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Anna Filly Photography

Anna Filly Photography

Roanoke, Virginia Wedding Photographer specializing in timeless wedding, engagement and lifestyle photos.

Engagement Session Preparation | Alabama Wedding Photographer

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ENGAGEMENT SESSION PREPARATION
How to Prepare for your Engagement Session

Wanna know a secret?  Engagement Sessions are probably my best kept secret.  So, why on EARTH am I sharing my best kept secret with you??  Because they’re worth talking about!!!  Engagement Sessions are my most favorite way to get to know my couples.  Not only do they help me get to know THEM, but engagement sessions also help my clients get to know me!  This allows for them to trust that beautiful images will be delivered on their wedding day, because they’ve already seen beautiful images be delivered for their engagement!

Engagement Preparation is important, but it isn’t hard at all!  In fact, it’s super easy.  I love to equip my clients with the information they will need in order to have the BEST experience behind my camera.  Here are a few tips that I have found to be the perfect ways to prepare for an engagement session!

 

  1.  Outfits that Compliment- One of the best pieces of outfit advice I can give is to wear something you’re CONFIDENT in.  Something that makes you feel like a better you!  Then, when choosing specific outfits and pairing them with your significant other, be sure to choose outfits that COMPLIMENT each other well– don’t try to match each other.  Stay away from tiny patterns, and feel free to dress up!  This is a time to showcase you and who you are, so have fun with it!  Most clients chose one dressier outfit, and one casual outfit and the results are incredible !  Do you see how these couples chose outfits that complimented each other well?Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Fall Engagement shoot-Fall Couples shoot-Candid couple shots-Outside engagement session
  2. Include Unique Details That Showcase WHO You Are! – The purpose of your engagement session is to photograph you and your fiance, and who you are and prepare you for your wedding day photography experience.  The BEST way to capture who you are is to create an environment where you feel most like yourself.  This is the FUN part for me.  My clients love to bring different items to their engagement sessions and use them during our time together.  This makes their engagement session entirely unique and entirely THEM and I LOVE it!! Kayla and Jerrad LOVE disney, so they wanted to put together a fairy-tale inspired photoshoot for their engagement session!  Mary Catherine wanted to wear a flower crown– so what better time to do it than in your engagement session?! Sarra + Matt truly enjoy doing Spartan Races together, so we photographed them with all of their medals!!  Kaitlin and Ricky LOVE to longboard together– so they brought longboards to our session!   These details really make our time together so much fun!Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Fall Engagement shoot-Fall Couples shoot-Candid couple shots-Outside engagement session-Neutral theme engagement shoot Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Fall Engagement shoot-Athletic Couples shoot-Candid couple shots-Outside engagement session-Skateboard couples photography-Casual couples shoot-Goofy couples shoot
  3. Trust your Photographer ! – My clients usually book me because they LOVE my work.  Not only is it essential for you to trust your photographer, but also to trust yourself.  If you have invested time and money into finding the BEST photographer for you and your spouse, TRUST that they will capture you and all that you are.  I work closely with my clients to prepare them for our time together, as well as coach them during our sessions.  This may surprise you, but I send my clients a guide before our session AND coach them on posing during our session.  Beautiful imagery doesn’t just happen by chance, it’s created by someone who knows what looks best on camera and then captures it for their clients! Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Fall Engagement shoot-Candid couple shots-Outside engagement session-Forest engagement shoot
  4. Timing really IS everything ! – If you’re someone that may run late to things ( like me!), plan to get to your engagement session 15 minutes ahead of schedule.  Beautiful portraits are captured because of beautiful light.  I work TOTALLY around the sun and schedule my sessions around either sunrise or sunset because the light is most beautiful during those times.  The sun is never late or early– it’s always right on time.  Make sure you are too!Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Fall Engagement shoot-Beach Couples shoot-Candid couple shots-Beach engagement session-Sunset engagement
  5. Relax & Prepare for Less Wedding Day Stress !!! – Let’s be honest, many of us aren’t fond of images of ourselves.  Men especially aren’t always fond of having their photo taken.  And you know what?  That’s OKAY!  A good photographer will teach and equip you to feel confident and then they will deliver images that you’re in LOVE with!  I always tell my clients that their engagement session is the “practice” before the big game.  By the time their wedding day rolls around my clients already know my main posing strategy, so when I say “Prom Pose”, “Side link” or “Dip and kiss”  they immediately get into a pose they are familiar with, and I do the rest!  This saves time, and it also teaches them how to look and feel their best.  THey trust me on their wedding day, because they’ve experienced me on their engagement session!  Look at how these clients ROCKED their engagement session and then ROCKED their wedding day because they confidently knew my posing strategy!  

Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Fall Engagement shoot-Couples shoot-Wedding day photography-Bride and groomEngagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Fall Engagement shoot-Wedding photography-Candid couple shots-Sunflower wedding bouquet-Military WeddingEngagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Mountain wedding-Candid couple shots-Canada wedding-Canada photographer Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Fall Engagement shoot-Fall Couples shoot-Candid couple shots-Outside engagement session-Personality engagement shoot-Goofy engagement shoot Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-White picket fence wedding-Wedding photography-Candid couple shots-Outside wedding-Bride and groom-Bride and groom laughing  Engagement Session Preparation-Alabama Wedding Photographer-Overlook wedding shots-Candid couple shots-Outside wedding

xo

Anna Filly

Check out three of my FAVORITE Engagement Sessions to DATE!

Mary Catherine + Chase’s Engagement Session

Kayla + Jerrad’s Engagement Session

Nick + Nicole’s Engagement Session

 

Filed Under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography Tagged With: benefit of engagement sessions, engagement session prep, engagement session preparation, how to prepare for an engagement session, how to prepare for your engagement session

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More about Anna

Hi there! I’m Anna Filly, a Wedding & Portrait photographer in the sweet, deep South. I love hosting dinner parties, sparkling water, & magnifying love through the art of photography. I have a slight obsession with fresh cut flowers, ice cream is my guilty pleasure & crinkling nose laughter is my muse. Grab something sweet & browse the site! I’m so glad you’re here.

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Virginia Wedding Photographer located in the Roanoke Valley.

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Just living on cloud 9 over here after the most ma Just living on cloud 9 over here after the most magical weekend. 🥹🎀🥂🎂🌸

Our second annual Girl’s Night in the Garden was absolutely beautiful. It was magical. It was uplifting. It was SO fun !! I am so thankful for each of these women & how they have lived life with me. They encourage, equip & inspire. What a treasure !!!

Throw yourself a birthday party & make it whatever you want it to be. It’ll be the best — I promise 💕

Ps. I never want to forget the 60% chance of rain the whole week leading up to it — and then not a drop !! 🫶🏻
Judah graduated Pre-K today ! Our sweet boy is now Judah graduated Pre-K today ! Our sweet boy is now on to kindergarten !!! We have had such a fabulous experience at his school. We are eternally grateful for Ms. Allison & all the teachers that have loved our little ones. This momma is going to bed so grateful. The friends Judah has made over the last three years have  been such a gift. I pray they last a lifetime. I can’t stop reminiscing over my favorite moments 🤍 I’m firmly aware that these are the “ good ole days”. What an incredibly sweet season 🥹🤍
This lovely wedding day was a huge highlight in Ap This lovely wedding day was a huge highlight in April! A weekday wedding, Haleigh & MacCrea tied the knot on a Tuesday. The weather was perfect, they shared private vows before the ceremony & these two were smitten! 🌸✨
I absolutely LOVED chasing blooms & capturing pure I absolutely LOVED chasing blooms & capturing pure sunshine for Addy’s Senior portraits. 🌸✨🎀 Addy is lovely, hardworking, gracious & sweet. 

Can you believe that half of these were captured in front of a Dairy Queen in the middle of the city ?! 

Senior portraits, Roanoke photographer , Roanoke Va
That winter light just hits different. ✨🩵 Can That winter light just hits different. ✨🩵 Can you see the blue in it ? Sometimes I even see blush. 

When we first moved to Southwest Virginia, I was in complete awe of how much WIND the area received.  Gusty winds make for even colder temperatures, and I’m not the biggest fan of the cold.  Ask any photographer and they will tell you that wind is your biggest enemy when capturing photos. 

Even with the gusty winds, Leigh Ann and Andrew’s maternity session turned out incredible.  We used the wind to our advantage and beautiful portraiture was captured.  I mean— just LOOK at that first photo!!

Leigh Ann + Andrew are counting down the days until they get to meet their little one.  Aren’t they darling?! I absolutely loved this session!

#maternityphotoshoot #maternityphotos #roanokevirginia #roanokeva #roanokevaphotographer #carvinscove
November 🦃 🍂 🍽️ This month held so man November 🦃 🍂 🍽️

This month held so many precious events & emotions. I am a girl who feels deeply, so when our family nanny (& my unofficial little sister) asked me to be her Matron of Honor, I became an honored puddle. Everyone in our family of 6 got to be a part of Jaydon & Avery’s wedding day. It was marvelous. In fact, right before I was about to walk down the aisle, Faith toddled over to the dirt, rubbed her hands in it and wiped them all over her white dress😂THEN, she decided to walk down the aisle TWICE. I love that little biscuit so much. 

Judah turned FIVE this year. I look at him & I see a baby who became a boy who is becoming a man. This child is so precious. His tender heart & adventurous spirit remind me that there is so much life to be lived.. & to never take life too seriously 🤍

Lina started using the big girl potty. 🚽 Literally just because. Magical! She continues to live however she pleases & I love that about her. She will find her way & she will do it joyfully. What a gift.

Alexander is our energizer bunny. He is forever helping me with tasks & chores. He is always the first to want to bake or cook with me & needs daily outside time. He reminds me that I need to slow down. To observe, to listen, to be— doing isn’t the point. BEING is. God knit this child together with such vibrancy— I never want to miss it bc I assume my way is better.

Our sweet family got to do so many wonderful things. From early morning bagel dates with dad, to hosting Friendsgiving, to seeing Wicked (I cried, shocker), to Christmas Tree hunting & hosting my family for Thanksgiving- it was such a joy to have so much love & light in one month.

*not pictured but I want to remember: Feeling like myself again, Dave having sparkle in his eyes, the absurd amounts of laundry, Faith walking everywhere like a drunken sailor 🥹, learning to ask for help, hiring contractors (in October) to renovate a bathroom (a one week project turned to four weeks), & one of the brothers shared the gospel with me- I cried (shocker , again) bc his story was so incredible & I needed hope that night. So grateful.
Abounding in gratitude & generously blessed 🥲 I Abounding in gratitude & generously blessed 🥲 I love this crazy crew of mine. We may have practically three 2 year olds (aka super spicy, independent toddlers) but it is the most magical thing being their momma. I can’t get enough of these little loves.

Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours 🤍 🦃 🍽️
Happy birthday, my little joy girl! 
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You are sassy, smart & vibrant. You started talking as quickly as you were able & havent stopped since! Your eyebrows never fail to let us know exactly what you’re thinking. I love that you know what you want & you are unabashedly yourself. You sparkle with joy & are incredibly tough. You tumble with your brothers & yet are incredibly sweet with your baby sister. You already want to be a momma , & it’s the cutest thing watching you. I can’t believe you’re TWO!
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I love everything about you, Lina Joy ⭐️🫶🏻🌈
Still reliving this perfect day ✨ Emma + Adam ha Still reliving this perfect day ✨ Emma + Adam have the sweetest, most tender love for each other.  After six years of being together, they tied the knot!  This wedding was one of my favorites this year.  The details, the people involved and the precious relationship that Adam + Emma share were all so special.  Enjoy a few of my favorite images!! 
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A huge “Thank you” to all of the wonderful vendors that made this day so beautiful:
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Wedding Venue | Belle Garden Estate
Florals | The Flower Shoppe on Main
Coordinator | Morin More Events, LLC
Photography | Anna Filly Photography
Second shooting | Carissa Divant
Catering | Three Pigs BBQ
DJ | Music Music and Music - Craig Whitacre
I’m in my birthday party throwing era. With four I’m in my birthday party throwing era. With four littles, we have a birthday every few months & I absolutely love a reason to celebrate. This year, I tried something new & it was a dream come true: I threw myself a birthday party. 🥳 👒🌸🌻🎂🍾

I wanted to throw a special dinner party in the garden, surrounded by the women who have grown with me & helped shape me here in Roanoke. We laughed, shared, clinked glasses & ate really good food.

The gift of being intentionally together was more than I could have asked for. Cheers to 33 & all that this year holds 🤍

Special thanks to @fourarrowsfarms for the incredible, custom bath salts for each guest !! ✨🤍 🫧

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