FAQ and Best Tips on How to Plan your Engagement Session in San Francisco
How far in advance of the wedding should we plan our engagement session?
It depends on what you are using your engagement photos for. Most of our couples use them for their Save-The-Dates, their wedding website and to display on canvases and a custom guest book on their wedding day. If you are using them for your Save-The-Dates, you’ll probably want to have your engagement photos taken 6 months before your big day. If not, then we would recommend at least 6 weeks before so that we have time to edit the photos, design your guest book layout and have it printed along with your canvases before your big day.
We’ve never been photographed before, how can we loosen up during the engagement session?
It’s totally normal to feel a little nervous about being photographed. 95% of our couples have never had their photos taken professionally before, and yet, they start having fun and feeling comfortable within the first few minutes of the session. Why? As photography pros, we know how to make you look your best based on lighting, poses and genuine emotions. We’ll also often show you the back of the camera so that you can see how good you look! Before you know it, you’ll just see us as a friend tagging along with you to take some beautiful photos while you’re on a date with your fiancé!
“My first experience with a professional photographer was terrific! My fiancé and I chose JBJ Pictures to take our engagement pictures, we were both a little nervous, but our photographer was so relaxed & professional that he immediately put us at ease. The experience was actually fun, something we weren’t expecting!”
What are some go-to engagement session poses?
Our couples love that their engagement session feels natural and genuine, we will give you directions but there is no forced poses. We focus on capturing genuine and natural emotions through natural poses. Below are a few simple poses that we love for engagement photos: holding hands, looking at each other, walking towards the camera etc.
What outfits should we wear or not wear to our engagement session?
We aim for timeless photos that you will still love in many years, so we always suggest that you visualize yourself looking at your engagement photos in 5-10 years: will you still like the outfits you picked?
As a general rule of thumb for an engagement session in San Francisco, we usually recommend avoiding horizontal stripes, heavy patterns, tennis shoes, shorts and t-shirts.
You can also play with colors based on your locations’ background. For example, you can choose a red dress to match the Golden Gate Bridge. Or you can wear something totally opposite to contrast with the background. Pastel and complementary colors also look good on camera for a light, airy and editorial look.
If you are going to at least two locations, we recommend two outfits for your engagement session to add variety in your final gallery: a casual outfit for laid-back locations like Baker Beach, Land’s End and Crissy Field, and a more formal outfit for locations like Pier 7, Palace of Fine Arts, SF City Hall or Legion of Honor.
How many times should we change outfits?
We usually recommend no more than one outfit per location so that you don’t have to change too many times, so a 2-hour session allows enough time for 2 outfits, a 4-hour session 4 outfits etc.
We did a 2-day engagement session in San Francisco with 10 locations for Ega and Diamanta. They flew from Indonesia to SF just to have their pre-wedding session done by JBJ Pictures and brought dozens of stunning dresses from Indonesia. This photo is at San Francisco City Hall with a formal outfit.
When is the best time for an engagement session?
The best time for an outdoor engagement in San Francisco is usually a couple of hours before sunset because the lighting conditions are softer. The most challenging time is around noon because the shadows cast by the sun can be harsh. However, we are experienced in all lighting conditions and San Francisco weather can be very unpredictable, so we make ourselves available any time of day.
Can we bring our dog(s)?
Of course! All pets are welcome! We will take a variety of photos with and without your pets, so we recommend that you bring a friend or family member to hold your pet(s) while you are taking photos as a couple. Make sure to bring some treats too!
We love the JBJ Pictures Team’s work and we would like to book you, what should we do next?
Send us 3 dates that work for you, ideally weekdays to avoid crowds and because we often have weddings on weekends. Then we’ll send you a quote with the engagement package you selected to reserve your date and you’ll simply need to accept it, sign a contract and send a 50% retainer.
Can we use our engagement photos for our Save-The-Date and when can we expect to see our photos?
Yes, definitely! We do our best to deliver a sneak peek within a couple of weeks and the full gallery within 4 weeks. Delivery times may vary during peak wedding season but we are very quick compared to the industry standard.
Be sure to let us know when you are planning on sending your Save-The-Dates so that we can expedite your editing and delivery as needed.
How many photos should we expect in our gallery?
As a rule of thumb, we select and edit the best 30-50 photos per hour, so you will receive around 60-100 edited high-resolution photos for a 2-hour session.
Do we receive the photos without watermark in high resolution and with prints rights?
Yes, you will receive your gallery in high resolution, without watermark and with prints rights. We recommend ordering prints through our professional lab for the best quality but you can also order them on your own through an online retailer like Shutterfly for example (our professional lab has a much higher quality though!)
“The JBJ Pictures Team blends friendliness, professionalism, and skill in an amazing way. Our pictures were great, and they are so easy to work with. ”
Can you create a guest book with our engagement photos?
Yes! Guest books are always a hit at weddings because guests love seeing your favorite engagement photos and leaving a note there.
Most of our couples order a guest book with their engagement photos, which can be done before or after the session. We will send you our keepsake brochure after your session to help you customize your guest book with your favorite type of cover, title, size, number of pages etc. Then you will select your favorite photos directly from your gallery and we will create the layout for you to review.
What are some popular locations for engagement sessions in San Francisco?
San Francisco has so many amazing locations for your engagement session. Check out this blog post for our list of the 10 best engagement session locations in San Francisco.
Do you travel and can we take our engagement photos anywhere in the world?
Yes, we are destination wedding photographers, so we go wherever our couples need us! So far, our couples have flown us to destinations like Fiji, Thailand, Croatia, Italy, Mexico, and more. Travel fees apply based on the distance. For locations within driving distance from San Francisco like Yosemite, Tahoe, Carmel and Monterey, we have a small fee that covers gas and time, usually only a few hundred dollars.
We love our engagement photos and we’d love to give you a huge shout out on social media, what’s the best way to do so?
Thanks so much, we’re so happy you love them! Our favorite shoutouts from our couples are usually on Instagram and Facebook @JBJPictures with something like “Thank you so much to the @JBJPictures Team, we love our engagement photos so much and can't wait for you to capture our wedding day!”
Does the time spent changing outfits or going to different locations count as session time?
Yes, a standard rule-of-thumb for every photography company is that the session starts when you meet your photographer. We don’t really keep a close eye on time though and changing outfits or locations has never taken too long to be an issue, we always get the photos we need within your session and definitely don’t mind staying a few minutes later as needed.
Can we bring some props?
Definitely! Some couples bring wedding signs announcing their wedding date, personal items that mean something to them, a blanket to sit on, a bottle of champagne to pop along with glasses, etc.
Can we add an additional hour of engagement session to our package?
Yes, if you realize before or during your session that you would like to add an additional hour, just let us know and we will update your invoice with our standard additional hour rate ($495/hour including editing).
How can we share some photos we love with you to show you what we like?
The best way is for you to Pin them on Pinterest and share your mood board by email. Make sure to check that we can access it by trying your link from an incognito tab.
Did you find this helpful? Are there any other questions you’d like us to answer? We’re always happy to help our lovely couples, so simply send us an email or a DM on Instagram and we’ll get back to you shortly!
Do you know any brides and grooms who would find this helpful? Be sure to share it with them on social media!
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