Our Goal is a capture your love.

--Lamar Borius

How well you prepare, will determine how well your photographs will come out. We want you to prepare well. To make sure your engagement session is absolutely amazing, here’s a detailed preparation guide:

****Health and Safety: Due to the existence and rise of Covid19, we aim to follow all CDC guidelines and promote all sanitation regulations to keep all persons clear of contracting the spread of this virus. We encourage persons who are infected or have been in contact with anyone with the virus to please avoid interaction with the persons included in this contract.

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We highly recommend our clients to schedule our makeup artist to maximize their portrait experience.

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CLOTHING & STYLE

For Her:

• Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident and beautiful

• Avoid busy patterns—solids, florals, or subtle patterns work best

• Bring a second outfit option if you’d like variety in your photos

• Heels or nice flats (comfortable shoes you can walk in!)

• Get your hair and makeup done professionally

• Avoid heavy makeup—natural and glowing looks best on camera

• Accessorize with jewelry you love

For Him:

• Wear something that complements her outfit (coordinate colors and style beforehand!)

• Nice jeans with a button-up or blazer works great for casual sessions

• Suit or dress pants with a dress shirt for more formal vibes

• Make sure clothes fit well and aren’t wrinkled

• Get a fresh haircut a few days before (not the day of—-in case you don’t like it)

• Keep facial hair groomed and neat

• Avoid loud logos or busy graphics

General Tips:

• Coordinate your outfits so they complement each other (similar color palettes work best)

• Avoid all white or all black unless that’s your style

• Test your outfits on camera with your phone beforehand to see how they photograph

PREPARATION TIMELINE

One Week Before:

• Confirm your session date, time, and location with us

• Plan your outfits and take test photos, use our Pinterest board for ideas: https://pin.it/osPPiEyQp

• Get a fresh haircut or color touch-up if needed

• Start hydrating and getting good sleep

• Check the weather forecast for your session date

Three Days Before:

• Schedule hair and makeup appointments (or do a trial if DIY)

• Groom facial hair/Hair cut

• Moisturize your skin

• Get a manicure/pedicure if desired (polish looks great on camera)

Night Before:

• Lay out your outfits and try them on one more time

• Get a good night’s sleep (8+ hours!)

• Hydrate well—drink plenty of water

• Set your alarm with plenty of buffer time

• Check the weather one more time

Day Of:

• Eat a healthy breakfast

• Do your hair and makeup (or have it done professionally)

• Apply sunscreen if shooting outdoors

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early

• Bring water bottles to stay hydrated during the shoot

• Use the bathroom before we start

• Leave your phone on silent

• Bring any props you discussed with us (blankets, flowers, etc.)

LOCATION & LOGISTICS

• Confirm the exact location and parking with us beforehand

• Allow extra travel time to avoid feeling rushed

• Wear comfortable shoes for walking to the location

• If shooting outdoors, be mindful of the weather/time of day

• Let us know if you have mobility concerns or preferences

MINDSET & POSING TIPS (Practice this with each other)

• Relax and have fun! The best photos happen when you’re genuinely enjoying each other

• Look at each other, not the camera for the most authentic moments

• Walk and move naturally rather than standing stiffly

• Laugh and be playful—we’ll capture genuine moments of joy

• Hold hands and embrace naturally—this creates beautiful, romantic imagery

• Trust the process—we’ve done this hundreds of times and know what looks amazing

• Wear comfortable undergarments so you can move freely without worrying

• Bring a small towel or tissue if you get sweaty (totally normal!)

• Don’t overthink it—your genuine love and connection will shine through

WHAT NOT TO DO

• Don’t wear brand new shoes you haven’t broken in

• Don’t wear clothes with visible stains, wrinkles, or pilling

• Don’t skip breakfast or lunch (low blood sugar shows in photos!)

• Don’t spend too long in the sun the day before (sunburn doesn’t photograph well)

• Don’t try a new skincare routine the week of (stick to what works for you)

• Don’t wear heavy, uncomfortable clothing

• Don’t bring props you’re not comfortable with

• Don’t oversleep the morning of and rush

AFTER YOUR SESSION

• Your edited images will be delivered approximately 2 weeks

• You’ll receive a private online gallery with full-resolution downloads

• Feel free to share on social media and tag us—we love featuring our couples!

• Use these photos for your save-the-dates or wedding website

• We will create an online engagement page for you on our website for you.

Just a little more in depth

Skin- Lotion real good. Any dry or ashy spots will show in your photos (elbows, fingers, etc). Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. We encourage the ladies to wear professional makeup to even out their skin tones, lips and eye cover. This will enhance the details of the face. Please book with a professional makeup artist and bring touch up makeup and lip coverage. We highly recommend booking an appointment with our makeup artist, in advance.

Fingernails- Please make sure your fingers and hands are well hydrated and manicured. The camera will catch dry cuticles.

Hair- Be sure to get a hair cut/hair style that will not be in the way of your face, but show your best look. If there is anything that you may not be comfortable with, please let the photographer know. If you decide to wear hair extension/wigs/weave, please have it in place and prepare it with “hair control” to keep it in place.

Eyes- Be sure to get plenty of sleep and rest the night before. It will show in your eyes if you don’t.

Teeth- Be sure that no food is in between your teeth. The camera will get it.

Wearing your Mask: if you wear a mask, be sure to wear a soft mask to avoid the mask marks on your face. We want to eliminate these marks in your portraits.

Outfits: Bring any 1 to 2 outfits pressed on hangers. Avoid wrinkled clothes, white, and small strips; as they can make you appear flat and wide. Remove tag and stickers ahead of time. Make sure your shoes are nice and clean---we could get pictures of your shoes also. Bring complementary accessories to support your outfit. Bring extra shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty, especially if you have heels.

Undergarments: please wear appropriately sized undergarments to support your chest, waist, and loins. Loose undergarments will show and appear saggy—and tight undergarments will create skin rolls. We ask that you be cautioned when considering white as a part of your wardrobe, as it does bring attention to undergarments.

Eating: To avoid sleepiness and feeling sluggish, don’t eat 1 hours before your session; have a light snack

Props: You can bring any props to help cater to the theme of your photos. We may have you on the ground or leaning on a walls.

Music: I will have a Bluetooth player on set. Feel welcome to download a playlist of your favorite music to play on your phone. We want you to be comfortable.

Questions About Preparation?

Feel free to reach out! You can:

• Call/Text: 910-840-0363

• Email: lamarborius@gmail.com

We’re here to help you feel confident, comfortable, and camera-ready!

P.P.S. — Follow us on Instagram [@lamarborius] to see recent weddings, behind-the-scenes moments, and engagement sessions like yours. Tag us in your photos! We love sharing our couples’ love stories.Please be on time; we will be on a time schedule. Don't bring a whole entourage with you. Less is best. The more people you have the more pressure you'll hear on you. If you need a person to help out with your makeup/hair touchup, please bring them!

Parking may be limited.

How to Prepare (Engagement)