Now that your photo session is booked, it’s time to start planning! This guide is useful for any portrait session, whether it’s a standalone adventure session or part of your bigger elopement or wedding day. I wrote it because I noticed that many of my couples have the same questions and similar nerves about being in front of a camera. If you’ve been searching for how to prepare for your engagement photo session, you’re in the right place.
The goal is simple: help you prepare ahead of time so that when the day arrives, you can truly relax and the photos feel like you. We’ll cover location and timing, activities, session length, outfits, and posing — everything you need to show up feeling ready and excited.
Deciding on a Location and Time of Day
You probably chose to get engaged or married in the Mammoth Lakes area because you have a strong connection to the landscape here. But choosing the exact spot can still feel overwhelming. Start by thinking about what kind of landscape features inspire you most.
Types of landscape to consider:
- Water: alpine lakes, winding rivers
- Forests and trees
- Open meadows
- The mountains themselves
- Desert vibes
- Rock formations / Granite
Preferred season:
Spring: Lots of green, possible wildflowers, and snow still on the peaks. Beautiful and less crowded, though some trails may still be closed with snowpack.
Summer: Long days, green landscapes, and all the trails are open. The tradeoff: mosquitoes from late May through early July and slightly more crowds.
Fall: All the benefits of summer with better temperatures and the possibility of stunning fall color (late September through early October). Fire season is possible, and it can still be a bit crowded, but this is one of my favorite times to shoot.
Winter: Quiet, intimate, and epic if you love snow. The main wildcard is weather, since a snowstorm could roll in, but let’s be honest– if you book a winter session, you’re probably secretly hoping for that. :)
Sunrise or sunset?
In the eastern sierra, you’ll almost always face east so that the mountains are behind you. Sunrise brings a touch of red alpenglow (but only for 15 minutes) and likely you’ll have the place to yourself. But much of the year it requires a very early start, sometimes waking up as early as 3am! Sunset offers a longer window of soft golden light, and it’s still easy to sneak away from people. I find that a sunset session feels more relaxed and is my personal favorite.
A few of my favorite spots
- Convict Lake
- Hot Creek Geological Site / Bree’s Lookout
- June Lake Loop
- Tuolumne Meadows
- The Alabama Hills
Not sure which location fits your vision? I love helping couples think this through. Start with my full location guide for more ideas and then let’s chat about it!
Activities for Your Engagement Session
Many couples prefer to keep their session simple, so don’t worry about an activity unless it feels like you. If standing and posing sounds boring to you, doing something together is one of the best ways to get natural, genuine photos. Movement and activity help couples relax, laugh, and interact in ways that feel real. Here are some ideas:
- Walk or hike a trail together
- Paddleboard or kayak on a lake
- Scramble up boulders
- A picnic with your favorite snacks and drinks
- Sit in or on your car (if it’s special — like a camper van or truck you love)
- Sharing a blanket and cuddling for warmth
The point isn’t to manufacture a specific moment. It’s to give you something to focus on so you stop thinking about the camera.
Can we bring our dog?
I get this question all the time! Of course you want to bring your dog, and the answer is always yes on my end. A few things to think through: How well-behaved are they off-leash? This doesn’t totally disqualify them, but be realistic about whether you want gorgeous couple photos with your dog, or a bunch of photos of you trying to get them to sit still. You might also consider having them join for part of the session and hanging out in the car for the rest. Either way, we’ll make it work!
The Length of Your Engagement Photo Session
One of the most common questions I get is: how much time do we actually need? The right session length can make a big difference in how relaxed you feel and how much variety we’re able to capture.
2 Hour Adventure Session: Two hours allows us to really settle in. We can explore multiple locations, an outfit change, different activities, and a real sense of adventure. We can chase the light, wander somewhere unexpected, and still have time to slow down and just be. More time means I get to know you better, understand your dynamic, and pull out the most genuine, connected images. My favorite photos almost always come from sessions where we spent more time together.
1 Hour Portrait Session: An hour gives us enough time to move through a location comfortably, try a few different angles and backdrops, incorporate some movement or activity, and let things feel natural rather than rushed. If you’re not sure where to start, this is usually the right call.
30 Minutes: Best for couples who want something super simple. It’s enough time to capture a handful of beautiful, meaningful moments in one location, without a lot of variety. In my pricing guide you’ll see there are some limitations to this mini session.
Even longer? Yes, absolutely! Some couples extend to 3 or 4 hours and turn their session into a full experience. This is common for anniversary sessions or multi-location adventures. If you’re dreaming of something epic, we can build something completely custom.
A few things that point toward more time:
- You want to shoot in more than one location
- You’re planning an outfit change
- You have an activity in mind (paddleboarding, a hike, a picnic)
- You tend to need time to warm up in front of the camera
- You want a larger final gallery
Not sure what’s right for you? Just ask — I’m always happy to help you figure out what fits your vision, your energy, and your day.
How to Choose Outfits, Accessories, Props
The best outfits are ones you feel confident in, not something you think you should wear. Start with something you’d actually put on for a nice date or a hike and go from there. Coordinate, but don’t match. Choose a color palette like earth tones, deep jewel colors, or neutrals. White always reflects the most flattering light back onto your face. Avoid neon or busy logos that compete with the landscape, unless that’s just your vibe! You’ll notice people love to wear red to contrast the desert sage!
Consider the location, conditions, and weather. Wind is a constant in the Eastern Sierra, so be ready to pull your hair back — or embrace it, because a flowing dress in the wind can look incredible. Comfortable shoes are a must, though some spots can accommodate heels (just ask me). If we’re scrambling on a trail, you’ll want something you can actually move in.
Mix in layers and details! Jewelry, accessories, or a hat can add texture, color, and personality. All year long, it can get cold when the sun dips or the wind picks up. Layers give you outfit variety without a full wardrobe change. A fur coat has a fun vibe over a dress!
Posing Tips for Authentic Photos
Most couples share that they feel awkward in front of a camera. That’s completely normal, but the nerves usually fade away once we settle in. It’s my job to direct the entire session so you do not need to know how to pose.
The four pillars I build every session around are: touch, movement, eye contact, and emotion. I’ll guide you using simple, visceral directions — words like melt, lean in, slow down — so it always feels intuitive rather than stiff. Genuine connection reads better in photos than perfect poses. Some people are naturally always grinning and laughing, while others are serious and thoughtful. Definitely don’t feel like you have to copy something you’ve seen online!
Focus on lots of eye contact and touching. Hands are one of the most expressive parts of a portrait, so always give them a job. Hold hands. Touch your partner’s face. Play with their hair. Hands in pockets work great too. Slow down. When people are nervous, they move fast. Take your time with every movement. Walk slowly. Turn slowly. The magic moments almost always happen between the poses, and I need a beat to catch them.
If you feel silly from the prompts, lean into that! Do more goofy things. Poke each other, smirk, make jokes, talk, etc. Either way, try to focus more on each other and the landscape than on any “shoulds.”
Here are a few of typical “poses” I’ll rotate through.
A Final Note
You’re here to document your real connection. You don’t need to memorize this guide — just take the parts that feel helpful and trust that I’ll walk you through everything else when we’re together.
Ready to start planning? Get in touch here.
