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Why the engagement session is so special
The engagement session is a celebration of this moment in time. This moment your proposal is so special. As you grow in life, it is so special to document and capture the essence of the moment. It is so important for us to document stunning photos of you today so years from now you can look back from our photos and be so proud, so humble. Capturing the essence of this moment, your lives and this chapter in life together. Below are just a few tips to kickstart your engagement session planning!
With that being said, your engagement session planning process deserves so much attention to detail and
So much love
We’ll want to bring so much attention to detail to ensure that your engagement photography session is planned beautifully and goes off with a hitch. Below I have just a few details and helpful hints on how to plan that dream engagement photography session that you have been dreaming of.
When to photograph the engagement session
You’ll want to plan and execute your engagement session surrounding when you send your save the dates out. The basic rule of thumb is to send save the dates out approximately six months prior to the wedding. If you are planning for a destination wedding, it is customary to ship save the dates 8-12 months in advance. For a local affair, 4-6 months will suffice.
With that being said, it takes a little while to review your images and choose your selects so from your engagement session. Plan on two months to finalize your images. Once your images are finalized, you’ll then want to narrow down your selects. Selects are your top choices from your session that you could use for your save the date and your wedding website.
bride-to-be it is
Your time to shine
I highly recommend to choose your save the date in advance and communicate/share this link to your save the date. As I process your images, you can work out the kinks of the save the date such as narrowing down your typography on your save the date. You’ll also want to iron out details like guest addresses uploaded into the Minted spreadsheet. Once I have the engagement session complete, you can simply place photos in there and purchase your save the dates. My favorite part of all, they are shipped direct to your guests with Minted.
Planning your session
So if your day is scheduled for September of 2024 and you are hosting a destination wedding, you may want to think about hosting your engagement session during the summer, fall or earlier winter 2023 pending the session aesthetic you desire.
The season chosen and venue(s) will further influence the mood and aesthetic of your images.
Questions about your upcoming New York City engagement session and photographing your romantic engagement session? Comments? Drop me a line in the comments.
Engagement Session Venue
While dreaming and choosing of your engagement session venue(s) envision you both. You may want to sit with a few questions:
What inspires you together?
Where do you find yourselves?
What kind of story do you want to tell with your images?
The engagement session is a nod to your relationship and your love story. How do you want to share the very beginning of your love story?
Engagement Session Vendors
Once you have your engagement session venue chosen, you’ll then want to plan and prepare the details of your session. From styling outfits and accessories to hair and makeup. All details are crucial. Let’s not forget about his details and grooming, too! Executing your vision is key.
More things to think about
It’s always great to have more than not enough when it comes images. Go the extra mile. It’ll be worth it, I promise.
Read more about planning Engagement Sessions here: Top 5 Tips on Engagement Session Planning.
What engagement session tips questions are you thinking about right now? Let me know in the comments below!
Vendors
Couple: Jennifer DeCillis & Joe MacLellan
Hair: MJ Bridal Artistry
Makeup: MJ Bridal Artistry
Stylist: The Style Duo
Venue: 620 Loft & Garden, Rockefeller Center & Maison Close Restaurant
NEW JERSEY ENGAGEMENT SESSION PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Michelle services New York City engagement sessions, New Jersey engagement session and beyond for your destination engagement session. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures all beautiful moments unfolding throughout your session and wedding day including the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you planning your dream engagement session? Are you planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of proposals, engagement sessions and weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today.
We can assist you in photographing and engagement session planning for your romantic New Jersey and New York engagement session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and further details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
VIEW THE POST
Why the engagement session is so special
The engagement session is a celebration of this moment in time. This moment your proposal is so special. As you grow in life, it is so special to document and capture the essence of the moment. It is so important for us to document stunning photos of you today so years from now you can look back from our photos and be so proud, so humble. Capturing the essence of this moment, your lives and this chapter in life together. Below are just a few tips to kickstart your engagement session planning!
With that being said, your engagement session planning process deserves so much attention to detail and
So much love
We’ll want to bring so much attention to detail to ensure that your engagement photography session is planned beautifully and goes off with a hitch. Below I have just a few details and helpful hints on how to plan that dream engagement photography session that you have been dreaming of.
When to photograph the engagement session
You’ll want to plan and execute your engagement session surrounding when you send your save the dates out. The basic rule of thumb is to send save the dates out approximately six months prior to the wedding. If you are planning for a destination wedding, it is customary to ship save the dates 8-12 months in advance. For a local affair, 4-6 months will suffice.
With that being said, it takes a little while to review your images and choose your selects so from your engagement session. Plan on two months to finalize your images. Once your images are finalized, you’ll then want to narrow down your selects. Selects are your top choices from your session that you could use for your save the date and your wedding website.
bride-to-be it is
Your time to shine
I highly recommend to choose your save the date in advance and communicate/share this link to your save the date. As I process your images, you can work out the kinks of the save the date such as narrowing down your typography on your save the date. You’ll also want to iron out details like guest addresses uploaded into the Minted spreadsheet. Once I have the engagement session complete, you can simply place photos in there and purchase your save the dates. My favorite part of all, they are shipped direct to your guests with Minted.
Planning your session
So if your day is scheduled for September of 2024 and you are hosting a destination wedding, you may want to think about hosting your engagement session during the summer, fall or earlier winter 2023 pending the session aesthetic you desire.
The season chosen and venue(s) will further influence the mood and aesthetic of your images.
Questions about your upcoming New York City engagement session and photographing your romantic engagement session? Comments? Drop me a line in the comments.
Engagement Session Venue
While dreaming and choosing of your engagement session venue(s) envision you both. You may want to sit with a few questions:
What inspires you together?
Where do you find yourselves?
What kind of story do you want to tell with your images?
The engagement session is a nod to your relationship and your love story. How do you want to share the very beginning of your love story?
Engagement Session Vendors
Once you have your engagement session venue chosen, you’ll then want to plan and prepare the details of your session. From styling outfits and accessories to hair and makeup. All details are crucial. Let’s not forget about his details and grooming, too! Executing your vision is key.
More things to think about
It’s always great to have more than not enough when it comes images. Go the extra mile. It’ll be worth it, I promise.
Read more about planning Engagement Sessions here: Top 5 Tips on Engagement Session Planning.
What engagement session tips questions are you thinking about right now? Let me know in the comments below!
Vendors
Couple: Jennifer DeCillis & Joe MacLellan
Hair: MJ Bridal Artistry
Makeup: MJ Bridal Artistry
Stylist: The Style Duo
Venue: 620 Loft & Garden, Rockefeller Center & Maison Close Restaurant
NEW JERSEY ENGAGEMENT SESSION PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Michelle services New York City engagement sessions, New Jersey engagement session and beyond for your destination engagement session. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures all beautiful moments unfolding throughout your session and wedding day including the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you planning your dream engagement session? Are you planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of proposals, engagement sessions and weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today.
We can assist you in photographing and engagement session planning for your romantic New Jersey and New York engagement session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and further details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
December 30, 2022
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This Black Friday we’ll be taking a look at the awesome wedding sales and discounts.
Black Friday is a great time to save where we can as we plan and navigate our wedding budgets. So all the savings, the better! This Black Friday it’s definitely time to take advantage deals offered by fellow vendor(s) (that only come once per year!)
To assist my fellow brides I have compiled a list of a few really beautiful products and our Top 10 Best Black Friday Wedding Deals for 2022 that we would find advantageous to take advantage of as you approach your wedding day.
In our list you will find items such items from sunglasses for the dance floor, fashionable flip flops, perfume, to those gorgeous Bella Belle Shoes that you have been eyeing for quite some time.
We look forward to seeing what you love most from this list and of course, capturing those beautiful flat lays the day-of your wedding. Check out our list of Top 10 Black Friday Wedding Deals for 2022 below and leave us your thoughts in the comments.
With love and light,
xo Michelle
Bridal & Bridesmaid Robes
We adore photographing the matching robe portraits with you and your girls in the am accompanied by a glass of bubbly. For a pretty, floral robe, check this out these beautiful silk robes here.
Bridesmaid Gift
As your ladies assist in planning your day and celebrate such special moments, let them know how thankful you are with a very special and customized gift. Below are a few really cute items we found that we knew you’d and your ladies would enjoy most and can carry along to your wedding events or better, a girls day at the beach!
Perfume
Perfumes are always fun to enjoy on the day. I love to also include your bridal perfume in your flat lay so it’s perfect if its brand new.
Ring Boxes
Mrs. Box Ring Boxes Save 40% starts 11/24 at 6PM
Save the Dates & Invitation Suites
Save the Dates and Invitation Suites are the beautiful paper goods that we adore styling on the wedding day. These are two paper items showcase your engagement photographs. It’s essential to schedule your engagement session accordingly to notify guests in a timely fashion. Check out our post all about designing and creating your Save the Dates. In the beginning phases of planning your engagement session? Check out our post all about planning your dream New Jersey engagement session.
Engagement session photographed and ready to print your stunning paper goods? This holiday season, Minted has an amazing offer for you on invitation suites and save the dates.
The sale starts early on November 23 with 20% off wedding orders worth $150 or more (and 15% off everything below that price) with code BF2022.
Minted is also offering 25% off save-the-dates with code BFWED22 until November 25.
Sunglasses
Square & Round
Dior Logo Square Acetate Sunglasses
Burberry Monogram Round Acetate and Plastic Sunglasses
Heart
Kate Spade New York Velma Acetate Butterfly Heart Sunglasses
Dior Logo Acetate Butterfly Sunglasses
Sculptural
Dior Crystal & Metal Cat-Eye Sunglasses
Dolce & Gabbana Structured Cat-Eye Sunglasses
Loewe Cat-Eye Acetate Sunglasses
Heels
Bella Belle Shoes Save up to 40% starts 11/25 Friday 12am EST with code FRIYAY2022.
Crystal
Stuart Weitzman XCurve Weitzman Crystal Slingbacks
Stuart Weitzman Promise Crystal Slingbacks
Leather
Sculptural
Cult Gaia Gold-Metallic Sculptural Heel
Cult Gaia Pearly Stud Mule Sandal
Bridal Prep Sandal & Reception Sneaker
Jimmy Choo Hawaii Leather Low Top Sneakers ($75 Gift Card with Code BFGCSF at checkout)
Valentino Rockstud Leather Sneakers ($75 Gift Card with Code BFGCSF at checkout)
Handbag
Kate Spade New York Pearly Bucket Bag
LafShar Eva Diamond and Acrylic Bag
Sophia Webster “Wifey for Lifey” Clutch Bag
NEW JERSEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial, photojournalistic, and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures all beautiful moments unfolding throughout your day including the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you planning your surprise proposal? Are you planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of proposals, engagement sessions and weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today.
We can assist you in photographing your romantic New Jersey and/or New York proposal session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
Affiliate Disclaimer
When I link to products and services, those links may be affiliate links. If you click on any of those links and make a product purchase within a certain time frame, I’ll earn a small commission. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you. As a Minted Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I mention these products because I believe in their product and want to service you.
November 23, 2022
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You have photographed your engagement session and now it’s time to notify your guests of your date. If you have guests coming in from out of town and traveling or if hosting on a holiday weekend, you definitely want to have those guests aware of your wedding date to providing plenty of advance notice about the upcoming nuptials.
Minted Photographer and New Jersey Wedding Photographer, Michelle Behre provides step-by-step instructions and deadlines on how to plan, create, and approach your wedding Save the Date cards in a few, easy steps.
Schedule the Engagement Session
Schedule your engagement session with New Jersey Wedding Photographer and communicate your needs for your Save the Dates and the deadlines. Notify our team that you would like to have your photographs by a specific deadline to go to print.
Choose Favorites
When creating your timeline, factor in the delivery time from your session. Upon gallery delivery, choose ‘select’ images for your Save the Date cards. Furthermore, delivery times are approximately 4-6 weeks during the off-season (winter months of January-March) and 6-8 weeks during the height of the season.
Provide Guests Notice
Create that shipment deadline and stick to it. We recommend anywhere from 6-8 months for local weddings. For guests traveling for a destination wedding, we recommend 8-12 months to providing guests with ample notification.
Create Your Guest List
To keep it as simple as possible (and accessible as possible). We recommend creating a document of your guest list to stay organized (and up to date with details). Minted has created an address book ‘address assistant’ spreadsheet for you. We recommend to upload your guest addresses direct to their site for your cards to be shipped direct to guests.
Plan on finalizing that guest list and having all of those addresses ready for shipment and saved. Additionally, once saved in your address assistant spreadsheet, re-upload your spreadsheet into Minted (or uploading all contacts individually).
Create your Save the Date
We have shared your online gallery. You have chosen your favorite ‘select’ images. You have your guest list final. Now it’s time to move images over to the Minted design platform and get that Save the Date designed, printed, and sent to notify all guests of your date! Yay! Cue the bubbly!
We cannot wait to see our final ‘select’ images printed in your beautiful Save the Date card when we photograph your day of details!
Until then, love and light,
xoxo, Michelle
Sample Designs
NEW JERSEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial, photojournalistic, and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures beautiful moments as they unfold including the excitement as the champagne pours to the emotive ceremony moments. Are you engaged and planning your wedding? Congratulations, lovie! We accept a limited amount of weddings per year. We cannot wait to learn all about your day, love story and what you planned! Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today!
We can assist you with your Save the Date cards to photographing your romantic engagement session and wedding! Inquire with Michelle for availability and details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
November 15, 2022
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New York and New Jersey Wedding Photographer, Michelle Behre adores working beside bridal clients to plan their dream engagement session. From overlooking the Hudson at the Battery, to viewing the sunset glittering over the waters at Cape May Beach, there are so many beautiful destinations between New York and New Jersey to choose from.
As a wedding photographer, it is upmost important to make that engagement session so special to your and your fiancé. We could spend all day recommend beautiful venues, yet if it does speak to you and your love story, then uhhh, that’s not so special.
Your session is designed to compliment your love story. Your session is designed to curate your wedding day and we are so thrilled to begin planning those very steps!
Here are just a few tips to get us started on creating that EPIC, thoughtfully curated, and effortless engagement session preserving these moments to last a lifetime.
With love and joy,
Michelle
Plan Your Session Aesthetic and Vibe
While working beside New York and New Jersey bridal clients, it is always my goal and best intention to design a romantic engagement session that best compliments the clients wedding and provides a great introduction to the wedding day. Engagement session photographs (will most likely) be printed and utilized for Save the Dates. With that being said and while planning your session and all session details, you want to think about the vision of your day and creating that chic, jaw-dropping and romantic engagement session for you and your fiancé.
Execute That Aesthetic
Styling is key while coming to sessions. It is essential to first create a ‘vision board’ together and once you have a vision finalized, then move forward with nailing down the details.
Book Your Venue(s)
Once your engagement session vision is accomplished, execute on the first big step, choosing your dream engagement session venue! Whether this be at a (what may seem like) a public location or private, it’s always best to inquire with the venue and while photograph at their property to see if a permit fee is required to photograph at their property for the time planned. If a permit fee is required, applications are required to be completed month(s) prior to the session.
Outsource the Talent & Book Vendor Team(s)
If your vision includes talent such as outfit changes and accessories, which may include on-location styling, hair, makeup, furniture rentals (example: champagne tower and glasses), vehicles (antique vehicles), or furniture, it would be ideal to then inquire with vendors one at a time and book your vendors for your session.
Invite a Friend
Yes, you read that correctly! Invite a friend to your New Jersey engagement session. Request for a family member and/or friend to assist the day of the session. Like the wedding day sessions move pretty fast, especially if there are several locations. I recommend to request for your maid-of-honor (or bestie) to tag along, take some behind the scenes for your social media, assist with carrying your bag, and can assist with any additional details, like possibly care for your pup if you plan on incorporating your fur baby!
NEW JERSEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial, photojournalistic, and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures all beautiful moments unfolding throughout your day including the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you engaged and planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today.
We can assist you in photographing your romantic engagement session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
November 15, 2022
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Are you planning on proposing to the love of your life and need a few ideas to get your proposal kick-started?
Are you ready to WOW her and make your proposal extra-special for her and for your family? We are so excited for you!
To build on that, let’s get your love story started and get planning together. We have had the honor of capturing such special proposals and here are a few tips we have gathered a long the way! If you are in need of New Jersey and New York Proposal Photography services, inquire to learn more!
Make it Personal
Make your proposal incredibly personal to you and your love story. Are you a more intimate couple? Do you spend your time together sipping on morning coffee or joining for a morning run? Do you find yourselves to be more social and joining social gatherings with friends and family? Compliment your personalities. Make it count. Make it personal. Focus on what brings you together. This is your time to celebrate your love.
Express Your Love
Celebrate your joy. Image the steps you would like to take and what you would like to say. Practice what you want to say and how you want to share it with her. Contact family, friends, loved ones and invite those loved ones. Host a celebration. Share your joy, share your love of her with her and the ones you love most. Make it from the heart!
Create a Budget
Craft a budget for your proposal. Wedding planning typically tends to go over budget. Plan on being a bit flexible. Research venues and vendors, receive your quotes and lock in your proposal photographer, jewelry, venue, celebration venue, catering, hair, makeup, and more. You may want to factor travel and any additional talent you may outsource for your celebration.
Outsource Talent
Does the love of your life love to be pampered? Make it special. Outsource styling, photography, hair and makeup artist(s). Does she love to travel to remote destinations? Choose that breathtaking remote destination for your proposal that she has been dying to go to, (we’ll tag along too!).
Create an Itinerary
To stay organized, you’ll want to create a list of tasks and to do lists for your proposal. A day-of itinerary and timeline will keep you on track. Travel time, breakfast, lunch, and hair and makeup, all these times need to be factored in appropriately for your event.
NEW JERSEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial, photojournalistic, and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures all beautiful moments unfolding throughout your day including the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you planning your surprise proposal? Are you planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of proposals, engagement sessions and weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today.
We can assist you in photographing your romantic New Jersey and/or New York proposal session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
November 15, 2022
MICHELLE BEHRE, THE PHOTOGRAPHER
GET TO KNOW her
xoxo, Michelle
With cheerful energy, a contagious smile, and an intentional eye, award-winning New Jersey fine art wedding and portrait photographer, Michelle Behre, captures love stories to stand the test of time.
She uses her refined fine art photography skills to expertly capture the wedding day. From the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect newlywed portraits, Michelle expertly blends fine art editorial and documentary photography.
She confidently empowers each client who steps in front of her lens. During your time together, she illuminates your personalities, genuine compassion, and captures the joy that you and your families bring to one another in an unobtrusive fashion.
