I had the dreamiest engagement session at Belle Isle in Detroit this year! Alexis and I had connected through a Facebook bridal group, and I’m so excited to work with her and Daniel on their wedding day! They are such a wonderful couple and I just know their wedding day is going to be beautiful!
Detroit Engagement
Alexis & Daniel’s engagement session was the best day. We traveled down to Belle Isle, Detroit area to celebrate their engagement. It was the first time I had ever been to Belle Isle but I will definitely be back! It was also my first time seeing the Detroit Skyline like that, and it was simply stunning. There’s so much versatility around the island, but we stayed mainly by the fountain this time due to construction in the area (Michigan summer, am I right?). At this point in time, the casino and conservatory areas were under construction so my permit for photography was only good for the fountain location- at least according to the permit office!
Alexis and Daniel’s was the first of two engagement sessions I had on Belle Isle that day. When I do have multiple sessions at a single location I really strive to make them different. I use different prompts and poses, the outfits are different, and sometimes I’ll try new angles and perspectives. With the backgrounds being the same, I really didn’t want anyone to see images from both sessions and say “wow, those are really similar”. I want every person’s photos to be unique to them.
I always make it a point to leave way earlier than I need to for sessions and weddings- especially when driving down to Detroit. Traffic towards Detroit can get a little crazy unexpectedly and that in turn makes me crazy nervous about travel time. I had left a full hour earlier than I really needed to and I’m so glad I did. The original plan was to hike around the island to see what was there before both sessions with the extra hour. Unfortunately, I got stuck on the interstate after a dump truck hit one of the bridges, shutting down that stretch of highway. The dump truck had accidentally left the dump part up, and while there was no structural damage to the bridge it took quite a long time to clean it up. I ended up sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for that full extra hour, making me glad I left early.
Once I got to Belle Isle it was smooth sailing. The area wasn’t heavily populated, which was a surprise for how nice a day it was. We ended up being able to avoid the people that were there and some vehicles in the background. The fountain was absolutely beautiful and I’m glad Alexis and Daniel chose to use it for their session! We also utilized a little pond in the area and the trees for a nice pop of green.
Choosing an Outfit
For their engagement session, Alexis and Daniel chose to keep their outfits simple. Alexis was stunning in a little white dress with a very bridal-esque bow in her hair. Daniel kept it simple with khakis and a polo shirt. Choosing an outfit for any photo session can be difficult. I like to suggest to all my clients to keep it simple. I offer my clients the chance to bring two outfits for hour long sessions. Usually any more than that can make you feel rushed to change during our time together, and that’s the last thing we want. In the summer I’ve started keeping a pop-up tent in my car if there is no public space to change outfits.
For outfits, I recommend something nicer for your first, such as khakis and a button down or a dress. Your second should be a little more casual- wear something comfortable that you would normally wear. I’m all about letting your personality and who you are shine through imagery and there’s no better way to express yourself than through clothing.
When choosing clothing though it’s important to make sure the outfits don’t clash! I suggest avoiding patterns on multiple pieces of clothing. For example, my husband wore a plaid shirt for our engagement session and I wore a solid, white sweater with no patterns on it. If I had also worn a shirt with stripes, it would have looked a little weird. It’s also important to make sure the colors chosen work together. Wearing a black suit with a navy dress may not end up looking the best together. Wear what makes you comfortable, but also make sure it pairs with your partner’s outfit!
Alexis & Daniel are set to be married in October this year at Zuccaro’s Banquets and Catering and I can’t wait to capture their big day! I’d love to work with you for your day as well! You can contact me here and see more of my work here. I offer engagement sessions within my wedding packages, and I offer theses sessions alone as well.
