Couple Session Guide

What Do We Do? Where do we go? What should we wear? What time of day?

Hey! If you’ve landed here, it means that you booked a session with me! Woohoo! I am so excited you decided to do a couples session together - it’s a way to let loose, relax, and allow me to document all the ways you two love on one another! There are a bunch of stuff to factor into this session, so I’m here to help out!

Time of Day:
Because I have weddings on the weekends (including fridays & sundays), I have most of my other sessions during the week (Monday-Thursday). This may change depending on the time of year & where you would like the session to be held. For example, during the winter, I can schedule sessions on the weekends because it’s a bit slower for me during that time of year; OR, some couples may want a session at their cottage or an airbnb outside of Toronto which might mean having the session on a Friday or Sunday (email me if this is the case).

There are ideally two times in the day we can do the session, either at sunrise or sunset. Soft low light is what we are going for, so we can plan to start on location either 2 hours before sunset, or 20 minutes before sunrise. To find the sunset/sunrise time, you can simply google the “city + date + sunrise/sunset time”, and then plan accordingly. I’ve become more of a morning person and so I’ve been loving how silent the world is in the mornings before everyone wakes up from their dreams. If you’re looking to do a session at a particularly busy place, going at sunrise might be a better option in order to avoid the crowds (example: doing a session at high park during blossom season!). Also, for people that dont really like PDA in public, sunrise sessions can be a great way to feel comfortable taking photos without people creeping on us. A sunset session is usually most convenient for people. Although some people like to take full days/half days off work in order to make a day of it, if you have a strict work schedule, sunset times in the summer are so late that you can still make it after work!

The sessions are typically 1.5 hours long.

Where should we go? What should we do?:
Here are a few questions you can ask yourselves to give you a better idea of the type of session you’d like to do!
Is there an environment that resonates with you two? (indoors/outdoors, in the city, up north in nature, around some cool architecture, on a beach, at a cool airbnb, a cabin, etc)
Is there a place that means a lot to you both + your relationship? (a family cottage, your first date spot, your home, your favorite brewery, etc)
Is there an activity you like doing together that you’d like to incorporate? (canoeing, petting goats, eating pizza at your fav. pizza joint, going on a hike, skating, snowshoeing, exploring a new area, going to a farmers market, riding bikes, cooking together at home, hanging out in bed doing crossword puzzles, etc — the list is endless!
Whatever comes to mind, let’s start there!

Props:
Props don’t have to be cheesy (like those letter boards or chalkboards). Props could be anything that represents you two & your relationship together. Bring your puppy, a jeep/motorcycle, matching band tees, your favorite wildflowers, a paddle board, furbys, anything sports related, a dominos pizza picnic, blankets you’ve knitted etc. If you have props you wanna incorporate, let me know and I’ll make sure to incorporate them in a non-cheesy way!

What Should We Wear?

I know it can be such a daunting task to figure out what you are going to wear for the photos, so I’m here to help you out! Ultimately though, I just want you to feel like yourselves, and if that means coming to the shoot in an old unwashed tshirt and some jeans, do that! Comfort is key! If you aren’t comfortable in what you’re wearing, you wont feel like yourself, and the photos will reflect that. I personally LOVE getting a new outfit for a session because I feel more confident and extra special when I do! If you’re looking for a boho style flowy dress, I recommend renting a dress from the incredible Daughters of Indie! I’ve rented her dress for my couple session with my partner and the images reflect how incredible I felt! <3 Dresses start at 50$ so its super reasonable!

It’s important to have your outfits match the scene:
You wouldn’t normally wear heels when you’re hiking, so dont do it during the session. Wearing a mini skirt during the winter probably wont be your best choice either (unless you pair it with some high knee socks and cosy sweaters! & if you’re doing a session at the beach, you bet I’m going to make you go barefoot, so make sure you both get some pedicures beforehand! If you’re doing an in-home session, you would probably be wearing something more relaxed; The more skin, the better! No dress shirts necessary. If you’re planning to go on a hike in the winter, layer up! It’s better to have tons of layers versus big bulky coats (but bring them too for the in-between photos).

Overall, I would suggest sticking to earthy tones, neutrals & metallics. There are neutrals in every color as well: burnt oranges, sage greens, forest greens, deep maroons, mustard yellows, royal purples, etc. Also keep in mind the colors that compliment your skin tone; for example, unless you have olive skin or darker skin, you might want to stay away from reds, pinks and oranges. As a general rule, I’d also recommend staying away from fluorescent or distracting bright colors, and anything with a logo on it unless it’s your favorite shirt in the world! (although I do like band tee’s and graphic tee’s) .

OPTIONS are your new best friend: I always recommend bringing 2-3 outfit options to the shoot. Certain colors can be great for one scene, but wouldn’t look right in another, so coming with 3 different outfits will be great; experiment with solid colors, patterns, different textures, & styles (shorts, dresses, jeans, scarves, hats, etc). I typically suggest changing into a new outfit after we change scenery. (note: you will most likely have to change in your cars or the side of the road! :D)

If you’re still a bit confused, here is a pinterest board I curated that may help with outfit inspo: Click Here

What I TRULY want to stress after reading all of that is that I want you to be a more elevated version of yourself - think about your style icon, and choose an outfit that makes you feel awesome! The more you feel like yourselves, the more the camera will capture that - so bring a baseball cap, or some bedazzled sneakers if you’d like! Just make sure to own it :D

A Few Session Ideas

When you look back at your photos, I want you to see yourselves in them. So before deciding on a place for a session, describe yourself as a couple. Are you silly? adventurous? romantic? stylish? a foodie? quirky? The goal is to capture you two naturally. So start by picking an activity that you two like to do together, and we can go from there! I’m open to anything and everything, but here are some options for you in case you’re feeling stuck:

In-Home/Airbnb Session:

I absolutely LOVE doing indoor sessions where we can put on some tunes, cook your favorite meal, play some board games, do some yoga, and dance while sipping on your favorite beverages. We can do the session in your home as long as there is sufficient natural light in the space & if its super meaningful to you to have it there. If you wanted to do the session in a space other than your own, you can think about the following:
1. Book an airbnb for yourselves for a night or weekend & invite me to come over to take photos of you in it one day! If you want to run some options by me, you’re more than welcome to! And if you’re feeling extra adventurous and want a session in a tipi or treehouse, check these out: Click Here
Ill stress this a couple times throughout this guide: I love road trips, especially if its to a place I’ve never been! Long distances dont scare me :)
2. If you want an indoor session but dont want to spend the night, there is a really great website called This Open Space that lets you rent spaces by the hour (40-75$ per hour). Here are some options: option 1, option 2, option 3, option 4
NOTE: DUE TO COVID, A FEW OF THESE AIRBNBS ONLY DO FULL DAY RENTALS NOW. Email me if you’d like me to find a cute rental spot for the session!

*Here is an example of what this type of session could look like: Prince Edward County airbnb snuggle session

Outdoor Session (Nature):

If you two love being outdoors together, then a session out in nature might be the better option for you. There are so many places to choose from as well as activities to do outdoors. If you wanted to do a hiking session, try to think of a trail or landscape that has some variety to it (a waterfall, a barn, a lake etc). Or, we can always meet on a hiking path and then after spending some time in the woods, we can drive around to find some off road treasures! I cant tell you the amount of times I pass by great photo ops on the side of the road on route to your sessions! If you’re into this kind of session, just let me know you’d like to do a ‘hike & car adventure’.

If you two love being active outside, there are also so many outdoor activities we can do together too - think about what you like doing together outside on the weekends and lets incorporate a bit of that! whether thats rollerblading, flying kites, going skating, having a picnic, playing basketball, walking your pet rabbits, going kayaking on the Toronto Island etc - the activity doesn’t have to be the main thing we do, but incorporating these little activities make the photos more meaningful, and it also gets rid of the awkwardness of being in front of the camera.

Here are some hiking spots
- Checking out one of the Waterfalls in Hamilton: Devil’s Punchbowl or Webster’s Waterfall
- Elora Gorge Conservation Area is gorgeous
- Kortright Conservation Area (just north of Toronto)
- Crother Woods in Toronto

*Here is an example of what this type of session could look like: Hiking adventure with Sarah & Dave OR Adventure Session in an Observatory/inspired by the stars

Explore your City (or other Town):

If you two typically explore the gems in the City you live in, then let’s do that together! We can go on a little tour of your favorite spots to visit & eat; or we can explore a new neighborhood altogether where we can visit cute little used book shops, vinyl record shops, grab some snow cones, eat some pizza etc.

*Here is an example of what this type of session could look like: Exploring a neighborhood in Portland Oregon

At Your Cottage/Cabin:

When I ask a couple where their happy place is, they might say it’s at their family cottage. I enjoy doing sessions that are both meaningful to you two as well as being inspired by the natural settings! This type of session can be done both inside the cottage and outside & can involve a number of activities; playing dominoes, go fishing, canoeing, paddle boarding, swimming, playing horseshoe, going on a hike, skating, etc. When it comes to scheduling cottage sessions, it typically needs to be during the week as I am busy on the weekends with weddings, so make sure you can get a half day off work! Or, I may have some openings for weekends available if you’re in the Kawarthas/Minden region! This type of session is outside the GTA, so travel costs will apply. Let me know if you’re interested in finding out more about a session like this!

*Here is an example of what this type of session could look like to you: Jessie & Steve’s cottage session

I thought I would put down some sessions that have been in my mind lately, and if it peaks your interest, we can do it together! These sessions may have the potential to be done on the weekends as well if they are far from Toronto.
- Visit a petting goat farm: Haute Goat
- Drive In Session! How cute would this be if we grabbed some snacks, blankets etc and went to the drive in to take some photos?
- Bath Session! Not to sound creepy, but I’ve always wanted to do a session of a couple in a bathtub, bubbles overflowing, champagne in your hands, listening to Leon Bridges on the speaker.
- Lake Session! I’ve always wanted to play around in the water - we can start on a hike & then end in the water (bring your bathing suits). I have an underwater housing unit for my camera which I’m eager to use on a lake that has clear water!
- I am dying to photograph a couple in a treehouse! Any one of these would be awesome: Like this

So now that you have a better idea of where you may like to take this session, send me an email with the following, OR fill out the ‘couple session questionnaire’ I sent you:
What is your preference on a morning or evening shoot?
Do you have a preference on what type of location we shoot at?
Is there an environment you think you two would be more yourselves in?
Any places that mean a lot to you two + your relationship?

That’s all folks! <3