Casey + Heather: Point Dume Engagement Session

MALIBU ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Casey and Heather flew out to the west coast to visit their siblings, so instead of doing their engagement session in New York, we met up in Malibu! We originally had some pretty epic New York engagement photo ideas, but of course covid happened and we had to postpone. Heather also didn’t want to take engagement photos until they had a ring, which of course they did for their engagement session at Point Dume.

Since Heather works in fashion, I knew their outfits would be on point! Heather messaged me before the shoot to see if they could plan for 3 outfits and to jump in the ocean at the end. Most couples say “oh yeah we want to do some ocean photos” until they realize they have to get in the ocean (haha!), but Casey and Heather definitely committed!! Scroll to the end for some of my favorite photos from their session.

Bret + Marlene: Beverly Hills Couple Shoot

A BEVERLY HILLS COUPLE SHOOT

Bret and I have a few mutual friends, so I was pumped when he reached out about doing a shoot. We pulled together some ideas and inspiration then met up in Beverly Hills at one of his favorite locations. He’s a photographer as well, so I definitely felt the pressure leading up to this shoot. It turned out so fun and creative. Thanks Bret for sharing your spot with me!

What to Wear to Your Engagement Photos: 5 Tips to Choose Engagement Outfits

5 TIPS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTO OUTFITS

Your engagement session is such an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful when it comes to deciding what to wear. You probably have been sitting on Pinterest searching for “engagement photo outfit ideas” or “engagement wardrobe inspiration,” etc. Stress no more because it should be fun and I hope these tips will help you choose outfits you’ll love during your engagement photos!

1. Choose Comfort Over Current Trends

Comfort is the most important thing during engagement photos - comfort in front of the camera, comfort with your photographer, comfort with your partner, comfort in your clothing. If you’re not comfortable in your outfit, it will show in the photos. Think about your personal style for a moment. Do you wear dresses or heels often or are you used to wearing jeans and a cute top? Those wardrobe pieces may look great on other people, but if you’re not used to wearing dresses or can’t walk in heels (hi, meeee!), it will show in the photos. Don’t let other people’s fashion choices encourage your personal style to a point of discomfort. The last thing any photographer wants for their clients is an uncomfortable session. If you’re set on wearing a new pair of heels or trying a new outfit, wear those pieces ahead of time. Practice wearing heels beforehand, even if for 10-15 minutes a day. It will boost your confidence if you’re comfortable.

2. Casual and Formal

Most photographers allow 1-2 outfits during an engagement session and personally I encourage it. Before any session I send an overview of what to expect, which details outfit ideas and what to bring. More specifically, I suggest to bring a casual outfit and a more formal outfit, so we can show diversity as we change locations. I suggest starting with the casual look first so you can get comfortable/warmed up. By the time you're in the formal look, you'll be a pro! Keep reading to see some examples a little further down.

3. Keep Your Backdrop in Mind

Hopefully you’ve chosen a backdrop before choosing your outfits or maybe you’re choosing the backdrop based on your outfits. Either way, keeping the location in mind is important. Colorful backdrops can either be met with even more color or simple outfits such as jeans and a white tank top as pictured above. If you are planning to take photos on a beach, aim to dress in clothes that are light and flowing. If you’ll be surrounded by fall leaves, layering in textures is a great option. Again this is where your personal style comes into play - choose outfits in colors and textures you’re comfortable in that will enhance the backdrop. Build a mood board of outfit ideas and poses based on your backdrop, too.

Casual outfits are perfect for poses with a lot of movement. Ever wonder how everyone looks so happy, comfortable, and natural? Well, a lot of it has to do with movement and action based posing rather than static posing. I tell all of my couples ahead of time to expect a workout, both cardio and lifting between running around the beach, piggyback rides, and spinning around. Don’t forget props like a skateboard, a blanket, or a save the date sign.

Casual-Formal outfits or what some might consider business casual outfits are also a great option for an in between outfit or if you’re planning to only do one outfit the entire session. It can be as simple as a romper/jumpsuit with your partner’s button down shirt with jeans/chinos or a long flowy top with jean shorts. I’ll say it again, think about what you and your partner are most comfortable in and build from there.

Formal outfits, I mean hello date night!! Need I say more? You’re likely getting your makeup done (pro tip: use your engagement session to do your makeup trial), doing your hair, and you probably bought a new outfit, which sounds like key components to a date night to me. This is likely the only time you’re planning to take photos with your hunny, so why not dress up a bit, get some beautiful photos and enjoy a date night after?

4. Try The Outfits On

Don’t forget to try your outfits on ahead of time. Don’t wait until the day of or the day before when it’s too late to purchase something else. Try your outfits on and take pictures in the mirror or have your significant other take photos of you in your backyard or on your evening beach walk. Practice some poses in the mirror while you’re at it, too. If can’t decide which outfit to wear, get some opinions on your outfits by sharing the photos with your best friends or your family.

5. HAVE FUN!

Go out there and have fun!! I know, cliche, but the sooner you start to think about this as fun, the more fun you’ll have throughout the entire process. One of my couples had a nightmare before their engagement session because they were so stressed out about taking photos. All of their stress and worries were alleviated as soon as the engagement session started. Remember, you’ve hired a professional, someone you trust, so if you’re still worried, talk to your photographer. By all means, I’d suggest to even send photos of your outfits to your photographer, too! Get ready to have some fun during your engagement photos!!

Keith + Lauren: Point Dume Malibu Engagement Photographer

A POINT DUME ENGAGEMENT SESSION

If you’re looking for gorgeous, golden photos at sunset, look no further! Point Dume in Malibu should be at the top of your list for engagement photo locations. You have the beach, which can give you a variety of locations - right by the water, on the sand, and by the rocks. You also have access to the cliffs - an easy hike to the top and you get the view you see above. There are a few levels of the cliffs, so you have options at the top, which is actually where we spent most of our time. Normally, I start down on the beach and end at the top of the cliffs, but Keith and Lauren loved the cliffs so much and it was so beautiful, we had to stay up there.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to bring props, too. Even a simple blanket can add so much to your shoot - keep scrolling to see how Keith and Lauren used a blanket in their shoot.

Anastasiya + Brendan: Point Dume Malibu Engagement Session

A MALIBU ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Anastasiya and Brendan are such a sweet couple and so fun to be around! We met up at Point Dume in Malibu for their engagement session. They’re friends of another couple I worked with, who put us in contact with each other! I had so much fun hangin with them and running around the beach!