Engagement Portraits 101

March 14, 2017 debra eby

You know that moment, when your closet stares back at you? It feels like there isn't a thing to wear. You text your BFF asking what she's planning to wear. You don't want to be the one overdressed or - even worse - under-dressed for the occasion. For the next 10 minutes you go over options together until you reach the final verdict. Evening saved.

Picture of ruffles and lace textiles in beautiful blush, purple, and rose hues. | Debra Eby Photography Co.

Most of our significant other's are not quite as sympathetic to our plight. This is just the beginning. Living with our love means no roommate or sister bailing us out with the perfect borrowed necklace. When I married and moved away, my shoe fashion suffered greatly.

As a wedding photographer, one of my most frequently asked questions is, "What should we wear for the engagement session?". The tricky part of answering this question is that it depends on your couple style. You should maintain your look, yet in a best-hair-day-ever way. Both of you should look the glowing versions of yourself.

Engagement Style Prep

Beauty Department

Picture of a man shaving his beard for his engagement portrait. | Debra Eby Photography Co.

For hair, I recommend getting a blowout. This gives you that salon-finished look that we all absolutely love (um, why can I never re-create this on my own?). I do recommend wearing your hair down, unless you want to do an up-do halfway through as part of your wardrobe change.

Since guys tend to get haircuts more often, I recommend scheduling the haircut with enough time for it to grow to the favorite length. For my Ben, that's a few weeks after a fresh cut. Also, make sure any facial hair is properly groomed. I even had one groom shave in the middle of the sesh for two different looks. It was amazing!

For make-up, this is a great time for a make-up trial for your wedding. You achieve a professional look while having honest convos with your MUA. If you opt to do your own, just go a little heavier on the concealer/foundation, especially under your eyes. Speaking of eyes, play those up, girlie. Work those brows and wear falsies. That makes a dramatic difference in pictures.

Fashion

Image of a stylish couple having an engagement shoot in St. Augustine, Florida | Debra Eby Photography Co.

Think back to that time when an outfit made you feel smokin' hot. What did that look like? Those colors and that cut are likely going to unlock your personal style.

Consider what colors and cuts look best on your body type - for both of you. There are oodles of resources out there on Pinterest, just run a quick search, "your body type, fashion" and you'll see so many helpful charts. Like this one for her and this one for him. There are resources for skin tone and colors as well, like this one for her and this one for him.

Once you each have an idea of what looks best on you, then find the common ground. Choose colors that flatter both of you.

Choose wardrobe with your location in mind as well. You want your fashion to be cohesive with the overall feeling of the shoot.

The Engagement Style Guide

This brings me to the exciting part. We can get super practical by using The Engagement Style Guide. This is a look-book offering visual concepts and tips as you get your style on. Take time to see what looks may be right for you, then customize according to your couple identity.

In this book we break down four different looks:

Casual Sophisticate - Uptown modern with down-to-earth fun.
Cozy Romance - Fashion meant for cuddling.
Dressy Chic - Fashion for an upscale night on the town.
Coastal Style - Style for seaside escapes.

Each section offers tips for her and tips for him to achieve a similar look. Then, you can see how that translates to a real life location background. Plus, looks from other real engagement shoots.

Engagement Style Guide

click here

The official Engagement Style Guide - a look-book for making your engagement portraits fashion savvy. | Debra Eby Photography Co.

This quiz is another tool I use to customize advice for my couples, towards their personal style.

All right, Gorgeous, it's time. Get back to that closet, or maaaaaybe that Nordstrom sale? It's photo shoot time.

xoxo Lovelies

Downtown Orlando Engagement Portrait - Darren & Jessica

February 14, 2017 debra eby

In early November East End Market filled with talented wedding artists and vendors, showcasing their masterful work. The beautiful Jessica, and her entourage, walked up to my little corner and into my life. I loved her from the first moments of our time chatting.

We followed-up with e-mail correspondence chatting all about her wedding ideas and who they are as a couple.

You guys, not only will you fall in love with this couple, you are going to die over their sweet Bernese Mountain puppy who tagged along for the engagement sesh.

Jessica laughs about Duke being the real star of the photo shoot, but let's not get carried away. Puppy love aside, Darren and Jessica are an absolute dream.

I'm always a total sap over a good proposal story. Here is how Darren popped the question, perfect in every way...

We went to dinner at our favorite restaurant with our dog and sat outside. We have always joked about getting Duke a barrel to wear around his collar since he was such a big dog (Dukes a Bernese Mountain Dog but gets confused for Saint Bernards all the time and they are known for wearing the barrels). So half way through dinner he went to take Duke on a quick walk because he was getting antsy. They walk back and I noticed Duke has a barrel around his neck and Darren walks up to me and gets down on one knee and tells me to read the barrel strap and on it said "will you marry me". He had a photographer taking photos from a distance and all of our family and best friends waiting for us at a bar he reserved for us! It was perfect.

Image of a couple and their dog sitting on steps downtown Orlando, Florida, in front of a gated apartment complex.

Picture of a Bernese Mountain Dog sitting with a couple in the background downtown Orlando, Florida.

Picture of an engaged couple looking into the camera and smiling. They are sitting in front of a gate on some steps in downtown Orlando, Florida

Image of an engaged couple linking arms and looking at each other lovingly. They are both sitting on steps in front of a gate in downtown Orlando, Florida

Picture of an engaged couple standing together in front of a fountain downtown Orlando with their Bernese Mountain Dog.

Image of an engaged couple standing together, linking arms, with their Bernese Mountain Dog downtown Orlando, Florida. They are standing on grass in front of a black iron gate.

Picture of an engagement ring on a tropical leaf in downtown Orlando, Florida

Image of an engaged couple, she is resting her head on his shoulder. There is a black iron gate behind them in downtown Orlando, Florida.

Picture of an engaged couple in downtown Orlando. The woman is looking into the camera while holding her fiance. The image is in black and white.

Image of an engaged couple in downtown Orlando, Florida. The couple is holding hands and standing by their Bernese Mountain dog.

Picture of an engaged couple in downtown Orlando with their Bernese Mountain Dog.

Image of an engaged couple playing with their Bernese Mountain Dog in downtown Orlando, Florida

Image of an engaged couple in downtown Orlando, Florida. The woman is closing her eyes and resting her head on her fiance's shoulder. You can see her engagement ring on her left ring finger.

Image of an engaged couple in downtown Orlando, Florida. She is smiling radiantly while cuddling into her fiance.

Picture of an engaged couple in downtown Orlando, Florida. A Bernese Mountain dog is standing with them against tropical trees.

Picture of a Bernese Mountain Dog running towards the camera with his tongue out. An engaged couple is in the background in downtown Orlando, Florida.

A black and white image of an engaged couple in downtown Orlando, Florida.

A picture of an engaged couple sitting together with their Bernese Mountain Dog in downtown Orlando, Florida. There are tropical plants behind them.

Image of an engaged couple in downtown Orlando, Florida. The man is looking into the camera, smiling, while the woman is embracing him and whispering into his ear.

A black and white picture of an engaged couple kissing in downtown Orlando, Florida.

Image of an engaged couple with their Bernese Mountain Dog in downtown Orlando, Florida. They are all sitting together and smiling with greenery in the background.

Picture of a Bernese Mountain Dog looking at the camera with his tongue sticking out. There is an engaged couple kissing behind the dog in downtown Orlando, Florida.

Downtown Tampa Engagement Portraits - Johnny & An

January 27, 2017 debra eby

Our introductions were over Facetime. They squished together so I could see them and I ran upstairs to keep the noises of my littles out of earshot. They were super chill and I took a relaxed breath. Whew. We could be real with each other.

When meeting up for their engagement shoot, An stunned me with her gorgeous outfit. I'm still crazy about those shoes!

She has a graceful, and joyful, way about her. He lights up her eyes and fills her with laughter. She brings out his tender and loving side.

We start at the Henry Plant Museum surrounded by intricate architecture. Combinations of a myriad of styles. Over the bridge we head Downtown by the river.

They have an easy way about them. Their sweet inside jokes keep coming up as they joyfully share from their lives. Like the way they dance with abandon. Their moves are everything.

They have me so excited to capture their Powel Crosley Estate wedding this May! It's a two-day affair and, you guys, it's going to be amazing. I'm sure the setting will be beyond beautiful. But, it's who they are that have me filled with anticipation. Totally preparing myself for their epic dance floor.

xoxo

Picture of a couple on the steps of the Henry B. Plant Museum. They are embracing, he is kissing her cheek, she is smiling. This is an engaged couple.

Image of an engaged couple at the Henry B. Plant Museum in Tampa, Florida. These are engagement portraits.

Image of engagement portraits on the steps of the Henry B Plant museum in Tampa, Florida. The couple is in a romantic embrace.

This is a picture of an engaged couple at the Henry B. Plant museum in Tampa, Florida. He is kissing her cheek, she is looking away and smiling.

Image of a beautiful asian woman with dark hair, looking down and smiling. Image is taken at the Henry B. Plant museum in Tampa, Florida.

Picture of a couple and their cute shoes. This picture was taken on the steps of the Henry B. Plant museum in Tampa, Florida. These are engagement portraits.

Image of an engaged couple embracing in front of the Henry B. Plant museum in Tampa, Florida.

Image of an engaged couple in front of the Tampa Theater, downtown Tampa, Florida.

Image of an engaged couple running playfully at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

Picture of a cute couple dancing at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa, Florida. This is an engagement portrait.

Image of a beautiful woman smiling while holding the arm of her fiance. This engaged couple is at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa, Florida.

Image of an engaged couple cuddling and laughing at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa, Florida.

Image of a woman hugging her fiance at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa. This is an engagement portrait.

Picture of an engaged couple's hands. The woman's engagement ring is shown in the center of the image. This is at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa, Florida

Image of a beautiful emerald engagement ring sitting on top of a smooth stone. This is at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa, Florida.

Image of an engaged couple looking out on the riverwalk in downtown Tampa at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

Picture of an engaged couple embracing on the Tampa Riverwalk in downtown Tampa at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

Image of an engaged couple embracing at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa.

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