location, light, outfits, expectations
let's talk about that
location, light, outfits, expectations
let's talk about that
Let’s be real - having your photo taken is awkward. We get it! We’ll be the first to mention it - and the first to encourage that you just embrace that fact.
1000% of our couples tell us they are “awkward in photos”. And we’re not saying that’s not true; but what we are saying is that you being awkward is what makes our photos so so good.
Because the truth is you’re not being “awkward” - you’re being YOU! You are not a model, you have never been trained on how to “be” in photos. So instead you giggle too much, worry about where to put your hands, and spend your time thinking that you are not doing the "right things"
this guide will help you understand that being yourself is exactly what we want
and offer some tips for the times you are still unsure
Let’s be real - having your photo taken is awkward. We get it! We’ll be the first to mention it - and the first to encourage that you just embrace that fact.
1000% of our couples tell us they are “awkward in photos”. And we’re not saying that’s not true; but what we are saying is that you being awkward is what makes our photos so so good.
Because the truth is you’re not being “awkward” - you’re being YOU! You are not a model, you have never been trained on how to “be” in photos. So instead you giggle too much, worry about where to put your hands
this guide will help you understand that being yourself in photos is exactly what we want
A question we want you to consider ahead of time: what will make this feel like a date for you?
We truly want you to come and feel like you have the night/morning off; some time just to focus on each other and giggle and hang out and have that captured by your awesome third wheel, us.
So whether that means taking some extra time off work so you're not coming to your session already stressed out, planning a dinner date after our session (or before!), or leaving your phone at home so our time together is distraction-free; start thinking of your photoshoot as a morning/afternoon/evening out.
If we're being completely honest - getting excellent results back from your photo shoot is a team effort. This doesn't mean you need to practice ahead of time, or be stressed out about how you'll "perform" during the shoot. But what it does mean is that you come with an open mind, ready to cuddle with your person, run around in the long grass or down the street, get a little silly but also a little intimate, with your mind focused on the shoot for the hour or so we're together.
A question we want you to consider ahead of time: what will make this feel like a date for you?
We truly want you to come and feel like you have the night/morning off; some time just to focus on each other and giggle and hang out and have that captured by your awesome third wheel, us.
So whether that means taking some extra time off work so you're not coming to your session already stressed out, planning a dinner date after our session (or before!), or leaving your phone at home so our time together is distraction-free; start thinking of your photoshoot as a morning/afternoon/evening out.
If we're being completely honest - getting excellent results back from your photo shoot is a team effort. This doesn't mean you need to practice ahead of time, or be stressed out about how you'll "perform" during the shoot. But what it does mean is that you come with an open mind, ready to cuddle with your person, run around in the long grass or down the street, get a little silly but also a little intimate, with your mind focused on the shoot for the hour or so we're together.
LOCATION
Location can be something that couples stress over, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. Our photos often focus on emotion + light, so backgrounds never end up mattering as much as you think they do.
We often recommend looking into spaces that are not too manicured; meaning, we generally avoid shooting in city parks. Our photos are candid, and we think places that fee a bit more organic (city streets, natural areas, places we can go off the beaten path!) make for a good fit.
Kiwanis Park
Huron Natural Area
Valens Conservation
Laura Secord Trail
Your Home
Your family cottage
Locations such as your own apartment, a coffee shop down the road, a pub you frequent, a park you love to chill in or even just a beautiful natural area that you hang out in sometimes are all great options.
We'll pick locations that have a variety of textures and backgrounds, so that as we move through your session we’re able to add a lot of variety within a small space.
But whether we’re in downtown Toronto walking along Queen Street West, or we’re in Kitchener frolicking around Huron Natural Area, the most important element of any location of any photoshoot is the light.
Location can be something that couples stress over, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. Our photos often focus on emotion + light, so backgrounds never end up mattering as much as you think they do.
We often recommend looking into spaces that are not too manicured; meaning, we generally avoid shooting in city parks. Our photos are candid, and we think places that fee a bit more organic (city streets, natural areas, places we can go off the beaten path!) make for a good fit.
Kiwanis Park
Huron Natural Area
Valens Conservation
Laura Secord Trail
Your Home
Your family cottage
Locations such as your own apartment, a coffee shop down the road, a pub you frequent, a park you love to chill in or even just a beautiful natural area that you hang out in sometimes are all great options.
We'll pick locations that have a variety of textures and backgrounds, so that as we move through your session we’re able to add a lot of variety within a small space.
But whether we’re in downtown Toronto walking along Queen Street West, or we’re in Kitchener frolicking around Huron Natural Area, the most important element of any location of any photoshoot is the light.
LOCATION
light
Light is, without a doubt, the most important element in photography. But what does "good lighting" even mean?
Some light gives us such depth of colour, such beautiful natural contrast, and such interesting highlights and shadows. Where we place our couples in relation to our light source (most often, the sun) and how we choose to set up our cameras is all part of how we artfully capture images.
All this being said, because we are natural light photographers, there are certain times of day that are better for lighting: when the sun is closer to the horizon at sunrise or sunset.
There are two reasons for this. When the sun is closer to the horizon it gets diffused by the atmosphere making the ratio between highlights and shadows a little smaller and less aggressive. And as you also know from your own experiences, the colour of the sun and the sky is so beautiful in the morning or in the evening.
Secondly, when the sun is out in full force at noon, the angle of shadows gets a little bit more difficult to work with. Because of this our options in locations are more limited as we'll try to stick to areas where we can harness a gentler side to the sun.
Light is, without a doubt, the most important element in photography. But what does "good lighting" even mean?
Some light gives us such depth of colour, such beautiful natural contrast, and such interesting highlights and shadows. Where we place our couples in relation to our light source (most often, the sun) and how we choose to set up our cameras is all part of how we artfully capture images.
All this being said, because we are natural light photographers, there are certain times of day that are better for lighting: when the sun is closer to the horizon at sunrise or sunset.
There are two reasons for this: when the sun is closer to the horison it gets diffused by the atmostphere making the ratio between highlights and shadows a little bit more even and less aggressive. And as you also know from your own experiences, the colour of the sun and the sky is so beautiful in the morning or in the evening.
Secondly, when the sun is out in full force at noon, the angle of shadows gets a little bit more difficult to work with. Because of this our options in locations are more limited as we'll try to stick to areas where we can harness a gentler side to the sun.
light
OUTFITS
Outfits don't make-or-break a session, however wearing the right thing can greatly increase your comfort level during a shoot, as well as add exactly the right vibe to your photos.
Our #1 recommendation is that youwear something that you feel like you in.
When Jacquie had her engagement photos done, she thought you "had to dress up", so she bought a dress. As someone who never ever ever wears dresses she spent the whole session feeling uncomfortable. 8 years later, this is still a regret.
If you were most comfortable and jeans and a cute top, wear jeans and a cute top.
If you can rock a flowy dress, we definitely won't stop you.
Makeup, no makeup? That is your personal preference. (And no, you don't need extra makeup so it "shows up" in photos).
The best combination is an outfit that represents the vibe/aesthetic you would like to give off in the photos, while being something you would wear out on a date anyways.
In terms of color and pattern , neutrals and earth tones always look the best in our photos. And you definitely don't have to be afraid of patterns in your clothing.
Be complementary to each other, but not “matchy matchy”. Nothing looks more like a stiff Sears portrait then everyone showing up wearing the same thing.
Remember to think about your look from head to toe. Yes, your old running shoes will show up in the photos, so maybe swap them out this time.
Our final note on outfits: remember what location we're headed to, and think about matching your aesthetic to it. I'm just going to come out and say it: high heels and nature don't make sense together, so stick to your blundstones and leave the fancy stuff for another day!
OUTFITS
Outfits don't make-or-break a session, however wearing the right thing can greatly increase your comfort level during a shoot, as well as add exactly the right vibe to your photos.
Our #1 recommendation is that youwear something that you feel like you in.
When Jacquie had her engagement photos done, she thought you "had to dress up", so she bought a dress. As someone who never ever ever wears dresses she spent the whole session feeling uncomfortable. 8 years later, this is still a regret.
If you were most comfortable and jeans and a cute top, wear jeans and a cute top.
If you can rock a flowy dress, we definitely won't stop you.
Makeup, no makeup? That is your personal preference. (And no, you don't need extra makeup so it "shows up" in photos).
The best combination is an outfit that represents the vibe/aesthetic you would like to give off in the photos, while being something you would wear out on a date anyways.
In terms of color and pattern , neutrals and earth tones always look the best in our photos. And you definitely don't have to be afraid of patterns in your clothing.
Be complementary to each other, but not “matchy matchy”. Nothing looks more like a stiff Sears portrait then everyone showing up wearing the same thing.
Remember to think about your look from head to toe. Yes, your old running shoes will show up in the photos, so maybe swap them out this time.
Our final note on outfits: remember what location we're headed to, and think about matching your aesthetic to it. I'm just going to come out and say it: high heels and nature don't really make sense, so stick to your blundstones and leave the fancy stuff for another day!
experience
As we've mentioned, you can expect to feel awkward at the beginning - everyone does. Like... everyone.
It's our job to make you start to forget that the camera is even there. We'll help you two focus on each other and enjoy your time together so much that it feels like a pretty normal date with a sneaky, photo snapping third wheel.
When we first meet up, before we shoot any photos, we'll spend a few minutes just chatting. It's important for us to do this because not every couple brings the same energy to a shoot, so we can't shoot the same way for everyone.
Some couples like to be really cuddly in the find they calm down by being wrapped up in each other. Other couples are not as comfortable being that intimate in front of a camera and would rather spend their time walking and laughing together.
There is nothing wrong with either of these scenarios; it's just our job to figure out what will help you connect to each other the most, so we can put you in the positions and give you the cues that will make you feel the most confident and the most comfortable.
Throughout the shoot, we'll be getting you to interact with each other. Our shoots aren't about going from pose to pose - instead, remember that any and all moments we're together can be a photo. As we transition around a location, we'll be snapping those inbetween cuddles and walks too.
We'll give you cues to help you get into certain moods. It is not uncommon for us to ask you to do something silly just to get everybody laughing, and don't be surprised if we ask you to sit quietly together and share something that you love about each other.
Our cues are movement based, which means we're not just going to have you in a static position but instead instruct you through moments of interaction. Within these movements are the candid, happy moments we are masters at catching.
experience
As we've mentioned, you can expect to feel awkward at the beginning - everyone does. Like... everyone.
It's our job to make you start to forget that the camera is even there. We'll help you two focus on each other and enjoy your time together so much that it feels like a pretty normal date with a sneaky, photo snapping third wheel.
When we first meet up, before we shoot any photos, we'll spend a few minutes just chatting. It's important for us to do this because not every couple brings the same energy to a shoot, so we can't shoot the same way for everyone.
Some couples like to be really cuddly in the find they calm down by being wrapped up in each other. Other couples are not as comfortable being that intimate in front of a camera and would rather spend their time walking and laughing together.
There is nothing wrong with either of these scenarios; it's just our job to figure out what will help you connect to each other the most, so we can put you in the positions and give you the cues that will make you feel the most confident and the most comfortable.
Throughout the shoot, we'll be getting you to interact with each other. Our shoots aren't about going from pose to pose - instead, remember that any and all moments we're together can be a photo. As we transition around a location, we'll be snapping those inbetween cuddles and walks too.
We'll give you cues to help you get into certain moods. It is not uncommon for us to ask you to do something silly just to get everybody laughing, and don't be surprised if we ask you to sit quietly together and share something that you love about each other.
Our cues are movement based, which means we're not just going to have you in a static position but instead instruct you through moments of interaction. Within these movements are the candid, happy moments we are masters at catching.
>> our biggest ask from you <<
Spend some time before the shoot chatting with your partner. Be prepared to come and get extra cuddly, extra giggly, extra focused on each other.
The rest of the stuff - the backgrounds, the light, making you look good - is on us.
The only thing you should focus on is each other;
we'll take care of everything else.
>> our biggest ask from you <<
Spend some time before the shoot chatting with your partner. Be prepared to come and get extra cuddly, extra giggly, extra focused on each other.
The rest of the stuff - the backgrounds, the light, making you look good - is on us.
The only thing you should focus on is each other;
we'll take care of everything else.
