Here is Why Every Couple Should Schedule an Engagement Session.

For a lot of couples, one of the most daunting aspects of the wedding day is the fact that they’ll have to be on camera. Most of us have never had professional photos taken, so when you aren’t sure what to expect, it can definitely be scary! The camera shyness, along with the cost of engagement photos, and the time it takes to actually do an engagement session leads a lot of couples to decide that they should just skip the engagement photos entirely. They wonder, “are engagement photos worth it?”

Spoiler alert – I think the answer is yes! And here’s why I think every couple should schedule an engagement session.

Being in Front of the Camera Can Be Scary

Wait, being camera shy is a reason why I should do engagement photos?

Yes! Being nervous in front of the camera is totally normal, and unless you’re a professional model, it’s expected that you won’t be 100% confident with a lens pointing at you. But, this fear is actually one of the biggest reasons why engagement photos are worth it!

If you don’t do an engagement session, your wedding day will be your first time in front of the camera – so on top of the stress of the wedding day, you’ll be worrying about your photos. By scheduling an engagement session before your wedding day, you’ll be able to get that stress out of your system! You’ll probably be nervous beforehand, but the engagement session is the perfect time to practice being in front of the camera, get to know your photographer, and realize that it isn’t so bad after all.

I recommend scheduling an engagement session with the same photographer who will be doing your wedding, because building trust with one person will give you confidence in their abilities to make you look amazing in photos, and more importantly – make you feel amazing. After your engagement session, you’ll be a pro in front of the camera, and your wedding day will be a breeze!

Getting to Know Your Photographer

Your wedding photographer is going to be the one hanging out with you pretty much all day when you get married – so it’s important that you get along! An engagement session is the perfect time to build rapport and get to know each other – because you’ll be a lot more comfortable in front of the camera if the person behind it is someone you consider a friend, rather than a total stranger.

And this goes both ways – every couple is different, so it’s important for your photographer to get to know you too. They’ll use the engagement session to learn how to bring out your authentic selves – which means making sure you feel comfortable! When it comes to photography, how you feel has a huge effect on how your photos turn out. When you feel comfortable and you’re having fun, your engagement photos will reflect that.

Celebrate Your Engagement

Your wedding is just around the corner – but this phase of your life is special, and it deserves to be celebrated! Engagement photos are so worth it, because a photo session will document how you felt – all the excitement, joy, and emotion that comes with looking forward to marrying your person.

Your wedding photos are important (obviously!), but your engagement photos capture you more as you are in day-to-day life. Unless you often wear white gowns or three piece tuxedos, your wedding photos, while they reflect that day, are going to look different from your engagement photos. Your engagement session is about who you are at this moment in time.

You Can Use Them!

One last perk of taking engagement photos – you can use them for save the dates, invitations, your wedding website, your profile pic….

Scheduling an engagement session ensures you’ll have professional, high quality photos to use for all your wedding stuff!

Tips for Taking Engagement Photos

Are you convinced that engagement photos are worth it? It’s totally normal to still be nervous, so here are my tips to help things go smoothly!

Treat it Like a Date 

Your engagement session should be fun! So when you schedule it, treat it like a date night. Dress up, go to dinner beforehand, and choose something fun to do for the session! This can be anything from bringing a picnic basket, going for a hike to reach the spot where you want to take photos, going ice skating, or bringing your guitar and having a jam session.

Photos are best when you’re being yourselves – so don’t be afraid to pick an activity or bring some props that will help you feel comfortable. 

Bring Outfit Options

A lot of photographers will let you do two outfits for your engagement photos. Most couples do one casual one, and one fancier one, so bring a few options! You can also bring more than that, and ask your photographer for their opinion – they’ll know what photographs best, what colors go with your location, and what outfits will look good side by side.

Don’t forget to iron your clothes before the engagement session – wrinkles can be distracting!

Talk to Your Photographer About Lighting

Taking photos during different parts of the day will give you different results! Talk with your photographer to figure out the best time to take your engagement photos, and when the lighting is going to be best. Harsh sun can create some unflattering shadows, so around sunrise and sunset will be the best times to take photos.

Hire a Good Photographer

And I don’t mean someone who takes good photos (that’s important too though) – I mean a photographer who you get along with, and who makes you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Here’s a secret – how well your photos turn out depends on how comfortable you feel, which depends on your photographer!

When you’re searching for wedding photographers, make sure to get to know them a little. If you’re on the hunt, start by contacting me! Let’s see if it’s a good fit.