Your Engagement Photos at Lake Tahoe
Hold it. Now say “cheeeese.”
Unfortunately, for many people, this approach to picture-taking can result in photos that are… cheesy. And if you’re an engaged couple with a wedding celebration approaching, this can be a cause for concern, because you want your photographer to capture your big day in a good light.
But some people are naturally camera shy, or they don’t always put their best face forward for photos. If you remotely fit this description, we highly recommend that you spend a couple of hours in an engagement photo session with your photographer.
Photo: Fifth and Chestnut Photo Company
Of all the service providers (vendors) that you hire for your wedding, the one that you will spend the most time with on your wedding day is your photographer. So, not only does your photographer need to be a skilled master of his/her craft, but your photographer also needs to be someone that you are comfortable with.
By scheduling an engagement photo session in advance of the wedding, you will get to know your photographer better and become more familiar with how he/she works. Meanwhile, your photographer will learn from the engagement photo shoot which poses and camera angles work best, and he/she will develop a better understanding of what kinds of photos you like and dislike. In short, you and your photographer both benefit from an engagement session, and that’s why many photographers offer wedding packages with an engagement session included.
So where is the best place in the world to go for your engagement photo session?? Why Lake Tahoe of course!!!
Photo: Ciprian Photography
OK, we may be a bit biased, so we recently chatted with a most darling couple, Jesse and Darren from San Francisco, who got engaged in May 2017. When it came time for them to choose a location for their engagement photos, they quickly concluded that Tahoe was the place to be. Like many Bay Area residents, Jesse and Darren had spent considerable time enjoying all the fun activities that the Tahoe region has to offer. Darren told us he had been skiing and snowboarding at Tahoe resorts “for my entire life.”
So on December 10, 2017, Jesse and Darren drove from San Francisco to Tahoe for the day, and met up with their photographers, Capture Create Studios. They planned to take photos in more than one location, so Jesse brought three outfits with her. (She ended up wearing only two.)
Their first photo-shoot took place at Sugar Pine Point State Park. The lakefront setting, majestic evergreens and some fresh snow provided a beautiful backdrop.
Next, the couple and their photographers drove down to Emerald Bay. There, the late-afternoon natural lighting added a warm glow to the world-famous vistas.
So if you’re an engaged couple considering an engagement photo session, how should you proceed? Jesse and Darren’s photographers, Capture Create Studios, have these helpful suggestions:
- Secure your wedding day photographer first! This photographer should be the same photographer for your photo engagement session.
- Decide on a geographic location and settings that are significant to you. If you are an adventurous couple and love to hike, ski, or kayak on the lake, then Tahoe is the perfect place for your engagement photos.
- Wear clothes that you love and are comfortable. Select at least two outfits and avoid crazy patterns or prints.
- Consider having your make-up and hair done professionally. Makeup evens out the skin tone and gives a nice foundation base. Schedule your hair and make-up trial to coincide earlier in the day with your engagement photo session. During the photo session, have light matte-finish powder or blotter paper available.
- Time it right! Your professional photographer knows the most perfect time of day when the lighting is magical for photos, so let the photographer do the scheduling. Typically, the worst time to photograph is when the sun is at its peak height. Allow for 1.5 hours to 2 hours for an engagement photo session.
- Come mentally prepared to let your love shine…have fun with it!
The Owners of Capture Create Studios, Chelsea and Jon Evans, also offered these final thoughts: “Couples who opt in for engagement sessions actually have better photos on their wedding day – there is more comfort on the wedding day.”
Reflecting on their experience, Jesse and Darren declared, “It was great to get used to the camera and a lot more fun than we thought. If you are on the fence about doing an engagement session, definitely do it! For sure we know our photographers are great, and we love our engagement photos.”
Jesse and Darren’s Photographer:
Chelsea and Jon Evans
Capture Create Studios
capturecreatephoto@gmail.com
707-888-1388