Engagement Session Guide | GSquared Weddings Photography

The Engagement Guide

Everything you need to know before, during, and after your engagement session with GSquared Weddings. No fluff – just the actual information that makes your session go well and your photos look the way you want them to.

WHY HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Honest answer: you don’t have to.

Kate’s personal take is that you do not need an engagement session to have a great wedding day. She means that and she will never guilt you into one.

That said, here is what actually happens when couples do them – and why a lot of people who were on the fence end up glad they did.

It helps us get to know your love story.

Your proposal story tells us a lot. Watching you actually interact with each other tells us more. We try to build your engagement session around what makes you two specifically you – a place that means something to your relationship, something you have always wanted to do together, or somewhere that represents how you spend your time. This is not a generic portrait session. It is yours.

It gets you comfortable in front of the camera – with us.

We are going to be photographing you for 9 to 11 hours on your wedding day. Your engagement session is a trial run – not because you need practice being a person, but because it helps us learn what you respond to, what makes you feel at ease, and how to pose you in ways that actually look like you. That knowledge directly improves your wedding day photos.

It gives you a taste of what your photos will actually look like.

Looking at someone else’s wedding gallery and looking at photos of yourself are completely different experiences. An engagement session shows you how Kate photographs you specifically – how she edits, how she sees light, what she brings out in you. You will also learn which of your photos you love most, so we can lean into that on your wedding day.

It helps you learn our process.

You will get sneak peeks within 48 hours. You will see what the full gallery delivery experience looks like. You will know exactly what to expect before your wedding day, which means one less thing to wonder about.

It is a reason to go do something with your favorite person.

You just got engaged. You are planning a wedding. Everything right now is a decision or a budget or a vendor email. An engagement session is a few hours to just be together doing something fun – and come out of it with photos that capture this specific moment in your relationship. That is worth something.

You get to know us.

We are dorky. We have nerdy ideas and we are a little chaotic in the best way. During your session you will hear Josh’s dad jokes, see Kate almost definitely trip over something, and get a real sense of how we work together. You do not have to laugh at the jokes just to make us feel better. But you probably will anyway.

It is a good time to ask questions.

Things come up after booking. Wedding plans evolve. If you have been sitting on questions about the wedding day, timing, vendors, anything – your engagement session is a natural time to talk through all of it. We are happy to be a resource for more than just photography.

HOW IT WORKS

The logistics.

Location

We can give suggestions based on what photographs well and what fits your vibe, or you can come in with a location already in mind. We love both. Locations more than 70 miles from Snohomish may require additional scheduling coordination or a travel fee – ask us before you commit to somewhere remote.

Scheduling

Because weddings take up most of our weekends, engagement sessions almost always happen on weekdays. We typically start about two hours before sunset to catch the best light. Plan your day around that and try to keep the evening open – if a session is going really well, we want to be able to follow it.

Weather and reschedules

Rain, snow, or extreme heat above 90 degrees will usually call for a reschedule. We try to make that call within two hours of the session start time, or with enough notice for you to not have already driven an hour to get there. We also ask that you reschedule if you are sick – a cough, a sneeze, a fever. We would rather reschedule than have either of us down for a week.

The session itself

Kate is the primary photographer for engagement sessions. Josh occasionally joins for specific creative concepts but most engagement sessions are Kate and the two of you. We will chat a lot, Kate will ask questions, make you do some genuinely weird things, and compliment you way more than you will know what to do with. It is a brain thing. Just keep going and eventually you will stop noticing. The whole goal is that the time flies and you leave laughing.

Gallery delivery

Sneak peeks on social within 48 hours of your session. Full gallery delivered within three weeks – up to six weeks during busy season. We aim for faster but we would rather under-promise and over-deliver than the reverse.

ON POSING

The poses that feel the most awkward make the best photos.

That is not a motivational poster. It is genuinely true and you should know it going in.

We use guided posing – which means we coach you into position and then ask questions or give prompts to get real reactions. We are not going to hand you a bouquet of flowers to smell or ask you to look at each other and laugh naturally. We know what we are doing and none of it involves cheesy direction.

We will tell you where to put your hands, how to lean your head, when to close your eyes, all of that. Nobody instinctively knows how to do any of this on the spot. Even people who think they are good at photos forget everything the moment a camera is pointed at them. This is normal. This is expected. We plan for it.

The poses that feel the most ridiculous usually produce the photos you end up loving most. Lean into the weird. Kate will be doing something equally ridiculous to demonstrate and she has the track record to prove it – she once walked into a pond mid-session because hyperfocus made her body optional. She saved the gear. She was wet and cold for the rest of the day. She has also stepped directly into a stinging nettle patch for the same reason. The point is: you will not be the only one doing something embarrassing.

We also keep some prompts specifically designed to get genuine reactions – things to say to each other, questions to answer, moments to create. You will probably smile at some point without knowing why. That is the point.

If it feels awkward, you probably look incredible. Trust the process.

On PDA

This is an engagement session. Kiss like you mean it. Not a quick peck – an actual kiss, held for more than three seconds or Kate will absolutely make you do it again. Fair warning. We are also going to ask you to snuggle, hold hands, touch each other, lean in. We know it feels weird to do this in front of someone you just met. We have watched hundreds of couples kiss. It is genuinely not weird from our end. We like that you love each other. It makes the photos better.

WHAT TO WEAR

Clothing that photographs well versus clothing that just looks fine in person.

These are different things. Here is what to know.

The general rules

Dressier is always better. Even if it is not your everyday style, lean formal. We are always more inspired by elevated clothing and those photos consistently look best.
Coordinate colors, but do not match. Being too matchy looks intentional in a way that reads as staged.
If one of you is wearing a pattern, the other should be in a solid. Never both in flannels, never both in stripes.
Avoid both of you in white tees and jeans, or black tees and jeans. Too casual and too same-y.
Jewelry and accessories add visual interest. Use them.
Shoes matter. We photograph them. Bring good ones.
Clean, nice nails. We do a lot of hand and ring photos. This is worth the trip to get done beforehand.
Clean your ring right before you come. Every fingerprint, smudge, and hair shows up in close-up ring photos. Every single one.
Jewel tones work well in almost any environment and any season. When in doubt, go jewel tones.
Come dressed in your most casual outfit first. We will work through looks from there.

Bring at least three outfits

More is better. We recommend a mix of casual, semi-formal, and at least one dressier option. More outfits give us more variety and more looks in your gallery.

For her

A dressy pants option – nice jeans or slacks with heels.
A short dressy dress option.
A long dressy dress option.
A casual option – think how you would dress to meet friends for brunch.
One formal option – black tie or formal dance energy. This is a must and it will be your favorite photos.
Something from another season you love, if it fits.

For him

Jeans without holes plus jeans with holes if you like that look for the casual outfit.
Nice slacks or dressier pants.
A couple of nice button-down shirts. Leave the t-shirt for the casual option.
A tie or suspenders to pair with the button-down for at least one look.
Shoes that match the outfits. We will photograph them.
No shirts with logos or graphics. They do not photograph well and they date the photos instantly.

Makeup

Less is more for photos. Some specific things:

Keep eyeshadow and eyeliner light and neutral. Dark heavy shadow closes off the eye area in photos.
Do not overdo the highlighter. It reflects light in ways that can make you look like a Cullen. Or a ghost. You pick.
Check your nails. Chipped polish shows up in ring shots.
Airbrush finish is ideal but genuinely not required. Simple and natural photographs beautifully.

Hair

Less product is better because you will be moving around a lot and close to each other. A few specifics:

If you want to color or cut your hair, do it at least seven days before your session to allow for grow-out and settling.
If you want brows cleaned up, go to a professional. Worth it.
If you want to wear a hat, bring it but do not put it on right away. We will want some photos without it first. Also let us know ahead of time so we can bring appropriate lighting.

Spray tans

Do not spray tan within three days of your session. Tans photograph orange and flat regardless of how they look in person. If you spray tan regularly, go lighter than usual.

PRACTICAL LOGISTICS

The things nobody thinks to mention until it is too late.

Plan to change in your car. Bring a blanket for privacy. This is standard and we are used to it.
Keep your evening open. Plan your session when you do not have anything for at least four hours afterward. If we get a great idea or the light is perfect, we want to be able to follow it.
Bring a light snack that will not stain. Sessions can run long and hungry people are not their best selves in front of a camera. Also a water bottle.
Bring comfortable walking shoes. In addition to your session shoes. You will likely be walking between locations.
Eat a good meal beforehand. And sleep well the night before. You will look better and you will enjoy it more.
Bring a bag to carry your outfits. A tote or small duffel works fine.
We will borrow your ring. We will take ring shots separately and give it right back. Make sure it is freshly cleaned before you come.

PROPS, RINGS, AND CREATIVE CONCEPTS

Bring the things that are yours.

Props

If you want to incorporate props – blankets, champagne, a picnic spread, signs, anything – bring them. We do not supply props. We also do not use confetti or anything that requires cleanup we cannot fully do, because we believe in Leave No Trace at outdoor locations. If your prop requires it, it does not come.

Creative concepts

We are all in on creative ideas. Want a camping-themed session, a kayak on the water, something at Lumen Field, photos among animals at the zoo, a mutual obsession with Star Wars or dirt bikes or anything else? Tell us. We will make it work or help you think through whether it is actually feasible. The sessions we remember most are the ones that felt like something.

Pets

Yes, bring them. A few things that make pet sessions go better:

Bring a neutral-colored leash and collar – black, gray, tan, or brown. Neutral colors let us leave the leash on in photos without it being visually distracting.
Bring a friend or family member to handle your pet when they are not being photographed. Since engagement sessions are usually one photographer, we need someone else to manage the dog so we can focus on you.
Bring treats or a special toy that gets their attention. Since your pet does not know Kate, familiar high-value treats help get their eyes to the camera without you having to do it.
Bring bags. Not every location has trash cans. Leave No Trace applies to pets too.
Know what to expect. The chances of your pet behaving perfectly are low and we do not expect that of them. Most pet photos are your pet just being themselves. That is actually the goal.

CHOOSING A LOCATION

Start with what matters to you, not what looks good on Instagram.

The best engagement session location is one that means something to your relationship or fits how you actually spend your time. Before you look at any list, ask yourself:

Is there somewhere that is specific to your relationship – where you met, your first date, somewhere you go regularly?
Is there somewhere you have always wanted to go together?
Do you have a specific visual in mind – mountains, water, forest, city, farm?
Do you have a prop or concept that requires a specific kind of location?
Is the location accessible when you want to photograph there?

If none of those questions give you a clear answer, here are our suggestions by category. These are locations we know well and photograph regularly in the Pacific Northwest.

Our first recommendation – Deception Pass

When in doubt, Deception Pass. It is our most-suggested location and the reason is simple: it has beach, forest, rock formations, and PNW perfection all in one place, it does not require a ferry, it has parking year-round, and it photographs beautifully in every season. Nearby Rosario Beach and Bowman Bay give us multiple looks without having to drive very far. We even have a favorite cove that is consistently empty even when the main beach is packed.

Actually – Rosario may be Kate’s favorite spot this side of the water. It’s got forest, sandy beaches, rocks, views … a little bit of everything.

Forests & Gardens

Washington Park Arboretum
Farrel McWhirter Park
Centennial Trail
Nakashima Barn – also has great open grass fields
Bellevue Botanical Gardens

Waterfalls

Best for summer sessions – rocks and hikes get more treacherous once wet season starts.

Franklin Falls
Cherry Creek Falls
Wallace Falls
Whatcom Falls

Lakes and rivers

Lake Fenwick
Lake Wilderness
The Pilchuck in Machias
Diablo Lake
Rattlesnake Lake – not the ledge

Beaches

Iverson Beach
Dungeness Wildlife Reserve
Double Bluff Beach
Discovery Park
Rosario Beach
Bowman Bay

Venues

Many venues rent their space for sessions. Some of our favorites:

Pemberton Farm
Marionfield Farm
Pine Creek Nursery
Christianson’s Nursery

Also worth checking: your wedding venue. Many will let you use the property for your engagement session at no cost. It also gives you a chance to see the space before your wedding day.

AFTER YOUR SESSION

What happens once we are done.

Sneak peeks

We post a selection on Facebook and Instagram within 48 hours. You can share these immediately.

Full gallery delivery

Two to three weeks after your session. Up to six weeks during busy season. We aim for faster but we would rather be honest about the timeline than optimistic.

Your gallery comes through a digital download platform. Full resolution files with print rights. Social media sizes included. Download everything or just your favorites. Your print release is included in your wedding photography contract.

Where to print

We edit with Shutterfly (they took over printing for Costco and offer a discount for members) and MPix in mind – they produce accurate color at reasonable cost. If you print elsewhere, be aware that Walmart and Walgreens use consumer-grade calibration and your photos will likely come out muddy and with an orange or green tint. That is not our editing. That is their printing.

Save the dates and paper

Minted is our recommendation for paper needs. Their save-the-dates, invitations, and full paper suites are consistently well-made and they handle photo integration well. We love them.

Albums and guest books

ZNO is our preferred print house for photo books and guest books. Great quality, intuitive design format, lots of options from simple to genuinely luxurious. Ask us before you order – we sometimes have discount codes.