What to Bring to Your Engagement Session: The Only Checklist You Need

You've booked your engagement session, you've found the perfect location, and now you're staring at your closet wondering if you've got everything figured out. Here's the truth: most couples way overthink the preparation and way underthink the most important thing — showing up ready to have a good time together.

After photographing hundreds of couples across Northeast Ohio, from the gorges of Cuyahoga Valley National Park to the rocky shores of Edgewater Park, I've seen what makes a session feel effortless and what makes it feel chaotic. This checklist covers everything you actually need, a few things you might not have thought of, and — just as importantly — what you can confidently leave at home.

Your Outfits

This is the big one, so let's tackle it first. You don't need to match your partner — you need to coordinate. Think complementary tones, not identical colors. If you're in a dusty sage dress, your partner looks great in a warm tan or soft navy. If you're in a charcoal suit, your partner can wear a creamy white or rich burgundy. Matchy-matchy reads as costume; coordinated reads as intentional.

What to bring:

• Your primary outfit — the one you love most. This is your hero look.
• An optional second look — one change is plenty. Two changes eat into your session time and can make things feel rushed. A second outfit works well if your session spans two distinct locations or lighting situations (golden hour on the water after a more casual park session, for example).
• Your photo shoes — the ones that look great in pictures.
• Your walking shoes — especially if your session is at a trail location like CVNP's Brandywine Falls or the Ledges. You'll thank yourself when you're not navigating roots and muddy paths in heels.

One more outfit tip: avoid busy patterns, large logos, and anything you've never worn before. Your engagement session is not the day to debut that dress that still needs to be broken in.

Your Touch-Up Kit

I always tell my couples to bring a small bag with the basics. You don't need a full makeup artist kit — just the essentials to keep you feeling fresh through the session.

• Lipstick or lip gloss — lip color tends to fade fastest, especially after snacking or drinking water
• Chapstick — dry lips are very noticeable in close-up shots
• Hair ties and bobby pins — even if your hair is down, have these on hand for when the wind picks up (and on the Lake Erie shoreline, it will pick up)
• Blotting papers — a lifesaver in Ohio's humid summers
• Lint roller — especially if you have pets at home, or if your partner is wearing dark clothing
• Compact mirror — so you can do quick checks without needing your phone camera
• Any powder or foundation for touch-ups — just the basics you'd use for a quick refresh

I keep an eye out during sessions and will give you a heads-up if something needs attention, but it's good to have your kit within reach. We'll keep it in your bag near our shoot area so it's always accessible.

Props (If You Want Them)

Props are completely optional, and honestly, the best engagement sessions often don't use any. But if there's something meaningful to you as a couple, bringing it along can add a personal layer to your gallery.

Props that work well:

• A blanket or picnic setup — great for golden hour fields and park locations
• A bottle of champagne or a favorite bottle of wine (and two glasses)
• Something personally meaningful — the book you both love, a map of where you met, a dog-eared copy of your favorite vinyl record
• Flowers or a small bouquet, if it fits your vibe

The golden rule with props: keep it simple. One or two intentional items photograph beautifully. A trunk full of stuff becomes a logistical headache and can make your session feel more like a styled shoot than a real moment between the two of you.

Practical Comfort Items

These are the things couples forget and always wish they had:

• Snacks and water — especially if your session runs through a meal time or you tend to get hangry. A granola bar in the bag goes a long way toward keeping everyone in good spirits.
• Bug spray — non-negotiable for summer sessions in wooded areas. CVNP in July is gorgeous and buggy. Spray before you arrive so it has time to absorb and dry.
• Hand warmers — for fall and winter sessions, a couple of pocket hand warmers make a huge difference in how relaxed and comfortable you look. Cold hands = tense shoulders = stiff posing. Warm hands = loose, natural everything.
• A small umbrella or poncho — Ohio weather is notoriously unpredictable. A light drizzle doesn't have to end a session, but you'll want to be prepared.

What Your Photographer Handles

You do not need to bring, research, or worry about any of the following:

• Lighting equipment, reflectors, or diffusers
• Backdrops or any studio gear
• Posing direction — I'll guide you through everything, and I promise you won't just be standing there awkwardly
• Location scouting details — I know our spots well and will have a plan for the light and the timing
• Shot lists — you're welcome to share inspiration images if you have them, but you don't need to orchestrate the session

My job is to make you look great and to capture the real connection between the two of you. Your job is to show up and be present with your partner.

Your Phone and Keys Strategy

This one sounds small but it matters: figure out your phone and keys situation before you arrive.

Bulging pockets ruin silhouettes in photos. A phone in a back pocket creates an awkward lump. A keychain clipped to a belt loop is always visible. My suggestion: leave everything in your car, or give your bag and keys to a friend or family member who comes along just for that purpose. If you do need your phone accessible, let me know and we'll work around it — but ideally, give yourself permission to be unreachable for an hour.

Timing Tips

• Arrive early. Plan to pull into the parking lot 10–15 minutes before your session start time. This gives you a moment to breathe, swap into your photo shoes, do a quick touch-up, and arrive at our meeting spot without rushing.
• Plan for golden hour. If your session is scheduled around sunset, build in buffer time for getting to your final location. Golden hour moves fast — we want to be in position when that light hits, not still walking to the spot.
• Communicate travel time honestly. If you're coming from Akron to a Lake Erie location, account for that drive realistically. I'd rather start five minutes late with a relaxed couple than on time with a frazzled one.

The Most Important Thing to Bring: The Right Mindset

I mean this genuinely — your attitude is the most important thing you'll pack.

An engagement session is a date, not a photoshoot. It's an hour or two of dedicated time with the person you're going to marry, in a beautiful place, with someone there to capture the moments you'll actually remember. The poses will feel a little awkward at first. You'll laugh at something silly. There will be a moment where neither of you knows what to do with your hands and we'll all laugh about it. That's the session working exactly the way it's supposed to.

The couples who come in relaxed and playful walk away with galleries that look like them. The couples who come in stiff and performance-minded walk away wishing they'd loosened up. Give yourself permission to be a little goofy. Whisper something to your partner that I can't hear. Forget I'm there.

What NOT to Bring

• Too many outfit changes. One change is plenty. Three changes means a third of your session time is spent changing clothes instead of actually shooting.
• Pets without a dedicated handler. I love dogs and I love pet-inclusive sessions, but your pup needs someone whose sole job is managing them — holding the leash, keeping them calm, stepping in and out of frame. If that's not part of your plan, leave them at home and do a separate mini session with them another time.
• A large entourage. One trusted person who can hold your bag and give you honest feedback on how you look? Great. A crowd of eight friends who all want to watch and offer opinions? That energy will absolutely show up in your photos.
• High expectations for perfection. Perfection isn't the goal. Connection is.

Ohio-Specific Tips

Northeast Ohio is one of my favorite places to photograph — but it has its own personality, and a little local knowledge goes a long way.

• Layer up for unpredictable weather. Ohio weather in March can be 60 degrees and sunny, or 38 degrees and overcast, sometimes on the same afternoon. Bring an extra layer you can remove before we shoot, especially for early spring and late fall sessions.
• Waterproof or grippy shoes for CVNP trails. The Ledges, Brandywine Falls, and Blue Hen Falls are all stunning locations, but the terrain is uneven and often wet. If your photo shoes aren't trail-appropriate, bring a second pair for walking in and change at the location.
• Wind-resistant hairstyles for lakefront sessions. Lake Erie does not care about your blowout. If you're shooting at Edgewater, Headlands Beach, or anywhere along the shoreline, plan your hair accordingly. Loose waves and braids hold up much better than structured styles, and a few strategic bobby pins can save you a lot of frustration.
• Summer humidity is real. June through August in Ohio is beautiful and lush — and also humid. Schedule your session for the late afternoon into golden hour when the temperature drops slightly, bring your blotting papers, and wear breathable fabrics.
• Fall foliage peaks fast. If you're planning a fall session in CVNP, the peak color window is usually about two weeks in mid-to-late October. Book early and stay flexible on your exact date so we can time it right.

Your Quick-Reference Checklist

Save this for the morning of your session:

• ☐ Primary outfit (on your body or in a garment bag)
• ☐ Optional second look + accessories
• ☐ Photo shoes + walking shoes
• ☐ Touch-up kit (lipstick, chapstick, hair ties, bobby pins, blotting papers, lint roller, compact mirror)
• ☐ Props, if you're bringing any (keep it to 1–2 items)
• ☐ Snacks and water
• ☐ Bug spray (summer) or hand warmers (fall/winter)
• ☐ Small umbrella or poncho (Ohio insurance)
• ☐ Phone and keys plan sorted
• ☐ Extra layer for unpredictable weather
• ☐ Waterproof walking shoes if shooting at a trail location
• ☐ Good energy and a willingness to be a little silly

You've got this. Your engagement session is going to be one of the best mornings or evenings of your engagement — a moment to slow down, be together, and remember why you said yes. The checklist is just the logistical part. The rest is already there.

If you have questions before your session, reach out anytime. I'm always happy to talk through locations, timing, outfit choices, or anything else that's on your mind. That's what I'm here for.