A few thoughts on Engagement Shoots... ( or Where To Do An Engagement Shoot)

"I wish every engagement shoot could be just like that."

I couldn't help thinking about how awesome yesterday's shoot was when I got home. It was almost too easy. It was one of those moments where I couldn't help but think, I get paid to do this??

It wasn't the people, even though David and Leslie are soo awesome and I CAN NOT WAIT for their wedding next month. It wasn't the location, even though the Farmer's Market was beautiful.

It was the fact that they took me on one of their regular dates. 

I got to be a fly on the wall.

They felt so comfortable even though they were a ball of nerves leading up to it.

And you want to know why?

The shoot was something that they do all the time. 

It wasn't out of the ordinary.

And the funny part? 

They are going to end up with more pictures then I usually end up with. Usually during a shoot there are a ton of duplicates that I have to get rid of. That doesn't happen when you're walking around doing things. Sure, we periodically stopped to pose next to a pretty wall or a fancy doorstep, but the whole shoot is not based on that. 

Instead the pictures tell a story.

The story of you.

For those of you planning engagement shoots in the future, please think of this. 

When you are celebrating your 50th anniversary, would you rather show your grandchildren a posed picture of you two on the beach, or a snippet of what your life was like back before you got married?

 Come back tomorrow to check out the rest of David & Leslie's engagement session!

Amazing Find: Pinterest

Every once in a while I find something that is so amazing that I just want to tell everyone about it! I've been obsessed with the website Pinterest for a few months now, and every time I log in I think to myself, I have got to talk about this on my blog!

So what is Pinterest you ask?

"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste. People use Pinterest to collect and share all sorts of things -- wedding inspiration, favorite T-shirts, DJ equipment. You name it, people are pinning it. We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."

And it is a complete obsession of mine. Pinterest is so full of inspiration. Looking for wedding inspiration? How about home decor? Are you a DIYer? You can find something for everyone.



I keep pin boards of poses I'd like to try with clients, quotes I really like, and projects I'd like to try. You can check out my boards here: http://pinterest.com/lauralaing/ It's a great way to keep ideas organized without keeping tons of files on your desktop! I wish it had been around when I was planning my wedding! I would have spent endless hours staring at all the amazing pictures!



Right now Pinterest is invite only, but they usually get back to you pretty quick if you don't have an invite. Want an invite so you can try this amazing site for yourself? Shoot me an email and I'll send one your way!

FAQ: What time to schedule a shoot

So you've decided to schedule a shoot, you've picked your location, and you've decided what to wear... the only thing left to do?

Decide on a time for the shoot!

When couples ask me what time we should meet for a shoot I usually have two suggestions, either early morning (like really early) or right before sunset. Why these times? The light is SO MUCH BETTER. It's soft and light, just beautiful. In fact, the hour before sunset is called "the golden hour" to photographers. Why you ask? Just look at the photo below. This was taken right before the sun set and basically came out of the camera looking exactly like you see it.

If you do a shoot closer to noon, you will end up with really bright direct light that will cause unflattering shadows on your face and an overall unflattering look. Usually if this happens we spend the whole shoot searching for shade, which can be done but it's just not the same.

If you plan on having your shoot during one of these times, please, please, please be on time! There is such a small window in which the light is perfect that if you are late it just won't be the same!

Have a question you would like me to answer? Ask it in the comments!

FAQ: What to Wear for an Engagement Shoot

The second most asked question I get about engagement shoots is, what should we wear?
Here are a few tips:

-Bring 2 outfits
We have two hours to shoot, so bring a change of clothes. By changing your outfit, it gives the photos two totally different looks!

- Wear something on the "fancy" side
Wear and outfit that makes you feel pretty (or handsome!)! It can be super fancy, or just a little nicer then your "everyday" outfit.



-Dress comfortable
Wear an outfit that is your "everyday" you. Jeans and a t-shirt. Casual dress. Something you can move around in.




-Don't be afraid of prints!
I hear so often not to wear prints for a photo shoot. I say, if you love it , wear it! The right print can look amazing in a photo!



-Bold colors
Don't be afraid to wear a bold color! They help the photo pop!



-Wear Black
Black is universally flattering! In photos, black can hide just about anything!



-Wear fun accessories
The simplest way to make a basic outfit pop is to wear some fun accessories! These can range from a chunky necklace, to cowboy boots, to a fun colored belt.



-Compliment each other, but don't be matchy-matchy!
This is my biggest one! No one likes those family photos where everyone is wearing the exact same thing (I know you've all seen those family beach photos were everyone is wearing a white button up and jeans!), so don't do it for your engagement photos! You can both wear the same color, but make it two different shades.




-Girls, leave the purse behind!
Nothing is more annoying then constantly trying to find somewhere to set your purse during a shoot. It makes for less spontaneous photos and can slow down the shoot. So please, leave it in the car!

-Treat the shoot like a date
Have a good time! Pretend the shoot is just a date that happens to have a camera tagging along. Take me to one of your favorite places to go on a date and show me your everyday lives. Those pictures can be just as good as the super posed ones, but they will have more meaning.

Got a question you'd like me to answer in a future FAQ post? Ask me in the comments!

FAQ: Where to do an Engagement Shoot

I'm going to be starting a new feature on the blog today! I'll be answering some of the most frequently asked questions I get from clients. To start off this series....

"Where would you suggest we do our engagement shoot?"

This question comes up in almost every meeting I have have with my clients. Choosing a location for your engagement photos is a huge decision! No only do you want the background of the photos to be great but you also want the photos to be meaningful. Every time I get asked this question my answer is always the same.

Pick somewhere that is important to you as a couple.



When the location is important to you, the photos will have more meaning. Alynne and David love going to Little Tokyo. When we did their engagement session there it was so much fun! Not only could they show me little bits and pieces of their lives, but they also were very comfortable knowing their surroundings.



Now, what if you don't have that special place?

My next suggestion is to look around for engagement photos you like. Inspiration can be found anywhere. Use google, search my blog, and/or look at other photographers blogs. Find a look that you like. Is it a beach look? Is it a park/nature look? Is it a city look?

The Beach Look

If you decide on the beach look, I usually suggest two options. The first being El Matador State Beach in Malibu.




I love this beach! It's beautiful. It has sea caves, tide pools, old staircases that lead to nowhere, and a sunset that can't be beat. This beach would be for couples that want romantic beach photos.

Keep in mind, if you pick this location you will be doing a lot of posing with rocks. If you (or your fiance!) don't like posing for the camera, this location may not be the best for you!



My second beach suggestion is the Santa Monica Pier.



This location is perfect for couples who want a beach location, but with some pops of color! It's also great for the couples who I mentioned above that don't like posing with rocks for 2 hours :) There are a ton of different locations on and below the pier to give you a great mix of photos, and a lot of different things to interact with!



The Nature/Park Look



I think most people would be surprised by the beautiful pictures that can be taken at your local park. The one in the photo below is a park that's down the street from my house! (If you're near La Crescenta, try CV Park! I love it!) Is there a park near you that has some special features like a bridge or a stream? How about one with a rose garden or a pond? These can all be great options!



Don't think your park is good enough? Would you be surprised if I told you the photo below was taken at a park with only one tree in it? Don't rule out any location!



The City Look



Downtown LA has so many options for photo shoots. There's the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Library, the many statues that litter the streets of downtown, Angels Flight, Chinatown, and etc. All of these would be great photo locations!



I hope this helps with your search for a location!

Have another question for a FAQ post? Let me know in the comments!