When to do Your Engagement Session // Chanel + Zac

When to do you engagement session depends on when you book your photographer, and what setting you’re hoping for.

Usually people book their photographer the year before their wedding date. In this case, booking your engagement in that same year is the best choice. This gives you time to get your photos back for invites or websites, guestbooks or just because we looooove photos. You have more options for which season/setting to do them in as well.

If you’re a last minute wedding, you’re more limited to the time of year you’ve booked. You should simply do them asap, understanding you may be more limited in setting choices.

Or, in some cases, you can do an after-wedding session. For example, when I booked a wedding in November for February, they wanted summer photos and decided to do after. These sessions can be very relaxed knowing the wedding is over, and it’s simply for the fun, just married goodness.

Setting (Season) Helps Further Decide When

The next thing that can do to help you decide when is to think about if you’d like a similar or different background to your wedding photos.

1. You want a different look from your wedding photos.
   • If you are getting married in the summer, you can choose fall colours for variation in your photos.
   • Winter engagement photos are an option as well, though they come with challenges in regards to temperature. Colder temps means more layers for outfits (Check Libby + Nick’s session). The cold can cause you to see your breath and not be able to stay outside for long periods of time. None of these are deal breakers at all, just things to consider when deciding.
   • Fall, city or destination weddings can cause people to choose summer to provide a variety of photos for themselves. Ex. Getting married in the mountains? Summer anywhere else looks different, so people choose the warmer months, not minding that it’s the “same”.
2. You want the same background.
   • If you’re getting married in the fall there is no guarantee for colourful leaves. Because engagement sessions are flexible, you can choose fall to give yourself a better chance to get those colours!
   • Summer is obviously the most popular time for weddings and engagements. Though backgrounds are similar (green green GREEN!) there is a difference in spaces you can go. On your wedding day you are limited to distance you can travel and obviously what you’re wearing. People want those summer time lovin photos, but wearing clothes that are them.
   • GOLDEN HOUR is never guaranteed, but you definitely have a higher chance if you chase it for your engagement. In this case, people may choose the same (warmer) months as they’re wedding .

What do you imagine yourself wearing?

If you imagine a sweet dress and being warm and comfortable, then June to early September are for you. Long sleeves, tights, a little layering works for you? Then May to early October becomes available as well. If you’re okay with lots of layers, toques and mittens, then the whole YEAR is your oyster! Just think about how you want to feel when taking your photos. What makes you the most comfortable?

When to do your Engagement Session can be Effected by Where.

I plan to do a little blurb on where to choose engagement photos, but the two can be tied together.

For example, if you want photos in the mountains, shoulder seasons are the best (May/End of September into October). That being said, high season works too, but my suggestion will always be to choose a weekday to avoid crowds.

Looking for buildings and architecture? Then the when doesn’t really matter! It will go back to what you want to wear.

Chanel + Zac

Chanel and Zac are two easy-going, big laughing and lotsa loving human beings. They booked their session for June the year before their September wedding in the mountains. Photos with their dog Millie (and Zac’s truck!) were very important to them. That and the fact they love being home together made choosing where to go easy.

We moved around their property, talking, laughing, sharing, all while getting to know one another. Sunshine, not too many mosquitoes, and these hunnies, made for a great night. With their trust I was able to do my thang, and I hope their love for one another comes through.

xxo

To see Chanel and Zachary’s wedding click here.

For what to expect weather wise throughout the year in Alberta click here.