Brittany & Ian: Vibrant Hartwood Acres Engagement Photos

I knew Brittany & Ian were a great fit as a JHP wedding couple when they mentioned loving vibrant colors in photos! Vibrant, bright color is always my absolute favorite to photograph!

As you’ll be able to see from the photos below, Brittany did not disappoint with her gorgeous, brightly colored pink maxi dress. It was a DREAM to shoot, not only because of it’s bright color, but because of how flowy it was! And Ian came in a fun patterned shirt (complete with palm trees and flamingos! 🏝) to compliment Brittany’s choice!

Brittany & Ian have known each other for over a decade, and got engaged at one of their favorite places to vacation - Myrtle Beach! To celebrate their love of the beach, they are having a tropical themed wedding next year. Congratulations on your engagement, Brittany & Ian! I am so honored to be the one to document this season for you both!!

Meghan & Ed: Hartwood Acres Engagement Photos

You might remember these two faces from their Station Square proposal back in May (click here to see!), and if not, allow me to introduce you to Meghan and Ed - two wonderful people who are getting married next year! 🎉

I had the pleasure of photographing Megh and Ed’s surprise proposal, and now, their engagement photos! These two chose Hartwood Acres Mansion, one of my all time favorite spots, as the backdrop for their photos. They also brought along a vintage family heirloom car, which was SO much fun to incorporate into their photos! Meghan wore red to match the car, and Hartwood provided the perfect neutral backdrop for some epic shots!

Meghan and Ed, thank you for the huge honor of walking alongside you two on your journey towards marriage! ☺️ I cannot wait for the wedding!!!

Spring & Summer Outfit Inspiration for Engagement Photos

Spring is right around the corner, which means lots of beautiful, colorful, spring engagement sessions! But, let’s be honest, here - one of the best and toughest parts of any engagement session is figuring out what to wear - especially when you have to coordinate outfits for not one, but TWO people. While an upcoming engagement session may be a good excuse to head to your favorite local boutique, it can be frustrating not knowing what to wear with so many different options!

Today, I want to share some styling tips specific to spring and summer sessions for engagement photos. Below, you’ll find a few ideas to say “yes” to, and a few you might want to consider passing on. Below these two categories, you’ll find a link to my engagement spring & summer inspiration board (which I update on the regular!), as well as some inspiration from past JHP couples. But above any of these ideas, make sure you feel comfortable in whatever you choose to wear for your engagement session. Confidence in front of the camera can be hampered whenever you’re not fully sold on (or comfortable in) what you’re wearing! And trust me… you’ll be moving around a lot for your engagement photos, so you’ll want to make sure you feel comfortable!

Without further ado, here are my top styling tips for engaged couples!

SAY YES TO…

• Bright colors - I LOVE bright colors for spring engagement sessions! Whether you choose a bright top or colorful sundress, your brightly colored outfit will most likely compliment the new spring blooms beautifully! 🌷

• Neutrals - As much as I love bright colors, there’s something sophisticated about some well coordinated neutrals. For example - white dresses and a neutral blazer are both classic and pretty much never go out of style!

• A Light Button Down (for Him) - I’m a big fan of guys in blazers for engagement sessions, especially if the lady is wearing a sun dress, maxi dress, or skirt! They’re SO classy and immediately “upscale” an outfit (and they’re flattering for guys!), but if it’s TOO hot for a blazer, I recommend a nice button down shirt - whether short sleeve or long sleeve (but rolled up, of course, for some breathing room!)

• Three Quarter Length Sleeves - Did you know that three quarter length sleeves are the most flattering type of sleeve length for both men and women? They’re also the perfect length for those temperate spring mornings and evenings!

• Floral (for Her) or Other Patterns (for Him) - Floral patterns for the spring are always a hit! Whether you go with a top, sundress, or maxi dress (my personal fave!), floral patterns (and even other patterns) work well to make someone “pop” off of the background of an image with a simple background. If you’re working on styling your guy, a shirt or tie/bowtie with a slight pattern can add some extra visual interest and make your outfits pop!

• Accessories - Watches, tie clips, bowties, or ties for him, and hats, kimonos, watches, and jewelry for her. Both can go a long way and add a lot of visual interest to your photos!

• Maxi Dresses/Skirts - Maxi dresses and skirts are oh-so beautiful in the spring and summer! They’re light and breezy and do a wonderful job of naturally elongating the body in photos! Plus… they’re fun to twirl! 💃 Which, for an engagement session, is always so dreamy!

• White Jeans - White jeans are a great compliment to a brightly colored or patterned top, and can be nice to throw into the mix if your S.O. is wearing jeans. White jeans are sleek and give a bit of an upscale look!

CONSIDER PASSING ON…

• Fluorescent Colors - Neon colors don’t tend to photograph quite so well, so pass on any colors that are a bit too fluorescent (not to be confused with the aforementioned bright colors - examples in the photos below!).

• Shirts with Logos - Shirts with logos don’t usually look that nice. Try opting for a shirt without a logo to keep your photos classic!

• Being too Matchy Matchy - Focus on coordinating your outfits, not matching them. Coordinating outfits means choosing complimentary colors, patterns, and textures between the two of you - not wearing the exact same thing! (i.e., both of you in a white shirt and jeans)

• Super Short Shorts and Dresses - Shorts and dresses are totally fine (and encouraged!), but sometimes when they get way too short, they’re tough to move around in, especially for engagement photos (you’ll be moving around/sitting on the ground quite a bit!)

• Too Many Heavy Layers - There are few things more uncomfortable then being bundled up in 90 degree weather for an hour and a half while getting your photo taken! Wearing too many layers in the summer particularly can result in lots of sweaty portraits - so be careful how many layers you and your S.O. add particularly for really hot days!

A FEW MORE RESOURCES:

If you’re looking for some more help preparing for your engagement session, check out the posts below!

• 4 Tips for Preparing Your Groom for Your Engagement Session

• 5 Ways to Pamper Yourself for Your Engagement Photos

• How to Choose Outfits for Your Engagement Session

• 3 Must Read Tips for Bringing Your Dog to Your Engagement Session

• Creative Outfit Ideas for Your Engagement Photos

5 Reasons to Consider a Morning Photo Session

Photographing people on location with natural light is a bit of a science. A session in the middle of the day could lead to harsh light and dark shadows under the eyes of the subject, while a session close to sunrise or sunset creates an opportunity for soft, even light that flatters any subject in front of the camera.

While about 90% of all of my sessions take place in the evening (close to sunset), one of my absolute FAVORITE times to shoot is in the morning. So, why might you want to consider scheduling a morning session timeslot opposed to an evening one? Well, for one…

1.  If you’re a morning person, a morning session might be the perfect fit for you (and possibly more enjoyable!)!

If you’re already a morning person, why not have your photo taken in the morning?! I’m a BIG fan of getting the most important things crossed off my to do list early in the day – and having your photo session done in the morning will let you have the remainder of your day to work or play! Which leads me to my next point…

2.  You’ll be all ready to go for the day – looking gorgeous from the start!

I don’t know why this bothers me so much, but I really dislike “getting ready” near the end of the day (aka doing 20 minutes of hair and makeup – ha!). I love being able to get ready in the morning and then have my hair and makeup last throughout the entirety of the day. The great thing about having your photo session in the morning? You can do just that! After your session, you’ll be looking real nice for the remainder of the day – so (unless you have work or school!) plan something fun to do afterwards so you can get a bit more longevity out of your look!

3.  You could go out to BREAKFAST afterwards!

Something fun you COULD do is go to breakfast afterwards! Going out to breakfast is literally one of my favorite things in the world, which is why I had to mention it. And really, having your photos taken in the morning means you’ll probably need a little fuel for the rest of the day – no better excuse to stop over to First Watch or Bartram House Bakery! (Or wherever your favorite breakfast place might be ;) ).

4.  You might be able to miss just the first hour or so of work or school.

Sometimes, weekday photo sessions mean you might have to miss a little bit of work at the end of the day. But depending on how early you’re willing to have your photos taken, we might be able to get your photo session in before work or school (this depends on the time of year and how early the sun rises). Whatever the case, missing just a little bit of work or school in the morning can be better than missing half a day in the afternoon!

5.  The light is killer.

Morning light might just be my favorite. Something about it is so soft and sweet – even though sunset light is always gorgeous, I’ve created some of my favorite images using morning light!

Koreen + Kurt: Hartwood Acres Mansion Engagement Photos

There are few things I love more than a couple that are best friends - and these two most certainly are! Koreen and Kurt laughed their way throughout their entire engagement session, which made my job SO dang easy!! And really, we couldn't have hit up Hartwood at a better time. The trees were in all of their pink, spring glory - which perfectly complimented Koreen's gorgeous dress from Altar'd State!

And now, for a little back story from Koreen and Kurt!

How did you two meet?

We went to high school together. We met a few years later at a party, and the rest is history!

What do you and your fiance like to do for fun?

"We really enjoy getting to go for a walk together in the evenings. It's a great way for us to find out what is happening in our day to day lives. It's better than sitting on the couch kind of talking and staring at our phones. [Can I get an amen there?! - Jenna] We also enjoy going out to eat and watching movies."

How did he pop the question?!

"He took me out to my favorite restaurant (A Taste of India). Slid the ring in a box across the table and said 'that's for you' I thought that it was maybe another charm for the Pandora bracelet he has been filing up for the past few years. Once I opened the box and saw it was a ring I was shocked! I had every emotion happening all at once. He said 'well what do you think?' I said 'Yes! I can't believe this is happening right now!' When we got home he got down on one knee and asked me."

And now, without further ado - a few of my favorites from Koreen and Kurt's engagement session! Thank you two for trusting me with these precious memories - I cannot wait for the wedding!!

Nalinee + Josh: Hartwood Acres Maternity Photos

Nalinee and Josh are having a baby and I was so honored when they asked me to take maternity photos for them at one of my favorite spots - Hartwood Acres! Their session took place on the perfect fall day, and Nalinee wore the most beautiful, flowing, blush dress, complete with a flower crown, while Josh wore a tux. I love the thought these two put into their outfits - they perfectly match Hartwood's classic elegance! Congratulations on your growing family, Nalinee and Josh!

Vendors:

Makeup & Hair: Kaylin Simonic

Twesha M: Hartwood Acres Senior Photos

Ohhh do I love this girl! I know I say that all of my seniors are the sweetest - but they all truly are, and Twesha was no exception! This girl is naturally gorgeous, incredibly talented, and if it tells you anything about her dedicated, hard-working personality, her name means "intelligent." For her wardrobe, Twesha brought two street outfits along with an authentic Indian dress, which was SO much fun to photograph! Never be afraid to incorporate something that represents your personality or your background into your shoot. The results are always awesome!

Thank you so much for an amazing time, Twesha! You are a rockstar!

Melissa B: Hartwood Acres Senior Photos

If there's one thing you need to know about Melissa, it's that she LOVES Chick-fil-A (I always tend to bond with my seniors over food ;) ) - so of course, we hit it off when I told her I was the cow once for a Christmas special at our hometown Chick-fil-A! (Funny side story - I unknowingly had walking pneumonia while I was in the suit and scared a lot of kids with my coughing - ha!). Melissa was the absolute SWEETEST to work with, and to match her personality we had some gorgeous, sweet light! Hartwood really never disappoints. Check out a few favorites below - thank you Melissa for being so much fun to work with!! :)

Sarah + Mike: Hartwood Acres Engagement Photos

It was SO hot and humid the morning we photographed Sarah and Mike's engagement session. I've only ever had my camera and lenses fog up from cold weather (read about our coldest shoot ever, in 5 degree weather here!), never from hot humid weather - but that day, the moment I pulled my equipment out to shoot - my gear immediately fogged up! We fought the humidity the entire session, and Sarah and Mike were such incredible troopers! They had no problem getting close (even in the heat) and were total pros in front of the camera. I love when couples aren't afraid to get close and even improvise - and these two did both things so well!

Check out a few favorites from their Hartwood Acres engagement session below!

Kayla + Michael: Hartwood Acres Engagement Photographer

I really admire these two. The day of their engagement session, there was a 15% chance of rain. Usually, 15% doesn't worry me, and typically passes over the area quickly. Well, during Kayla and Michael's shoot, it rained the entire time (except for the first part, while we were shooting inside! ;) ). I admire these two for their willingness to embrace the rain and still have their garden coffee date regardless of the stormy skies looming above them and the pouring rain around them, and for their positivity throughout the entire session! Because of their good attitudes (and willingness to try out my crazy ideas!), we were able to come up with some truly beautiful, unique images, and had a lot of fun in the process! 

In addition to their rainy coffee date, we also had the opportunity to visit the school where Kayla and Michael first met, and started dating! Such a fun personal detail to include.

Thank you for your positivity and willingness to push through the rain, Kayla and Michael! It says so much about the two of you and the foundation you're building your marriage upon. We can't wait for the wedding!