One of the things we hear the most at our wedding consultations at our DC area studio is that couples hate posed photos. They want those real moments, not stiff awkward heads together, staring into each other's eyes.
After years of studying and capturing portraits around DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, we've realized what they really don't like are badly posed photos. Most people need a little bit of posing, but the real magic starts when you put a couple together, give them a little help, and then let them be themselves. Whispering an inside joke to each other, or even making them stare at each other until they burst into laughter because it's so absolutely strange and something they would never do can break up that nervous stiff look.
We let our engagement sessions be a relaxed affair. An hour at a location closeby, just walking, finding the best light and location depending on the time of day, and getting to know you as a couple. Jane captures engagement sessions from Tuesday-Thursdays in the late afternoon to get that golden hour light. This is a great way to get you used to being in front of a camera and capture that fleeting time before you get married. We find that even the most reserved and shy couples quickly relax and realize it's a lot of fun.
We remind couples that even though we are going to give them photos that they will love and generations of their families will cherish and pass down. These photos are one of the few things we would grab in an emergency.
