Let's talk about when to plan your engagement session.
I’ve talked about where to do your engagement session and how to choose a sentimental or important spot to you and your partner. Click here to see that post. I’ve talked about some practical steps to prepare for your engagement session, click here to see that post. Now let’s talk about when and the pros + cons of each season.
I’ll be basing the seasons part off of the weather in the Kentuckiana area, we get a good mix of seasons here.
Winter - Late November through Early March
Your first thought may be “ohmygod no it’s going to be too cold and dreary, that’s impossible”. While yes, it’s probably going to be cold outside and we definitely don’t take on any family sessions outdoors in the wintertime, it’s totally doable. The photos from the shoot that are included in this post were actually taken in late February! If cuddling up close and bundling up is your vibe, a winter session might be the perfect fit for you. It’s also a great excuse to end your session at a cozy coffeeshop. If neutral nature colors are something you love, then wintertime is perfect.
Tips:
Bundle up.
Be ok with having rosy noses, cheeks and ears in photos.
Do your photoshoot near water — the icy colors are beautiful in wintertime. For example, this shoot that we did at Tioga Falls is stunning during the wintertime, while in the summer it’s hard to see half of the waterfall due to tree coverage.
The sunset is earlier in this time frame, especially in December, so be prepared to take a half-day off of work if your session is on a weekday.
Spring - Late March through early May
If you’re into bright colors, bright green and flowers then springtime might be your jam! There are sooo many blossoms here in Kentucky that make for beautiful photos. The window for this time can be short though, so if you’re wanting something really specific (like pink cherry tree blossoms) then I would research the area’s peak time for that blossom.
Tips:
Wear layers!
if you’re planning a sunrise shoot, bring a blanket to sit on, there will be dew everywhere and the grass will be wet.
Summer - May through September
Our summers here in Kentucky are HOT. Most of the time we’ll reschedule a shoot that’s 85 degrees or higher for the sake of our client’s comfort. It can be rough cuddling up close and doing romantic poses when you’re sweating your face off haha. Now, for summer weddings, we totally work through it and still get beautiful photos. But for engagement photos, we’re spending an extended time doing portraits (2 hours for a session vs 20 mins for a wedding) so we know it can be uncomfy to be told to get up close, kiss etc when it’s hot. For this reason, we do a lot of our summer engagement sessions in the morning. It makes it more fun for everyone. If you love the rich greens of summertime (this is my favorite) and are ok with braving the heat, let’s do it!
Tips
Be okay with being flexible. We may have to reschedule because of heat.
Bring lots of water!
Do a morning session, which does mean rising early but that’s a good excuse to get coffee during the shoot (do you all like how many times I find good excuses to get coffee?) Maybe start the session off at your favorite coffeeshop!
Fall - Late September through the middle of November
Most people think that fall is in full swing at the beginning of October. While you might get a cooler day then, it’s more likely that the fall colors will be at their peak towards the middle of October and even the beginning of November.
Tips:
Plan in advance with your photographer … fall is the busiest time for us photographers.
Scout around before the shoot for the prettiest trees. This is something we do right before our fall sessions because in the fall, even 3 days can make a huge difference. A tree can be in its fully glory one day and the next day be totally bare!
Now that we’ve covered all the seasons, let me touch on some of the logistics. If you’re sending “Save-the-Dates”, it’s recommended that they’re sent out 4 months in advance for local weddings and a year for destination weddings. You’ll want to make sure to ask your photographer how long they take to deliver galleries so you’re planning in advance. Some photographers can take 6+ weeks for engagement sessions, so just make sure you know what the expectations are!
If you’re not doing Save the Dates, you have a little bit more flexibility and you can just pick your favorite season based on the tips above.
When it comes down to it: it’s all up to you. You can hire a photographer for the proposal and take photos from the moment you actually get engaged or you can wait until right before your wedding. Yep, we’ve had couples do their engagement session a month or two before their wedding. (We take 2 weeks to deliver photos so no biggie.) It helps them feel more comfortable being around the camera so they feel at ease when their wedding comes around.
What should I post about next?
— Kendra
