Engagement sessions are fully optional. Some couples love them, some skip them, both work for us. Here’s what one looks like with GSquared if you decide you want one – and honest answers about whether you actually need one.
What an engagement session with GSquared actually feels like:
First, we’ll send you our engagement session prep guide – clothing tips, location ideas, what to do with your hair, how to include your pets, what to expect. It covers everything I’ve learned from doing hundreds of these.
We’ll pick a location together. Mountains, beach, downtown Seattle, a coffee shop you love, your living room – whatever feels like you. If you’re stuck, I have a long list of favorite spots and I’ll send recommendations based on what you’re into.
On the day, we’ll meet at the location. I’ll guide you into moments instead of barking poses (most people aren’t trained models, and a little direction makes everyone feel comfortable). We’ll talk while we work. We’ll let you breathe. We’ll play music if you want.
You’ll get sneak peeks within a few days. Your full gallery within four to six weeks – delivered through a private online gallery you can share with family and download from.
That’s it. Two hours, ish. No high-pressure performance. Just you, your person, and us with cameras.
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Do you NEED to have an engagement session?
Honest answer: probably not.
I’ll do an engagement session happily if you want one. I’ll also tell you straight: most couples who skip them are completely fine. Most couples who do them are also fine. It’s not a make-or-break wedding planning decision, no matter what the industry says.
Reasons couples I’ve worked with chose to do one:
– They wanted practice in front of the camera before the wedding day
– They wanted nicer photos than what their phones could give them for save-the-dates or holiday cards
– They wanted an excuse to dress up and have a date night together
– They were nervous about being photographed and wanted to meet us before the wedding
Reasons couples chose to skip:
– They felt comfortable enough already (no practice needed)
– They’d rather put the budget toward something else for the wedding day
– They were already busy with planning and didn’t want one more thing on the list
– They don’t love being photographed and didn’t want to do it twice
All of those reasons are valid. Read them and pick whichever side feels like yours. We’ll go from there.
– Up to 70 miles from Snohomish
– Private digital sharing site
– Minimum 50 digital images with full print rights (we don’t cap delivery)
– Multiple outfit changes welcome
– Pets welcome (please bring them)
Due to our full day wedding schedule, these are only scheduled within 4 weeks of your wedding date.
– Up to 140 miles from Snohomish
– Private digital sharing site
– Minimum 50 digital images with full print rights (we don’t cap delivery)
– Multiple outfit changes welcome
– Pets welcome (please bring them)
Where can we go?
A few ideas, but the list is genuinely endless (well, within the mileage range). We’ve done engagement sessions at:
– Golden hour fields outside Snohomish
– Deception Pass or Iverson Beach
– Beaches along Puget Sound or the Oregon Coast
– Mountain trails (Mount Pilchuck, Wallace Falls, Green Mountain, Mount Baker)
– Local coffee shops, bookstores, or record stores
– The couple’s own living room or backyard
– Anywhere in the PNW that means something to you
If you have a place in mind, let’s talk about it. If you don’t, we’ll help you find one.
Other Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do we need to know how to pose?
A: No. We guide you into moments. Most people aren’t trained models, and that’s part of the point.
Q: What if we feel awkward?
A: Honestly, most couples do at first. That’s exactly why we slow down, talk to you, and don’t dive straight into formal poses. By 30 minutes in, you’ll mostly forget the camera is there.
Q: Can we bring our dog?
A: Yes. Please. We will absolutely pet them.
Q: What should we wear?
A: The Prep guide has a ton of great information. Short version: layers, things you feel like yourself in, complementary colors instead of matching, and nothing too brand-new (uncomfortable shoes ruin photos).
Q: Where should we do it?
A: Somewhere that means something to you, or somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. If you’re stuck, we have favorites and we’ll send recommendations.
Q: How long is an engagement session?
A: Usually 60-90 minutes of photography. Plan for two hours total including setup, outfit changes, and travel between locations if you want more than one.
Q: When will we get the photos?
A: Sneak peeks within a few days. Full gallery within 3 weeks.
After 15 years and 640+ weddings, we know exactly what a wedding day needs – and what it doesn’t. Every timeline we build, every vendor question we answer, every moment we quietly anticipate happens so that when your wedding day arrives, you’re not managing it. You’re living it.
Don’t take our word for it. Take theirs. We showed up, did the work, and let the day speak for itself. Here’s what they said after.
I wanted to share my amazing experience with Kate and Josh! I thought I left a review a year ago but was showing their website to my friend and realized I must not have. I would highly recommend them for both your engagement photos and wedding. It was super helpful to work with Kate on our engagement photos first, as it can feel awkward getting your photo taken if you’re not used to it. Practicing and learning several poses during our engagement photos was really key in feeling flawless and confident during our wedding photos. Kate really worked her magic with our photos during our wedding and Josh was great at getting all the shots from different angles and the candid ones of our guests. Kate paid so much attention to how I was feeling, anticipated what I needed, and brought me back down to earth whenever I was anxious. Don’t bother looking any further, you need to book them now! Our wedding experience was spectacular thanks to Kate and Josh!
From the first meeting, Kate was a fountain of knowledge and resources. She helped guide us in the planning process and made it so we didn’t have to think about the details on the day of. She is incredibly easy to work with and very thorough, getting all the pictures we could possibly want. On the day of, both Kate and Josh brought a fun and excited atmosphere that got everyone out of their shell and made for some fantastic photos. We HIGHLY recommend Kate and Josh for your big day.
Kate and Josh were the photographers at our wedding a little over a year ago. I was so picky about the specific style of photos I was looking for and the types of shots we wanted to get throughout the evening. Looking through their portfolio we already had a good feeling going into our meeting with them, afterwards we knew pretty much instantly it was the right choice. Kate and our wedding planner Ashley (Grit City) worked perfectly together to make sure we timed the photos just right, didn't cut into our time with friends and family, and captured beautiful moments. The result is an enormous collection of amazing photos; candids, portraits, awesome black and whites, some hilarious pics of friends and family going all out on the dance floor. Kate also did our engagement photoshoot at Deception Pass and the photos are equally incredible! These are just some of the details shots but they're still awesome
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We did our engagement and wedding photos with Kate and Josh, and we simply cannot recommend them enough. My partner and I are both a bit camera shy, but Kate had all the right directions and cues to make photos feel fun and natural, and was so great at making us feel comfortable and not-awkward. When we saw our sneak previews right after the wedding, we were floored at how incredible they were. Kate and Josh were MVPs on our wedding day. Not only were they super organized and able to wrangle every combination of family and group photos, they also checked in on us throughout the entire evening and made sure we were hydrated, happy, and where we needed to be at any given time. They are genuinely lovely - if you’re putting together a dream team for your wedding, you’re in the right place.