Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Engagement Photos

Julia and Kevin had the most stunning Arbor Hills engagement session last fall! Arbor Hills is one of my favorite spots to do sessions, particularly during the spring and fall seasons. There’s so much beautiful greenery at the beginning of the year, which then turns into beautiful fields of gold as the months turn cooler!

I love engagement sessions for so many reasons, and truly believe that they are a VITAL part of the entire wedding experience. During your session, you’ll have the chance to get to know me, experience how I shoot, and see how I handle lighting and posing. This session will make a huge impact on how the wedding day flows! I’ll go into your wedding day already knowing how you two interact, what your best poses are and how to photograph you in a genuine way! You guys will feel like such a pro on your big day because of the great practice you had during your engagement session, and that’s how it should be!

When should we schedule our Arbor Hills Engagement Photos?

I recommend choosing to do your session either ASAP after getting engaged, or when you’re four to five months out from the big day! The first option provides you with stunning photographs capturing this special time period in your relationship, and can be such a fun way to celebrate the occasion! Plus, you’ll have social media content for all the months of your engagement. Alternatively, waiting until four to five months before allows time for the anticipation to build, and for you to fully develop your vision for the session. It can be a really fun chance to reconnect with each other, as a little “pick me up” part of the way through the planning process. Whichever option you choose, I highly encourage that you book your session at least 1 month in advance to ensure you have enough time to book hair and makeup appointments, plan your outfits, and have the best experience possible! 

What should we wear?

Did you know that the outfits you choose will have a HUGE impact on how your pictures turn out at the engagement session?? It’s true! They help you set the tone, separate you from the background, and coordinate you with your person.

I almost majored in fashion journalism in college, and it’s because I. Love. Fashion. I love clothing because it’s ultimately just an extremely complicated communication tool that we use to express ourselves and our personality to the world, all without saying a word! Is that too existential?? Maybe. But there’s also no denying the power of an outfit that makes you look in the mirror and think “Wow, I look good!” When you’re in an outfit that you love and that makes you comfortable, you’ll not only carry yourself differently, but you’ll act with confidence and that is EVERYTHING!

Here are some of my favorite tips when it comes to choosing the outfits for your engagement session:

1. Aim for lighter colors! While the surroundings and my edits will be bright and airy regardless, if the two of you are wearing dark clothing it can definitely create a distracting dark hole which can take away from the style of the photos. A few of my favorite sites are Lulus, BHLDN, Baltic Born, and Morning Lavender!
2. Neutrals. are. the. bomb. You really can’t go wrong with pairing several neutral tans, grays and nudes together!
3. Dudes look really good in suits! This is pretty much a universally known fact, and one that makes a lot of sense when it comes to your engagement session. If the two of you don’t feel like going full formal, even dressy pants with sports jackets turn out super sharp in photos.
4. Don’t try to MATCH… try to pick outfits and accessories that coordinate instead. If everyone wore the exact same color, the pictures would be a little boring!
5. I highly recommend doing a “dress rehearsal” before your session! Spend 10 minutes with your fiance trying on your outfits together, dressed head to toe with accessories included. Stand in front of a mirror, and check yourselves out because you probably look pretty dang good😉 But in all seriousness, make sure you love the final product and the way all the pieces work together! This will help you avoid any last minute stress by ensuring that your entire outfit is finalized and ready to be packed day of. 

Julia and Kevin followed so many of these tips, and their session came out absolutely stunning! I’m so excited to share a few of my favorite moments below!

If you’re ready to book your engagement session, reach out below! I’m so excited to meet you🤗