Leading up to our engagement shoot, all I could think about was the weather. Having already canceled on our photographers twice, we were desperate for some sunshine and low-humidity, (which in swamp-laden D.C. is a near impossible feat during the summer). The clock ticked and we were halfway into June, but luckily all signs pointed to “go” for an upcoming Saturday.
As I fretted about what ensemble would be the best – am I a quirky girl (absolutely not), a classic girl (better not to pretend), an edgy girl (does edge rhyme with cuddle), or what? I heard the rumors: “don’t wear print on film,” and, “make sure to match your outfits,” but when it came down to the day of our shoot, all that really mattered was confidence and a smile.
Shunning advice I paired my favorite print shorts with my favorite bright top and sprinkled on copious amounts of gold accessories. I also decided to bring a clothing change. Yes, it’s high maintenance in theory, but if you’re willing to strip-down en route, you can’t really be classified as uptight. I was happy with my makeup and excited about my blowout; I had checked all of the boxes!
As prepared as I thought I was, when we arrived to the park what I didn’t anticipate was extreme nerves… Oh, the park is open to the public (duh)? And I have to exaggerate (it’s a camera)? Um, we’re really doing this shoot for three hours (sweat seeping through)?
Here are some lessons learned:
– Maria Vicencio came prepared. She and her husband (let’s please swap careers) had advised us to drink a lot of water and offered shots – not a bad option – to calm our nerves. It really did become important that we were well hydrated, and it’s best to bring extra bottles of water.
– We started out in the most private area of the park we could find, which helped us build confidence for the first 15 minutes of the shoot. It might seem odd, but if you have an arsenal of jokes to make each other laugh, you’ll be better for it.
– Wear comfortable shoes! Even an inch or two of heel can cause discomfort. You’ll be walking, and running, for a fair amount of time. So if you need those spikes in your shot, bring them with you and do a quick swap.
– The photographers want it all: joy, laughter, love, calm, longing… It’s exhausting, so a slow evening afterward is probably a good choice for most.
After three weeks of waiting we were thrilled to see ourselves looking happy as clams:
What was your experience like leading up to your shoot?
All images via Maria Vicencio Photography