Engagement sessions

Pax Pictura photographs engagement sessions on the Gulf Coast. Engagement is one hour. It is a first session for the two of you, before a wedding or simply because you want portraits together. You do not have to book a wedding with us to book the hour.

We keep it calm. We tell you where to stand. The edit is natural, and the gallery comes to you online.

What the hour is for

Use the hour for portraits of the two of you in a place that already means something, or in a place that is simply easy. A beach, a sidewalk, a park, or a porch in Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Destin, or along the Emerald Coast can all work. Name the spot when you request the date.

The session is one hour. Its price is listed on the booking page with the other sessions. If you also want wedding coverage later, that is a separate session: Wedding Day, Ceremony, or Elopement. We will not fold one into the other unless you ask and we confirm it in writing.

Some couples want the engagement photos for paper they send to guests. Your personal-use license covers printing and sharing. You can use the photos that way once the gallery is delivered.

How we spend the hour

We start with a simple portrait, then walk a little if the place allows it. We will tell you what to do with your hands and where to look. You do not need a script, a theme, or matching outfits. Clothes you already wear are enough.

If you want one formal frame and a few that feel like a walk, say so. If you want only the formal frame, say that too. An hour is short on purpose. We would rather do a few things well than rush a long list.

Wind, sun and a bright sidewalk are normal on this coast. We will move you into shade when shade is the kinder light. If you have a backup spot for rain, tell us. If you do not, we will choose a covered place nearby when we can, and we will tell you if we cannot.

A third person is welcome if you want them in a frame or two, such as a parent or a child. Tell us ahead of time so the hour still belongs mostly to the two of you.

Places on the Gulf Coast

Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Destin, the Emerald Coast and 30A are all places couples ask about. We confirm each location in writing, including whether we can be there and whether any travel cost applies. Pax Pictura LLC meets you at the place in the confirmation.

If you are choosing between two beaches or between a town and a venue you have already reserved for the wedding, send both. We will say which one fits a one-hour portrait. The wedding location can be a good engagement location, and it can also be too busy. We will be plain about that.

Before the date

Request the hour on the booking page. Nothing is charged when you request a session. We confirm your booking in writing before the date. You can reschedule at no charge with at least 7 days' notice for sessions other than Wedding Day, Ceremony and Elopement.

Tell us if the wedding date and town are already set, even if you have not booked coverage. It helps us understand the portraits you need. It does not lock you into a wedding session.

If you want the photos kept off our portfolio, say so in writing. We may use the photographs in our portfolio unless you opt out in writing.

The gallery

We aim to deliver the edited online gallery through ShootProof within 6 weeks (usually 3 to 6) for weddings and 3 weeks for other sessions. Engagement follows the three-week aim. We choose the final images ourselves, in a consistent natural style. Unedited files are not included.

You will get an email when the gallery is ready. You can view and download the photos. If a link fails, email us and we will send it again.

You receive a personal-use license. You may print the photos, share them, and post them. Prints can also be ordered from the gallery when you want a paper copy. There is no need to order on the day the gallery opens.

If a wedding is also on your mind

Many engagement sessions stand alone. Some are the start of a longer conversation about Wedding Day, Ceremony, or Elopement. Ask if you want that conversation. We will describe the lengths and point you to the booking page for the figures. We will not assume you want all of them.

Send the wedding date if you have one. We would rather know early if that date is already taken.

Request a session

Use the button at the end of this page and choose Engagement. If you want to write first, email info@paxpictura.com with your names, the town, and a few times that work.

Pax Pictura LLC

Common questions