RK HONEY
PHOTO + FILMS
WELCOME GUIDE
We’re So Glad You’re Here!!
Hi friends!
First of all, we just want to say again how truly honored we are that you chose RK Honey Photo & Films to be part of your wedding story. Out of all the photographers and filmmakers you could have trusted with these memories, the fact that you chose us means so much.
Over the next several weeks/months, you’ll receive a few helpful guides from us designed to make this process simple, fun, and stress-free. This is the first official guide in that series, and we hope you find it encouraging, helpful, and easy to follow as you begin planning the details of your day.
If anything in this guide raises questions or you want clarification on something, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to help.
What Happens Next?
Now that you're officially booked, the planning season really begins! Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll continue sending you helpful resources to guide you through the process.
Inside this guide and future ones, you’ll find things like:
• Engagement session planning tips
• Location inspiration
• Outfit guidance
• Our exclusive vendor list
Our goal is to help you feel fully prepared and confident when your big day arrives.
Your Engagement Session
If your package includes an engagement session, this is something we’re really excited about. Engagement sessions are a great way for us to get to know each other better and help you get comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding day.
Later in this guide you’ll find information about:
• Choosing a location
• What to wear
• What to expect during the session
• How to schedule your date
We promise — you don’t need to know how to pose or “be good at photos.” That’s our job! We’ll guide you through everything.
We’re Here For You
Wedding planning can feel overwhelming at times, but you don’t have to figure everything out alone.
If you ever have questions about timelines, photo ideas, locations, logistics, or anything else along the way, we’re always here to help. Seriously — don’t hesitate to reach out.
Just send us an email and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
One Last Thing
This season of engagement and planning is special. Try to slow down, enjoy it, and soak in every moment together.
Before you know it, your wedding day will be here — and we’ll be there right alongside you to capture it all.
We’re so excited for everything ahead and can’t wait to continue this journey with you.
With so much love,
Rian, Johnny, & the RK Honey Photo & Films Team 🤍
What to Expect
We’re so excited to capture this sweet season of your life! 🤍
Now that you’ve booked with RK Honey Photo & Films, your engagement session is something we’ll start planning when you’re ready. When the time comes, simply reach out and we’ll begin locking in the details and solidifying a date. We do recommend reaching out as early as you can with the month you have in mind so we can set aside a date for you.
Most couples choose to take their engagement photos about 6–12 months before their wedding. Some people like to have them early so they can use the photos for save-the-dates, invitations, or wedding websites, while others simply want to document this special season of life. There’s no right or wrong timeline — do whatever works best for you! Also, just a friendly reminder that it takes up 2-3 weeks to deliver your photo gallery after the session, so be sure you plan accordingly. Please note that if your session requires a ticket, pass, or paid parking, you will need to arrange and cover those accommodations for both yourself and your photographer.
One thing to keep in mind: spring and fall are our busiest wedding seasons, which means many weekends are booked with weddings. Because of that, weekend availability for engagement sessions can sometimes be limited.
But don’t worry — just reach out and we’ll always figure out a date that works!
Once your session is on the calendar, this guide is here to help you plan all the fun details — from what to wear and where to go, to how to make the experience feel less like a stiff photo shoot and more like a fun evening together.
Our goal is for your engagement session to feel more like a date night with a third wheel holding a camera and less like a formal photo shoot where you feel awkward or uncomfortable.
Think of it as a get-to-know-you hangout from us to you.
Engagement session typically takes anywhere from 45 minutes - 1.5 hours on average.
So we will have plenty of time to get comfortable with one another!
We’ll spend the time laughing, walking around, chatting, and capturing natural moments between the two of you.
We’ll absolutely give direction and prompts when needed, but most of the magic happens when you’re just being yourselves together.
The most important thing?
Relax, have fun, and enjoy the moment.
Our goal is to make this experience feel genuine, relaxed, and totally you.
So take a deep breath, scroll through, get inspired, and get excited to receive 50+ gorgeous images that look stunning, feel like you, and were actually fun to create!
We seriously can’t wait to hang out with you and create something beautiful together!
So...what the heck
do we wear for our engagement photos?
This is easily the #1 question we get for engagement sessions.
The easiest place to start is Pinterest. Simply type in something like:
“engagement photo outfit inspiration”
…and you’ll find tons of great ideas!
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident in what you're wearing — both in how you look and how you feel.
We Recommend Bringing Two Outfits
• One casual and comfy
• One a little more dressy
This gives your gallery a little variety and allows us to capture a couple different looks.
Before the session, try your outfits on and snap a quick mirror selfie or have your partner take a photo so you can see how everything looks together.
And please feel free to send us photos of your outfits if you want our input — we’re always happy to help!
One small tip: try not to bring a brand new outfit with the tags still on and clip them off when you arrive. We want to make sure everything fits well and feels comfortable before we start snapping photos.
Patterns & Colors
When it comes to colors and patterns, here are a few simple recommendations:
We usually suggest avoiding:
• super busy patterns
• loud graphics
• very bright/neon colors
Instead, things like these tend to photograph beautifully:
• neutrals
• pastels
• earthy tones
• soft/light patterns
But with that said…
Wear whatever the heck you want.
If you show up in a hot pink polka dot dress and you feel amazing in it, you’re probably going to look hot as heck, and we’re here for it.
Confidence photographs better than any “rule.”
Think About Your Location
One thing to keep in mind is how your outfit works with the location.
For example:
• If we’re at the beach with a big blue ocean, you might not want to wear ocean blue that blends right into the background.
• If we’re in a forest, maybe avoid forest green that disappears into the scenery.
Just something to consider!
But again — these are recommendations, not rules.
You can absolutely ignore every single one of them if you feel your best doing something different.
The Most Important Thing
Don’t overthink it.
Your engagement session isn’t about perfect outfits or perfectly posed photos. It’s about documenting this really special season of life — being engaged to the love of your life.
What you wear matters far less than the fact that we’re capturing this chapter of your story together.
So come ready to laugh, hold hands, flirt a little, and enjoy the moment.
We’ll take care of the rest.
We seriously can’t wait to hang out with you! 🤍
LOCATION
LOCATION
LOCATION
Make it a date!
One of the best ways to make your engagement session feel natural is to think of it less like a photoshoot and more like a date night that we get to tag along on.
Instead of just choosing a pretty location, think about things that are already part of your life together.
Do you two curl up on the couch every Tuesday night making homemade margaritas and tacos? Let’s lean into that - I’ll bring the limes!
Are you board game people? Bring the playing cards!
Do you love that little local coffee shop you always go to on Saturday mornings? Let’s grab a latte!
Maybe you love walking your dog together, browsing a bookstore, watching the sunset on a hill near your house, or grabbing ice cream after dinner.
All these things are what help tell the story of what you guys are all about. They make your photos feel like you, and when you look at them, you’ll think about all the “aww I remember when we use to...” moments before the future brought new ones to cherish.
These kinds of “dates" help the session feel natural, personal, and uniquely you, and they often lead to some of the most meaningful photos.
This approach is also especially helpful for couples who might feel a little more nervous about being in front of the camera. When you’re doing something you already enjoy together, it takes the pressure off and allows you to relax.
Our job is simply to document it.
So when choosing a location or planning your session, try to think about a place or activity that reflects your personality or your love story.
Let’s find a good spot...
Somewhere that feels just right for you two!
Over the years, we’ve had the chance to photograph engagement sessions in so many incredible places — from our hometown spots to the mountains, along the ocean, and everywhere in between. We feel really lucky to have explored so many beautiful locations with our couples!
Below is a small collection of some of our favorite engagement session locations across Northern California. Each one offers its own unique vibe and scenery, so take a scroll and see what stands out to you.
If any of these locations feel like the right fit, let us know! And if you have a special place in mind that isn’t listed here, we’re always excited to explore somewhere new.
Any of the places that have an “*” are included with no additional travel fees. All other locations listed are just a bit outside of our covered radius and will result in a small additional travel fee.
Feel free to email me if you would like links to view any full galleries so you can see more examples and get a better feel for the location(s).
Keep in mind that seasons change and locations can look very different throughout the year. If you’re unsure what a spot looks like during a certain season, please do a little research or feel free to ask — we’re happy to help you choose the best time!
-50.jpg)
-040.jpg)
-33.jpg)
-24.jpg)
The
One of the most common questions we get from couples during the planning process is:
“Do you have any vendor recommendations?”
After photographing so many weddings over the years, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside some incredibly talented wedding professionals. Because of that, we’ve created a curated list of vendors we know, trust, and love working with.
These are people who consistently do amazing work, treat couples well, and help make the wedding day run smoothly for everyone involved.
While you are absolutely free to choose any vendors you’d like, this list is simply meant to be a helpful starting point if you’re still looking for great people to help bring your day together. Great vendors truly make a huge difference in the overall experience of your wedding day.
As an added bonus, many of these vendors offer special perks for RK Honey Photo + Films couples. When reaching out, feel free to let them know that RK Honey Photo + Films sent you! Some vendors offer discounts such as 5% off, 10% off, $100 off services, complimentary add-ons, extra hours of coverage, and more.
If you have questions about any vendors or want additional recommendations, feel free to reach out — we’re always happy to help!
