Claire and Jedi | Engagement Session Planning Checklist | Sunrise Engagement Session on Skyline Drive and Little Stony Man Summit

We started Claire & Jedi’s engagement session at an overlook to watch the extra quiet sunrise, and explored a few more overlooks before making our way to the hike where they got engaged! They brought along 3 outfits, one for each location that we went to, and sent me photos of each outfit before their session so we could decide which outfit to start with.

When we got to the top of their hike, they set up a picnic, enjoyed the view, and told me their story of Jedi’s proposal and how they met. After we finished photos, I left them to finish their picnic while I hiked back down.

Here’s a checklist for planning your engagement session!

☐ Pick out Sunrise or Sunset (I can help decide!)

☐ Pick out the meetup location (We’ll pick this out depending on sunrise or sunset, as well as where you’re traveling from or where you’re staying).

☐ Find a fun place to stay for before or after your shoot.

☐ Find a place to eat or drink for before or after your shoot.

☐ Pick out your favorite drinks and snacks to bring along for the car ride or to have as a picnic during the photo shoot (champagne, a growler of local beer and some cool mugs, coffee or hot chocolate, etc.)

☐ Come up with your favorite activities for your photo shoot

☐ Make a playlist of music that pumps you up for adventure

☐ Pick out your outfits! I have a Pinterest Board with outfit ideas I love to share with clients to get the ball rolling. See if your photographer is okay with looking at your outfit choices before your shoot, too!

☐ Make your list of what you want to bring -
(lanterns, allergy medicine, extra clothes, yummy snacks, a sign to announce your engagement, etc.)

Abigail & Harrison | Sunset Engagement Session | Shenandoah National Park Overlooks

A cozy, autumn engagement session at sunset in the Blue Ridge mountains with these two! We explored some overlooks along Skyline Drive, starting at Thornton Gap, doing a little wandering and snuggling. Then they set up an incredible little picnic to watch the sunset - with cozy blankets, pillows, snacks, champagne, and books; because Abigail loves when Harrison reads to her. At one point Abigail said “do the thing” and Harrison took her face in his hands and kissed her on the forehead, “this is my favorite thing.” She said.

and that’s my favorite thing about photography: capturing little moments that mean a lot to individuals.

We had such a blast - seriously we just laughed the entire time. It was so much fun getting to know each other and talk some wedding plans for this year!