Our Engagement Experience

Recently we have had a number of inquiries as to why our e-sessions are priced at $1000 when many competitors charge in the $300-$500 range. While I’d like to simply state that quality, above all else, should be the deciding factor, there are a few more things to it than that. When we were first starting out, we treated our e-sessions as nothing more than a quick portrait session that our couples would use for Save the Dates, a photo here and there at the reception, maybe even a sign-in book with some of the photos. After a number of years doing these quick portrait sessions, our clients began to put a little bit more effort into them and likewise, we followed suit. Often times our clients would start planning sessions out with certain themes and would even bring props or request multiple locations and wardrobe changes.  Within the past year our sessions became so popular that we had to start raising prices in the name of keeping the quality sky high.

The results have been fantastic! We only have a limited number of sessions per month, but the experience and the results have been so well received that we could not be more elated with the response. Our clients are doing large custom sign-in books, proudly displaying their e-session images all over their reception, and going crazy with them on Facebook, Flickr, and other social media sites. Here is what you can expect from us during our unique engagement session experience:

• Up to 8 hours of photography across three different locations and up to two separate days on location anywhere in the Phoenix metro area, with a nominal fee for Northern or Southern AZ
• Typically between 300-500+ fully retouched high resolution images on DVD with a full copyright release
• Online proofing and lifetime archival guarantee
• Our signature lighting and shooting style that often employs multiple off-camera speedlights to maintain perfect lighting in any condition, at any location
• A combined photojournalistic experience along with some assistance in posing upon request, however you feel more comfortable, we accommodate
• 1 week turnaround on all images

We would also love to say that it is the best engagement session experience around, but you’ll just have to experience it for yourself. Here are some additional ideas and tips to make the most out of your engagement session with us:

Top 10 E-Session Ideas for 2011 courtesy of Paratinovia

I Heart This E-Session courtesy of Belle The Magazine

There are also two questions that I get with almost every inquiry about an e-session, so here is some additional information on:

Choosing your location(s):

• We have photographed couples the most frequently at The Scottsdale Civic Center (LOVE) sign, Tempe Town Lake, the Desert Botanical Gardens, Freestone Park, and various resorts and venues around the valley.  However, this is no way means that you have to shoot at any of these locations!
• Choose a location that has the most meaning to both of you as a couple, whether it is somewhere simple like a coffee shop or movie theatre, or somewhere amazing like the Grand Canyon or Red Rock Crossing in Sedona.
• Our fees for traveling are nominal so don’t hesitate to ask – if you have a crazy idea about when and where you want your session to be, we want to hear from you!
• Typically we shoot in the late afternoon, closer to sunset, so if you have multiple locations in mind, we try to avoid mid-afternoon light as much as possible.  We are also open to night sessions, and have had great success with them in the past (we bring plenty of lighting gear, so no worries there)
• Just as an extra measure of assistance, I’ve also compiled a list of the locations we have photographed that also includes locations we would like to shoot at in the future!  Be sure to check out our listing HERE.

Deciding on what to wear:

This is probably the most subjective subject when it comes to e-sessions, but the short of it is simply to wear something that is TRULY you.

• A lot of what you might read online will say not to wear white or black, or not to wear patterns or extremely bright colors. You can either take this into consideration or toss it all aside; I would rather photograph you in something that you are comfortable in over something that simply conforms to the typical guidelines of what to wear. So be YOU, be in LOVE, and think of the e-session as a fun date day (or night) together and we promise we’ll do our best to make it the most enjoyable experience you can possibly have. That being said, we find that pastels tend to be the most neutral and are perhaps the easiest colors to photograph well, as they do well in a variety of locations and lighting scenarios.
• Don’t forget to think about the formality of the photos, or wardrobe changes that correspond with your particular theme in mind. I typically recommend to most couples a selection of one casual/fun outfit and one formal/dressy outfit. Sometimes we like to get a little adventurous so if you are wearing really expensive jeans, shoes, or have even suited up for the occasion, we might want to do those laying down in the desert type shots in your more casual outfit!
• Feel free to accessorize, rock a couple different layers, have multiple shoes, and again don’t hesitate to bring ideas about props or crazy locations – we love that stuff!
• And if there is even the slightest hint that you guys can dance together, I will probably ask you to do so at some point during the shoot.  ;-D

Lastly, here are some samples that exemplify some of the above; don’t hesitate to view more images on my website here.