engagement session GUide
locations, timing, prep and styling
The MacMeekens Photography
Welcome
IT'S ENGAGEMENT SESSION TIME BABYYYY! Getting to share these Dallas, Fort Worth Engagement and Adventure Engagement Session Locations, outfit ideas and pro tips is just the beginning of this epic journey we are about to embark on together and WE. ARE. STOKED.
Obviously, we are big fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. Not only do they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera, they also give you the opportunity to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you. We've created this entire guide dedicated to outfit tips, Dallas-Fort Worth and adventure session location ideas, timing considerations and more!
The fun is about to begin and we can't wait to finally capture your love for the first time!! In this guide you will find tons of info to help us prepare for your session. We will also talk about this info together to discuss your aesthetic & personalities in more detail so that we can fully customize this experience to you guys too.
These are just some of our pro-tips and suggestions. As with all wedding things, this is ultimately YOUR day. If you have ideas outside of this guide of course throw them our way. We are always open to considering new ideas that might help tell your unique story even better.
a note about this guide
Thank you again for choosing to work with us and please don't hesitate to let us if you have any questions at all! We are here to help!
xoxo Christina & Will
post-production: what's next
location list: our favorite places
timing & logisitics: sunset, lanscape, weather
style guide: what to wear and what to avoid
dinner & after session experience
Over the years, we've been able to work at a wide variety of locations. When picking a location, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. The overall aesthetic you would like your photos to look like (urban, forest, garden, etc)
2. The season of your session- summer lakeside session vs. autumn nature preserve/state park session
3. Your personalities & how you spend your time together. Do you enjoy playing video games and nerding out? Let's find a vintage arcade! Are you a couple who enjoys hiking and adventuring together? Let's take you guys to a nearby state park and do just that! The world is your oyster and we are along for the ride!
With that in mind, check out the below list for some ideas and let's narrow things down from there. We love when possible to get a great mix of elevated and casual. Typically our couples end up choosing two session styles they like and we suggest locations for them from there. For many of our couples this looks something like:
1) park or nature preserve
2) urban setting of some sort
3) one or two creative concepts after we hang out for a bit
You can wear the same outfit at each location or different outfits for each place. Below you will find a list of some of our all time favorite session locations. Please note that if it has an asterisks next to it, there are either parking, permit, admission or travel fees involved. Please do not let this deter you from using these locations. They are often the BEST and sooo worth it if you are open to a little extra planning and research before hand.
1) Nasher Sculpture Center *
Adventure LOCATIONS
*: Requires admission, photography permit and/or travel fee
some of our favorite places
Dallas Fort Worth and Adventure Session Location list
2) Dallas Arboretum *
3) Meyerson Symphony Center *
4) White Rock Lake in Dallas
5) Deep Ellum in Dallas
6) Prather Park in Highland Park
7) Lakeside Park in Highland Park
8) Reverchon Park in Highland Park
9) Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano
10) Grandscape in The Colony
11) Las Colinas Canals
12) Little Elm Beach Park
1) The Modern Art Museum/The Kimball *
2) Trinity Park in Forth Worth
3) Fort Worth Botanical Gardens *
4) The Fort Worth Water Gardens
5) DFW Airport *
6) Grapevine Botanic Gardens
7) Murrell Park in Grapevine
8) Rockledge Park in Grapevine*
9) The Keller Pointe in Keller
10) Hop & Sting Brewery in Grapevine
11) Thompson Bookstore in Fort Worth
12) Stone Creek Park in Flower Mound
1) Tyler State Park *
2) Beavers Bend State Park *
3) Palo Pinto Mountains State Park *
4) LBJ Grasslands- Piney Forest *
5) Sam Houston National Forest *
6) Monahans Sandhills State Park *
7) Palo Duro Canyons State Park *
8) Guadalupe River State Park *
9) Philbrook Museum of Art *
Click on the names below to get direct links to past client galleries or the locations photo permit policy.
colors, comfort, and aesthetic
Wardrobe Styling
Step 1: Selecting your color Palette
Step 2: Comfort is key
- Bold colors and vibrant pastels are your friend! They help you pop from the background and make you the real focus of the image
- Choose solid colors or non-busy patterns.
- Avoid earth tones and neutrals (green, tan, brown, black, grey and white are generally colors to avoid). If you choose any of the above listed colors, make sure to pair it with something vibrant that will help you pop from the background.
- Layers are your friend when the season is cooler. Having sweaters and scarves that we can take off add additional looks and variety in your final gallery.
- Footwear should be cute while sensible. Avoid footwear that is difficult to be moving around in.
- Fashion sneakers are cool. Running shoes are not. Please avoid sandals. Many locations have grass spurrs, ants or local critters we want your toes covered from.
trusting the process
Gallery delivery
scheduling
What does "sunset" actually mean
* Extra Pro Tip: This sunset info may be helpful in selecting your ceremony time. We can talk more about that a little later.
During an engagement session though we approach things a little differently. We will have you say silly things, do silly things and act....you guessed it....silly. At times you'll feel ridiculous but TRUST US, it will be worth it. Commit to the goofy like you've committed to forever person and lets have a damn good time laughing, loving and living our best lives together.
We haven't met many couples who just LOOOOOOOVE being in front of the camera. And hey, that's probably one of the reasons you've hired us- documentary wedding photography in about you guys being yourselves without us dictating your day.
We quote 3 weeks for final gallery delivery for engagement and portrait sessions. Your gallery will be delivered directly to the email you have provided me and I will make sure to also shoot you a text as we are wrapping up so you know to keep you eyes peeled for it. If you would like Save the Dates
We photograph engagement sessions Mondays thru Thursdays. Session start times vary depending on the season but in general we try to start things off about 2-3 hours before sunset.
The term "sunset" is referring to when the sun literally is setting beyond the horizon. If you go online and search "sunset on 'x date'", Google will tell us exactly what time that is happening. What it doesn't tell you is that the available light can change depending on season and setting- ie, summer vs. winter & obstructions along the horizon (trees, buildings, mountains). For photographers, key times to monitor are "golden hour" and "blue hour".
The ideal time for us to capture portraits is actually BEFORE golden hour and finishing at the beginning of blue hour. This is why we typically aim to start photo sessions 3 hours before sunset.
The whole point of this shoot is yes, to give you epic photos of this milestone but also to have a great while getting to know each other more too. This is an important opportunity for us to become less like strangers you've hired and more like friends with a camera.
timing, sunset and trusting the process
Pro Tips for prep
fun spirited deep connectors
EMOTIVE & ONE OF A KIND
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EMOTIVE & ONE OF A KIND
DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR
thank you!
We can't wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! If you haven't scheduled your engagement session yet, let's get that in the books. Feel free to email us any time at info@themacmeekens.com
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, we're here for you. We hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. We can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through our guide!
for trusting us with your memories
social: @themacmeekens
web: www.themacmeekens.com
phone: 214-668-3939
email: info@themacmeekens.com
Monday - Friday
9am - 5pm
Contact Us
Office Hours
Photo Session Hours
Monday - Thursday
Begin approx. 3 hrs. before sunset.
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