So many engagements happen this time of year that even I have engagement fever! Why do I love the engagement session so much? Because it’s a truer, more natural reflection of you as a couple. Sure, you may go to a location you wouldn’t normally go to, but you choose your clothes, you choose the feel of the session, and you are simply more relaxed. The pressures of wedding day photos get to almost every bride and groom, no matter how comfortable they are in front of the camera, so think of the e-session as practice for the real deal.

Heather and John’s engagement session is really cool for a few reasons: they are naturally playful, they hit a few locales for their shoot and they incorporated elements that are unique to them. Enjoy!

I would say that this is one of my favorite photos from the session but I would be lying…I really love all the photos and can’t pick a fav!

I asked the couple about the books and here’s what they said: The books in the photos represent a running joke of our relationship.  John is working on his doctoral dissertation and his books follow us everywhere.  There are piles of them in every room of the house and scattered throughout the car. I feel like we have started a miniature library in our apartment.

GORGEOUS!!! The grounds of DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun are absolutely beautiful! It was a perfect location to capture the beautiful Tucson desert, mountain backdrop and general Old Pueblo atmosphere in our photos.

How did Heather and John meet? I will let them tell you all about it!

Heather’s Side of the Story: John and I met on the 4th of July on Mill Ave in Tempe (yes some people can still meet in bars!). I was visiting a friend in the “big city” for the holiday and she and I were having a gal pal bonding moment when he unexpectedly interrupted. His big pick up line of the evening was an unintentional drink order in my direction while next to me at the bar. Boys, if you want to pick up the ladies just yell “Can I get a Guinness?” mere inches from a gal’s face and you are in! After a brief moment of confusion, it wasn’t too long before we bonded over our love for the study of history, outdoor adventuring and world travel.

A first date was immediately planned for breakfast the next morning and things pretty much took off from there.

John’s Side of the Story: Heather got most of the details right, but I want to add that the drink order WAS intentional. The extra volume might have been a bit much, but I wanted to make sure that I got her attention as I had been looking for any opening to talk to her for awhile. In my defense, it was a very noisy bar. I was a bit nervous that Heather wouldn’t show up to breakfast, but she did and everything went splendidly from there.

We did long distance for the first two years of our relationship between Tucson and Phoenix and although it did have its difficulties, it was definitely worth it! I think I knew pretty quickly that he was the one because with only 3 months in, I had traded in my SUV for a more economical sedan. John cringes thinking about how many times during those few years that he had to take the Greyhound bus back and fourth at 5:30 in the morning before his class that day.

Heather and Amanda (of Amanda Rockafellow Photography) chose The Shelter while hanging out with friends there one day. Heather smartly realized that having a drink or two during the e-session would help loosen things up too. It also was a good fit for the session because, as Heather explains, “The retro and historical elements of the bar combined with John and my love for history made it a perfect location for the shoot. “

John is from Portland, Heather is from Tucson and while both adore their hometowns, the ultimate goal is to settle on the Pacific Northwest. I like how they pay homage to their history while looking to the future with these cute photos

If you can hang onto your photographer until the evening (bribing them with dinner and a refreshment probably helps), do it. You will get the pretty late afternoon light but can mix in some night life shots as well!

(All images courtesy of: Amanda Rockafellow Photography)

H/J: I think we can both agree that our favorite thing about each other is just how much we motivate each other to try new things, explore new places and live our lives to the fullest.  Without John’s encouragement, I would have never had the confidence to apply for my current position at the UA.  Also, before I met him, I would have also never thought I would have been able to complete a graduate degree (July 2012!). (John adds:) Heather helped reawaken my love for the outdoors and helps to counter my overly cynical nature.

Heather and John, thank you so very much for sharing this fun engagement session with us and congrats on the upcoming wedding!

Many thanks to photographer Amanda Rockafellow who shared her work with us!

Happy Planning from your Tucson Wedding Blog,

Kelly

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Photographer Chris Richards knew just the place to take engaged couple Aimee and Myles for their engagement session pictures- Mount Lemmon. It is a place that needs nothing fancy, just a cute soon-to-be-wed couple!

See what I mean? It’s not often that we (desert dwellers) see leaves in so many colors and light that glows so softly…

How do you choose a photographer? I asked Chris Richards and he shared a few insights:

-When choosing a photographer to document this time in your life, it’s about a feeling. You’ll know you’ve found the right professional when you see photos that come alive, make your heart swell a bit, and make you feel like you want to feel on the day of your wedding.

-As a photojournalist, I had an editor who used to shout in the office “I hate photos that are just “nice” – take photos that make me feel something!” It’s sounds so simple, but it’s a rare and difficult skill. On your wedding day, “nice” won’t do. You want photos that will take you back to the feelings of the day.

 

Expert tips from photographer Chris Richards for getting the most out of your engagement session:

- Relax. That’s the whole point, really. People always say afterwards that they had a blast, but hadn’t expected to. Done right, an engagement session is a silly, playful, experimental good time. It’s no longer just a pair of head shots for the newspaper, it’s a chance to catch you together in a laid-back fashion and see how you best fit together, photographically speaking. Think of it as a test-run, so we know exactly how you’d like to see yourselves on your wedding day.

- Dress normal, but nice. Unless you’re going for a specific theme in your e-shoot I recommend dressy casual. I prefer dark colors, long sleeves, no big logos, comfortable but not flashy, and complementary colors for the two of you, but not matching. The idea is that the clothes won’t draw attention to themselves (now or in twenty years) because it’s about you. Comfy shoes aren’t a bad idea either, as I like to have people walking around, and clients have been known to climb a tree or give each other horsey-back rides from time to time.

- Bring a few props, or a pet. It’s not that we’ll use them for every shot, but who knows what fun we can have with a surfboard or pack of huskies? An old guitar, a bouquet of flowers, your favorite team jerseys or old tandem bike – they all make fun ways to add some cool variety and personality. If you’re bringing a dog, I usually recommend bringing a friend as well, who can keep fido company when it’s time for the shots of just the two of you.

- Take a good look at yourself. Think a bit about what you’ve liked about photos of yourself in the past (and photos you’ve hated), and don’t be afraid to tell your photographer. Then, trust them to direct the shoot and find your best angles, lighting and looks.

- Build in a bit of time to hang out afterwards. An e-session is a great chance for me to get to know my clients, and we often end up chatting over a beverage afterwards, laughing at the shoot and looking at shots on the back of the camera. It’s a great time to catch up on any updates in the timeline for the big day.

- Friend me (and my business) on Facebook, and bookmark my blog. Blogs and Facebook are a common way to get a few of the coolest teasers out. Alternately, let your photographer know early if you don’t want your photos shared for any reason.

-Think of all the cool things you can do with your photos. Shot early enough, great engagement photos are perfect for save-the-dates, guest signing books, table decorations, wall art, thank you cards and more.

This is my personal favorite of the bunch- they just seem naturally happy and I love that!

Here’s a little more about Aimee and Myles:

KG: How did you and Myles meet?

A: Myles and I met through mutual friends at U of A college of Public Health. We were both attending grad school and a mutual friend was trying to hook us up with other people. At the time, Myles was renovating a house and was hosting a work party to get all his friends to help plaster walls, wire electrical outlets, paint, etc, etc, etc… He and I essentially “met” while he explained to me how to wire eight electrical outlets in is home. Mind you, I have no experience or skill in electrical wiring, but this was were he and I had our first conversation. I definitely failed (miserably) at wiring all of the outlets, but I guess you could say the sparks flew!

KG: What is your favorite thing about each other?

A: We both enjoy traveling and try to include this in our lives as much as possible. On a day-to-day level, we are both laid back and love the anti-drama ethic we bring to our lives.

KG: What drew you to your photographer?

A: The same exact reason you are asking us to be in your blog. Chris Richards is amazing. His comfortable, non-cheesy style make you instantly warm up to the whole idea of being photographed. He makes the whole experience just feel like a fun moment, and while it’s happening, you think “gosh, I’m glad he is photographing this!” Also, his ability to combine his photo journal background with staged photography gives his photography that “wow!” factor that you see in every shot.

KG: How did you decide on the location for your engagement session?

A: This was Chris’ suggestion. The weather was just turning in the Tucson valley, but the weather on Mount Lemmon was already into Fall. Chris saw the opportunity for a beautiful backdrop and asked us if we would be game to meet him up there. We jumped at the chance.

KG: When and where are you getting married?

A: We were married on November 5th at Borderlands Brewing Company. We really wanted to have a wedding that was truly us, but we didn’t want to have to adhere to too many of the traditional expectations of a wedding. With Myles being the co-founder of the brewery, we instantly knew that we had to have the wedding there.

Congrats Aimee and Myles and thank you for sharing your engagement session with us!

Chris Richards, you rock! Kelly

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