Well what do you know…being on the other side of the camera IS hard!! However, luckily for me, I came totally prepared and trusting my photographer 100% so I knew I had nothing to worry about. With that being said, I did learn some new tips that I wanted to share with y’all and hopefully you can take something away from it when prepping for your engagement session with me! All photos were taken by our amazing wedding photographer Hannah Brooke (www.hannahbrookephotogrpahy.com)

1. Pack everything in advance

I can’t preach this enough!! Try on your outfits together and pack them up days in advance. Make sure it’s all ironed, steamed, accessories are packed and ready to go! We forgot Rileys undershirt for his white button up but we left early enough that we were able to stop at Walmart on the way.  But if we got there and forgot it would have ruined that outfit!

2. Clean the bling

Ok this one is also a must but its super easy to do at home if you don’t have time to take it to a jeweler. Just be super careful while doing it and don’t drop it down the sink! Here is how I clean mine at home:

1. equal parts windex, water and a squeeze of gentle dish soap in a microwave bowl (I use a clear glass measuring cup) and microwave for 15-30 seconds. Careful it will be hot!
2. take bowl out of microwave and gently place ring in the bowl. Let it soak for 15 minutes.
3. Take a soft bristle brush and start scrubbing in the creases of your ring to get all the dirt and grime out.
4. let it air dry and viola! Let your diamond sparkle during your session!

3. Go pro for hair & makeup

I don’t regret this ONE BIT! I love the way it turned out and it was a great trial before the wedding day. I felt super confident during the engagement session and I didn’t have to stress knowing it was taken care of. In fact, I got to sip some champagne and get pampered which put me in a great mood before the session!

4. Have fun!!

Oh my gosh, we had soooo much fun during our session. Yeah, we had some serious and more intimate moments but we also had so much fun during the session! Lots of laughs, jokes and fun times which made us looked relaxed and joyful in our photos. 

5. Bring props!

Sooooo I had this vision for like 15+ years. I told myself, if my future husband doesn’t ride he is posing next to a dirt bike anyway! Luckily Riley rides so it worked out perfectly. This was literally a dream come true and I’m so glad we brought the dirt bikes and make custom jerseys. Definitely represents us as a couple and some of my favorite photos from the session!

6. Choose a location that means something to you!

Riley and I are getting married at Lake Sonoma next year and I really wanted to do our engagement session where we could overlook the Lake. We have friends who have property up at the lake so it worked out perfectly for us!

7. Hydrate and watch what you eat!

Even though I was prepped for our engagement session, I was still exhausted afterwards. Modeling is no joke and I definitely needed some breaks to drink water to rehydrate. Staying hydrated and watching what you eat before the session will not only help with bloating (ladies, I feel you!) but it will also help with your energy level during the shoot.