Guide-Engagement : Redamancy

Welcome

To your engagement session haven - where every answer is at your fingertips

Engagement sessions can lead to stress and confusion as couples navigate outfits, locations, and color schemes. At Redamancy Photo and Film, we remove all of the guesswork and uncertainty by styling and planning your session for you. We know there are a lot of nerves as you step in front of the camera for our first session together, so we create an immersive, all-inclusive experience for you to enjoy.

Not only will we get to know each other better before your wedding day, we’ll have fun doing it!

We approach your engagement as a time to completely immerse your imagery in your personal style and romance. Your session will reflect who you are!

You learn how we approach art direction and are able to get more comfortable and confident in front of the camera, which makes your wedding day that much more relaxed and seamless.

Your wedding is so much more than a single day - its a culmination of events, moments, and memories from your relationship and your future life together.

We gather footage of your engagement session to include in your wedding video. By doing so, another dynamic is added. So many chapters of your relationship are strung together, and we are able to add in those extra special moments from your engagement shoot to draw on a deeper connection and understanding of who you are.

With Aaron’s cinematography background, we like to include this intimate ‘scene’ for you. When we storyboard for your day, we will talk more about the inspiration behind your wedding film and the incorporation of your engagement session.

“WE LOVE OUR VISION BOARDS - NOW WHAT?”

We will do all of the vision boarding work for you, but, once we send over your outfit inspiration, links, and fashion brands, the rest is up to you! We do not purchase outfits or props for you, you must make that call. Don’t worry, though, if you have any questions, we’re here to answer them all! Consider us your personal stylists.

We are constantly traveling around California. We’re lucky to live in such a diverse state! Whether you’d like photos in Northern California or Southern California, we have insider knowledge into the best engagement destinations that’ll be sure to match your style.

PRO TIP: Engagement sessions that have a vision structured around the feel of your wedding day are easily incorporated into your wedding story. If you are planning to use the imagery for your Save the Dates, a seamless transition between your engagement style and wedding design are all the more elegant!

Southern California

Northern California

Southern California

Beach/Nature

Desert

Gardens

Trona Pinnacles

Joshua Tree National Park

Palm Springs

Glamis Sand Dunes

Vasquez Rocks

Walker Canyon Poppy Fields

Anza Borrego

Carlsbad Flower Fields

El Matador Beach

Malibu Canyons

Laguna Beach

1000 Steps Beach

Victoria Beach

Activities

Old World Romance

Greystone Mansion (Beverly Hills)

Balboa Para (San Diego)

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Rent an old car

Rent a sailboat

Macarons at Ladurée

Sprinkles Cupcakes

Cocktails at a rooftop bar

Northern California

Wineries and Related

Gardens

Architecture

Castello di Amorosa

Napa's Riverfront

Legion of Honor

San Francisco City Hall

Palace of Fine Arts

Filoli Mansions and Gardens

Palace of Fine Arts

Sonoma Botanical Gardens

Activities

Water

Boat rental in Tahoe or the Bay area

Cocktails at a rooftop bar

Coffee at a cute coffee shop

Balloons Above the Valley

Wine tasting

Ghirardelli Square

Old world boat

San Francisco Pier

Point Reyes National Seashore

Big Sur

Bodega Bay

Destination Sessions

We travel! From Paris to Italy to Greece, there’s nowhere we won’t go! We move around all the time, so if you have a place in mind and are hoping to minimize travel fees, ask us where we’re headed in the next few months. Chances are we might already be traveling to your dream location! If not, we will see if/when our schedules match up and meet you across the world (this applies to locations within the US, as well).

Make a Day Out of It

The perfect date

Your engagement session will be fun, lighthearted, and carefree. You’ll already be dressed up, you’ll be in a great mood from smiling with each other all afternoon, and you’ll be ready for a delicious dinner! Maybe you took the day off of work to be here, or we’re simply in that quaint part of town you’ve been meaning to explore. Why not make a date out of it? It’s the perfect time to get intimate, reconnect, and have some “you” time without any distractions.

If you’re anything like us, though, we know you don’t need an excuse for date night!

Generally, our couples opt for an outfit change during their session. Depending on your location (we always suggest fashion that reflects the terrain/architecture), this includes a more formal outfit and a casual outfit. For example, for a sailboat session, we might have a bride in a chic white or pastel dress/jumpsuit and include a tasteful swimsuit look for outfit #2.

PRO TIP: Save your favorite outfit for your second look. It takes about 30 minutes for a couple to truly relax in front of the lens.

Ladies' Wardrobe

When we come up with the inspiration behind your engagement shoot together, we consider a lot of factors - from the colors and venue of your wedding to your individual love story. We take many things into account, including comfort and photographabilety.

color clarity

Pastels and softer colors tend to photograph beautifully. They’re also very versatile! We recommend skipping neon and overly bright colors, as they could reflect on your skin. Nobody wants a strange green glow on their face in every shot!

footwear

bold fashion

We always urge our brides to be smart when it comes to shoes! Chances are we'll be walking quite a bit during your session, so please plan accordingly.

If you opt for heels, we will remind you to bring an extra pair of comfortable shoes to slip into between shots.

Don’t be afraid to tell us you love fashion-forward looks! We love getting creative with you. We’ve had brides rent colorful Millia London tulle gowns and adventure through the city with us. For our dear friend, Britt of Britt Jones Co., we styled her honeymoon session in Paris with a velvet suit for her husband and a white floor-length designer gown for her. There is nothing cooler and more unique than a statement outfit. From intricate patterns to interesting cuts, it’s all trés chic.

All of our most trusted MUHAs rave about hair and makeup trials. You want your wedding day to be perfect, so it’s important to try out the look you want to make sure it matches the vision you have in your mind!

While an engagement session is not the time for this, as it's likely you'll want a different look for your session, this is still the perfect time to experience their services and to make sure your MUHA is a perfect fit for you! Professional hair and makeup is much more than our daily getting-ready routines. MUHAs know how to style your hair and makeup to photograph effortlessly.

HAIR &

There is a noticeable difference on our end when a couple has been made camera-ready (yes, we recommend a quick sweep of foundation for you, too, gentlemen!).

Hair and makeup that has been done by a professional lasts longer. They have been trained in all of the products and techniques that ensure your look will hold up throughout the day.

MAKEUP

Accessories

Accessories are fun, sexy, and full of personality. Statement earrings, delicate necklaces, and classic watches are always a good idea to compliment the right outfit! Accessories are a great way to add interest to your look and make it feel like you.

Manicure

You’ve learned we’re big fans of detail shots, and your engagement session is no exception!

We will be capturing imagery of your gorgeous ring, so it’s important your nails look beautiful, too. Use your engagement session as an excuse to treat yourselves to a manicure (this applies to guys, too!).

PRO TIP: To ensure your manicure is flattering to your outfit and overall session, we recommend sticking to neutral colors, French tips, and pastels. However, if your session is bold or that pop of red would be the perfect addition to your outfit, don’t be afraid to mix it up!

Ring Cleaning

We always take detail photos of your ring during your session.

PRO TIP: Have your ring cleaned before your engagement shoot. You can clean the ring yourself at home by letting it soak in warm water and dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Remove your engagement ring from the water and gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush. Rinse, and you’re done!

Gentlemen's Wardrobe

A classic suit never goes out of style. If you don’t have one of your own, you can rent one at Friar Tux or The Black Tux.

If we’ve decided on a more casual setting, like the sailboat example we mentioned earlier, a nice linen shirt and well-fitting trousers are the perfect pairing.

You’re in good hands. Aaron has created many Pinterest boards full of men’s fashion for every season. When we send outfit information for our ladies, we provide the same service for you.

Accessories

We know how hard it can be to pair jewelry with your outfit. We’re here to help! Some of our favorite male accessories include: nice watches, gun metal cuff bracelets, and simple rings.

From popping champagne to finding a Parisian café to enjoy, props add another element to your session

Props

We are huge fans of props. You just can’t go wrong with a glass of champagne or a beautiful bouquet.

Not only do props add an extra element to your session, especially for the video aspect, they also give you a built-in prompt to help you feel more comfortable.

Props can be very meaningful (though they don’t have to be!). For example, one of our couples used to go down to a hole-in-the-wall pie shop every Friday when they moved into their first apartment together. They had great memories there from a previous milestone in their relationship, so it was the perfect place to stop along the way during their session as they moved toward their next milestone! It also helped them relax and lean into each other more during their photoshoot.

If you would like a bouquet, please let us know and we will send over a few recommendations.

Seasons

When choosing a season for your engagement session, consider the location you’d like to shoot at. For example, a beach session should take place in summer, a garden-inspired shoot is best during spring, and so forth.

What If It's Supposed to Rain?

Though California is known for its sunny weather, colder months might mean a chance of rain!

We will check the weather forecast a few days before our scheduled session together. If it looks like it’s going to pour, we’ll work with you to find a new date or indoor venue.

If it’s supposed to drizzle, we always love making clear umbrellas a stylish aspect of your shoot! These are easily found on Amazon and at Target.

Time of Day

The dreamiest photos come alive during “golden hour,” or sunset. When we can, we will schedule your two hour session to start about 1:45 before sunset. You will get the most gorgeous imagery this way! Another great time of day is sunrise, but couples usually decide sunrise is a bit too early, as makeup and hair takes a few hours and everyone needs their beauty sleep!

Sunset waits for no one! It’s important to be on time to your engagement session so we have plenty of time to capture your full session. When the sun goes down, we run out of light for your shoot and might have to end early.

Posing Tips

*We will be keeping an eye out for your makeup, hair, and outfits during the session.

You can also expect us to use prompts to get a certain response! For example, we might have you whisper your favorite breakfast food in your partner’s ear in a breathy voice…Try not to laugh while seducing your fiancé with avocado toast!

The best advice we can give you is to relax, lean into the situation and allow yourself to have fun, and place your complete trust in us.

Posing for the camera is overwhelming, we get it! Before you worry about “what to do with your hands,” remember, while you may not be in front of the camera everyday, we are behind the lens all the time, posing couples who are asking the same questions you are!

We will be here to guide you through a series of poses that are easy and natural. With that being said, we’ll probably ask you to do a few things that feel silly, but trust us - it’ll turn out great and you’ll be glad you followed along later!