Category Archives: Engagements
Save the Date: Engagement Photos at Philbrook
Where to begin?? We had so much fun with this wonderful couple from start to finish! Our time with Payton and Jared began many months ago when Tulsa wedding photographer Kelly Brown first met them at the Philbrook Museum for an engagement “Signature Session.”
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Of course, Philbrook engagement photos never fail to impress, and the images turned out wonderfully. Their genuine interactions and obvious love shine through in every one, framed by beautiful greens and unique architecture.
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Kelly also accompanied the couple to their home for a few less formal lifestyle shots – along with a very special furry friend! The timing couldn’t have been better. Perfect sweater weather and glimpses of fall foliage set the mood for a some wonderfully cozy images.
Before the Big Day: Rehearsal Dinner Photos!
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Our adventures continued with yet another excuse to visit Philbrook for rehearsal dinner right before the big day. We always welcome the opportunity to spend more time getting to know a couple before the wedding, and these two and their families were such a pleasure to work with! The rehearsal dinner is an often under-appreciated time for making memories before the hustle and bustle of the wedding day.
Tying the Knot: Wedding Photos at Mayo Hotel
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Finally on Saturday afternoon, all the preparations paid off as the families made their way downtown to the Mayo Hotel to get ready. Lucas (another Tulsa wedding photographer) joined in as a second shooter, and he and Kelly split up to cover both grooms before their first look. The two families were set up in beautiful spacious suites, and the couple hit the perfect balance between relaxed and excited.
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Both Payton and Jared’s attire featured some unique matching elements like custom monogrammed shoes and these classy feather bow ties by Brackish.
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Before the wedding, Jared and his mother couldn’t wait to slip downstairs to the Mayo ballroom and get a sneak peak at the absolutely gorgeous setup with bright, colorful flowers by Toni’s Flowers and Gifts and a cake by Ludgers Bavarian Cakery.
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Not long after the couple’s first look, family and friends began to file in, and the ceremony began around the grand staircase downstairs!
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The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, with a touching emphasis on the support of family, friends, and faith. After lighting a unity candle, the couple said their vows and exchanged rings atop the Mayo Hotel’s grand staircase. Before long, Payton and Jared were declared officially married!
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After a few family formals, the couple made their way upstairs to the ballroom where they were welcomed with much ado!
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As the sun set, the beautiful space transformed from a bright and airy dinner setting to an energized party complete with live band and plenty of dancing.
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At the end of the night, Payton and Jared were sent off in style with sparklers and the COOLEST cherry red classic car. Downtown sendoffs have got to be some of our favorite opportunities for a Tulsa wedding photographer… and seriously, we couldn’t have asked for a happier, handsomer, couple to photograph. Congratulations Jared and Payton. Here’s to many, many years of love together!
Patterns! Solids! Skirts! Heels! Boots! Barefoot??? Before you get lost in the details, there are a few important things you should know about dressing for your engagement photo shoot. It’s less about look and more about feel… we want you to feel confident, sexy, and fun (without being distracted). Believe it or not, we’ve had couples cancel their shoot the morning-of simply because they got in an argument over what to wear!
Do yourself a favor and do some basic planning now. Don’t worry about what does or doesn’t look good on camera, your engagement photographer is a professional and can work with whatever you give them. You’re job is to feel comfortable and have fun. Your photos will really show the difference!
Dress for Comfort and Authenticity!
First thing’s first… Wear something that you feel comfortable in! Don’t overthink it and don’t force yourselves into something awkward and unnatural. If you feel good, you look good. Your confidence is much more important than the latest Pinterest-perfect trend. Let’s be real, not all of us look/feel good in every latest fashion.
Consider what you might wear out to a nice date with your fiancée. It’s often better to go with something you know rather than a brand new outfit straight off the rack. You don’t want to be distracted by a loose zipper or a scratchy new seam; this photo session is about you! If you let your engagement photos reflect who you really are as a couple, they will stand the test of time for years to come!
PRO TIP: What makes you feel at ease? Is your soon-to-be family incomplete without your dog? Bring him along too! What’s your favorite activity with your fiancée? Even a gym and workout clothes can make for fun and romantic photos if that’s an important part of your relationship.
Talk it Over with Your Guy
Ladies, remember that this authentic comfort is especially important for the gentlemen. Guys — or let’s just say most guys — haven’t exactly spent the last month dreaming about this photo shoot. Try not to force them into a look they’re not comfortable with, and don’t surprise them day-of with a whole new wardrobe! Remember what you fell in love with and work with them to find a nice look they feel comfortable in.
Guys, remember that this is a big deal for your bride-to-be! Make a point of taking the time to look your best. Again, this doesn’t mean you should go right out to buy a new expensive outfit. Be deliberate and don’t forget the basics: shave or trim, fix your hair, iron your shirt, and decide if you’re going tucked or untucked. We’ve been asked to photoshop everything from too-long neckties to “alfalfa hair.” Don’t be that guy!
This beautiful couple is workin’ it and workin’ together! Collared shirt and sweater are a natural compliment to the scarf and riding boots.
Coordination
We don’t see very many couples getting too matchy-matchy anymore, but coordination is still important! Decide on a general look or feel that fits you both. Your man’s boots and jeans might pair well with a summer sundress. A suit or sport coat might pair with heels and a favorite little black dress. This might seem pretty obvious, but you don’t want to show up sporting two totally different looks!
Of course, your look should fit the general feel of the shooting location too. There’s lots of great locations for engagement photos in Tulsa. Cowboy/girl chic for sunset photos among the hay bales, comfy-casual for the coffee shop, or dressed up for the after-hours bar… you get the picture.
Jeans and a sport coat plus black dress and heals in Tulsa’s downtown Brady District. It all works together!
In Conclusion…
Don’t overthink this, and just have fun! Feel free to call your photographer to brainstorm locations or ask about looks. Remember that we’ll get all the necessary posed photos, but your favorites will probably be the ones of you interacting together — just being yourselves. This is a great time to get to know your soon-to-be wedding photographer and get comfortable in front of the camera. Good photography should be fun and easy. We hope you don’t just end up with beautiful photos, but great memories of a fun outing with your fiancée!
We traveled all the way to Oregon to capture a weekend of beautiful lifestyle engagement photos with this couple. Where would you have your dream engagement shoot?
So when Jack suggested to Michelle that they get their engagement photos taken at one of their favorite spots in the world _ the Oregon coast _ she had doubts that we would jump at the opportunity to fly halfway across the country with them. But jump we did! What a fun time we had capturing the beauty of this pair. The scenery was pretty spectacular too.
The sledders had gone home, and the quiet of the snowy day had settled on the park where I met Al and Jenna. It was cold, really cold, but i don’t think they noticed much. The wind blew. Leaves fell lightly down onto the snow. They laughed and snuggled close and kept each other warm. We were there to take pictures, of course, but it’s nice when a couple can seem to forget that, even in the cold.
They had their first date at a pumpkin patch. They got engaged on the Fourth of July. They plan to say “I do” in September. Holding each other’s frozen hands, it was obvious that a snowy day in winter was the perfect day to be in love. _ Kelly
The family ranch land where Hannah and James chose to have their engagement photos taken was ablaze with color the day we went there. Indian blankets, the state’s official wildflower, carpeted the fields in red and orange. Only about year ago, terrible wildfires colored the land here.