Preparing for your Documentary Engagement Session

A young chinese couple looks at Bowen Island from the ferry as it leaves the dock — N&D CHOSE BOWEN ISLAND TO HAVE THEIR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT AS IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE THEY’D TRAVELED TO TOGETHER.

This is not your usual Engagement Session.

During your Documentary Engagement Session, we go out and do 1-2 activities that you absolutely love to do. The intention of this session is to capture your love story, the life you’re about to build together and perhaps some of the dreams of your future.

How to prepare

The best part about documentary sessions is that there is very minimal preparation required. Come as you are. Dress in your favourite clothing, yes, even the neon colours if that is part of your wardrobe. Wear makeup if that’s your norm. Or don’t if it isn’t.

Think about all the things you love to do together. This might mean, brunch at your local diner, lounging around the house playing video games or hiking. Whatever it is, it has to be something you to together.

What we don’t do during this session

Traditionally, engagement sessions are what’s considered a Lifestyle Session. Common places for these types of sessions to take place are the park or the beach. The photographer orchestrates how they want the couple to look and pose by giving some direction. While the photographs that result from these sessions are pretty, often they don’t truly represent who you are as a couple – unless you absolutely love the beach of course!

During your documentary engagement session, I will not tell you:

How to pose
Where to look
What to do with your hands
To be someone who you’re not
To do something that makes you feel uncomfortable

My Goal

My goal for our session is to produce high-quality photographs rich in story, emotion, and character. These photographs should really show who you are and your personalities and are created through observing and taking things easy so you feel comfortable being in front of the camera. The result is a photo series that tells your story and will look back on perhaps when some of your hobbies have changed and you’ve grown together as a couple.

T&D chose the Alibi Room to have their engagement photos taken at as it was the place they shared their first date

JMESHOOTS | BRITISH COLUMBIA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

My name is Jamie Poh and I’ve been documenting engagements & weddings for over 8 years and have shot over 100 weddings & family sessions. Getting married? I’d love to meet for coffee to learn more about your story.