mind that if we are shooting at a park with wooded areas or fields the last thing that you want to wear is heels. So, if you are wearing a dress, dress it down with boots, dressy flip flops or sneakers. We’re warning you! There will be a lot of games, and running around so be kind to your feet. They will thank you later.  

But if the location is more urban, you definitely want to wear heels, and keep the look timeless.  But bring a pair of comfortable shoes, so it's easier for you to walk around in, as we are moving from one spot to another.

The second is that if you are going to go more casual like jeans, dress up your casual. Wear wedges instead of sneakers, and accessorize the outfit, with maybe a chunky necklace or big earrings. Above all, remember that there is no right or wrong with attires. Just make sure you look your best. Pick the outfit that gives you confidence and compliments your body type.

HOW ABOUT MAKEUP?

Yes, use makeup and make sure that it is professionally done. Even if you don’t regularly wear makeup, you must have a finished look for this shoot, and makeup will help you get that. It evens out your skin tone, enlarges your eyes and enhances your beauty. You will look awesome in your photographs with it.

CAN I SUGGEST A LOCATION?

While we have locations that we love to shoot in, you can always suggest a place that is meaningful to you and we’ll make it work. Especially if you are going for a particular look. But if not, feel free to leave the location finding in our capable hands. We’ve yet to let anyone down where location is concerned!

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS ON THE DAY OF OUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION?

We always track the weather when we have an upcoming shoot. If they’re calling for a 60% chance of rain and 5mm or over, we cancel 1-2 days before your shoot and reschedule for another day. The locations that we book have no problem transferring the permit over to another day and we’re sure that your makeup artist and/or hairstylist will understand.

We can’t wait to photograph you guys! Lots of love!