The Menarys
Adore Portrait Session Guide
We’re looking forward to photographing your engagement portraits! We realize this might be one of the first times you’ve done professional photography together, but this is far from our first rodeo. So we’ve put together a little guide to help you prepare. Grab a glass of bubbly and get cuddly, and let’s get you ready for your engagement portraits!
- SHANNON & SHAUN
I
WARDROBE
“What should we wear?”
In any portrait session, the photos will be their best when you feel the most comfortable — when you’re not worrying about how you look but just enjoying how you feel. Some people feel their best when they’re shining in gowns and tuxes, and others prefer their favorite pair of jeans. As long as you’re wearing something you feel great in, your personalities will shine through, and we’ll do the rest!
TIPS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER
We recommend no more than one outfit change.
Outfit changes naturally reset the flow, momentum, and connection of the portrait session, which is totally normal and fine! But we only want that to happen one time - when we change locations. So if you just can’t narrow it down to one outfit, or if you just want to have fun with it and have more than one look, bring along second outfits! Depending on your locations, you might need to plan on changing in your car or a public restroom. Or we’re happy to bring along our portable fitting room. Just let us know!
2. Choose comfortable, hassle-free undergarments.
Nothing kills the romance like pushing around undergarment straps and bands. So just make sure all of your undergarments stay in place and don’t give you any surprise sightings! Always, always, always try on the undergarments you plan on wearing with your session outfits because you never know when something just isn’t working for a reason that never would have crossed your mind! This brings us to the next piece of advice…
3. Do a full wardrobe test run.
We’re talking clothes, undergarments, socks, shoes, all of it! Put everything on, walk around, sit down, stand up, cuddle, twirl, just wear it around for 10 minutes. Make sure everything’s fitting, looking, moving, and feeling the way you want. This will give you that little peace of mind going into the session.
4. Wear your colors.
Choosing wardrobe colors that complement your skin tones will make a world of difference in the way you appear in photos. Choose colors that help you “pop,” not wash you out. You’ll notice you look brighter, happier, and more vibrant in the photos. If you’ve never considered this before, HERE is a quick, simple article that will help.
5. Choose low-wrinkle fabrics.
You’ll be moving around a lot - sitting, standing, hugging, cuddling, ALL the fun stuff, so choose fabrics that won’t form and hold wrinkles throughout the session. Generally, synthetic fabrics will resist wrinkles, fabrics like polyester, bamboo, rayon, and TENCEL. Natural fibers will unfortunately be the bane of our collective existence, wrinkle-wise. So avoid hemp, linen, all-natural cotton, and similar fabrics. Silk falls somewhere in the middle, so if one of you has your heart set on a silk number, we can make that work!
6. When in doubt, consult a professional.
There are people who do this for a living! So if it seems overwhelming, ask for help. A professional wardrobe stylist can take all of these tips, ask y’all a few simple questions, and prepare a few wardrobe options for you to choose from in no time. These services for one portrait session are surprisingly affordable and can save you tons of time. We recommend Style by Lauren Frank, and let her know we sent you!
II
POSING
“How do we pose?”
Short answer: you don’t!
Your only job during our portrait session is to cuddle hard and laugh harder. We’ll give you as much or as little direction as you need. You two just bring the love, and we’ll take care of everything else.
TIP FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Make a small Pinterest board.
PLEASE feel free to bring ideas and inspiration to the table! If you come across particular images or poses you like, share them with us! We won’t copy another photo to the point that it affects the connection between the two of you, but we are more than happy to use your suggestions as a guide for what kind of photos you’d like to have. At the end of the day, we just want you to LOVE your engagement photos!
III
THE LITTLE THINGS
“What do we need to know that we haven’t asked yet?”
1. Consider your hands.
We’ll be including a few close-ups of the ring and the way you two connect with one another through physical touch. So don’t neglect those cuticles! And yes, this goes for both of you. Might we recommend a mani-pedi date the day before your session? Also, give that ring a little scrub for optimal sparkle!
2. Consider a hair and makeup trial.
An engagement session is actually one of the best ways to find success with your wedding day beauty artist! Photo makeup should be a little heavier than day-to-day makeup but still natural-looking. Oftentimes, finding this balance requires a professional who is seasoned in makeup for professional wedding photography.
3. Consider your nerves.
Some couples LIVE for professional photos and feel nothing but excitement. Most couples, however, experience at least some anxiety along the way. Please know that this is completely normal. More than that, it means that these photos, this wedding, and this relationship are very important to you. So it’s actually a very good thing. We have our trade-secret ways of getting you comfortable and relaxed during the session, but if your nerves are getting the better of you beforehand, our professional recommendation one pre-session cocktail!
4. Consider your tummy.
We recommend a light, protein-heavy snack before your session to sustain your energy. Don’t eat a full, heavy meal. Save that for our last tip…
5. Consider a date night.
You’re gonna look great, feel great, and already have the evening free of commitments. Why not keep the celebration going? We suggest picking your favorite local restaurant, a place that’s special, where you can enjoy a romantic dinner to end a very special day.
Our promise to you
Your photos will shine. Not because every hair was always in the exact right place. Not because you had your best, most-rehearsed smile. Not even because you have the perfect outfits. Your photos will shine because you two love each other, and that adoration — that’s the focus of a portait session with the Menarys. So relax and enjoy the experience. Photos are our job. Being in love — that’s yours. Congratulations on the easiest job in the world!
XO,
The Menarys
