Do you really need engagement photos? Lets talk about it!
If you’re a partner who’s just popped the question and is wedding planning, you’re probably asking yourself, “Do we really need engagement photos on top of all that?”
Well, the answer is YES and that’s not just because I’m a photographer! Let me tell you why.
To meet your photographer in advance
Your wedding day is going to come with all sorts of jitters, especially if you or your partner are a little more camera-shy. Scheduling an engagement session gives you a chance to break the ice in front of the camera before the big day.
If your wedding photographer takes your engagement photos, they will have a better understanding of your comfort level in front of the camera and how much posing versus candid moments you and your partner would like, as well as the type of prompting that works best for you. Engagement shoots are a great way for your photographer to get to know you as people in front of the camera. Do you like to do lots of little giggles and smiles, or are you less animated? Are you comfortable with lots of PDA for the camera, or not so much?
You and your photographer will have many creative planning meetings before the wedding; however, giving yourself the opportunity to shoot with them beforehand is another important piece in the relationship.
To feel more confident before the big day
It’s likely that, if you’re reading this, you and your partner have never had professional photos taken. It can definitely be a daunting thing facing a camera for the first time, and that first time being your wedding is only going to up your nerves. An engagement is a great trial run for not just your photographer to see how you move in front of the camera, but also for you to know how you move in front of the camera! That way, you can go into your wedding knowing all your best angles (spoiler alert, they’re all gorgeous) and feeling comfortable being photographed.
To experiment with aesthetics
Wedding planning is fulllllll of choices, and it can be really hard to pick between them sometimes! Giving yourself room to experiment with what kind of photo aesthetic you want by taking engagement photos is a great way to eliminate one of these choices.
If you’re planning a spring garden party wedding, but have always dreamed of a romantic fall love story, you actually *can* have both. Having an engagement session allows you to switch up the vibes between your wedding day and your engagement shoot, which is not only fun, but also lets you find out what you like aesthetically!
To use in the wedding suite
From save the dates to a website, you’re going to need beautiful photos of you and your partner to showcase before your wedding, so why not have an engagement session? This way, all the photo-oriented necessities before the wedding look cohesive and true to both of you!
Pro tip: you can also make little photo strips and party favors out of these photos that are an even more fun way to ask guests to save the date, or to thank them for being there for you!
TO CELEBRATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT!
Actually celebrating you and your partner’s love can, unfortunately, get lost in the wedding planning shuffle. Planning an engagement shoot and getting all dressed up to take photos is a great way to make sure that you’re spending quality time together! Scheduling an engagement session means you and yours can make a night — or a day — out of it. Go out to dinner with your partner after, spend the whole day together beforehand, really take the time to soak in how special this person is to you.
Just see what Kimberly had to say after her session, “I emailed Sydney with a request for a shoot and she was prompt, kind and extremely thoughtful in her reply, answering all my questions and more. We got the ball rolling and during the shoot itself we felt like ourselves. She didn't fuss around with posing us, or make us doing anything that didn't seem natural to us. When we got our pictures back I was speechless. She captured our love for one another in such a pure and inspiring way. Sydney truly has an eye for her craft. She even sent us a few GIF's of us during the shoot and I will use those every second I get. She was professional and accommodating. Do yourself a favor a book her. She's truly spectacular!”
If I’ve convinced you, then come on over! There’s plenty of room in my corner, and we can have a blast taking some engagement photos and celebrating your love.