Why You Ought to Take Engagement Photos and What To Do with Them
A guide to why you ought to invest in an engagement photo session with your photographer and what you can do with your photos.
You did it! You are engaged! You have decided to say ‘I-do’ and to spend the rest of your lives together. What lies before you in the coming days and months will be one of the happiest seasons of your lives.
You may be wondering, now that the big question has been asked and answered, what is there to do? The answer is, for many people, a million little things. Which can be super fun! But if you are on this page, you have likely decided to have a more minimalist wedding, and therefore the answer for you and your sweetheart is more like twenty little things. Thank goodness for that, right?
One of the first decisions that crosses many couple’s minds is: Should we do engagement photos? Are they really necessary? In truth, of course, nothing in the whole process is really compulsory or indispensable except for your partner… And the part where you say ‘I-do’, right?
However, there are a few very compelling reasons why you ought to consider including an engagement photo session in your pre-wedding to-do list.
Why to Get Engagement Photos
A Time for Connection and Fun Amidst the Planning
Wedding planning is all-consuming, and it’s easy to get lost in the details and busyness of it all. Including an engagement photo session amidst the hustle and bustle is a perfect way to celebrate your love, slow down, and capture a moment in time (between the big question and the big day) that is so fleeting. Essentially, it gives you time to reconnect, ground yourselves, and have fun.
An Invaluable Opportunity Get to Know Your Photographer and Provide Feedback
I can not stress the importance of this point enough. An engagement photo session allows you a critical opportunity to get to know your photographer before the wedding day. You will become more familiar with his or her style and approach and his or her vibe and energy. As such, you will have ample time to give your photographer vital feedback (i.e. you actually very much dislike close-ups and want none of them on your wedding day). Ultimately, this means that you will likely be happier with the outcome of your partnership in the end.
A Perfect Time for Your Photographer to get to Know YOU
Likewise, an engagement photo session gives your photographer a glimpse into who you two are as a couple– your likes and dislikes, your dynamic, your vision for the day, etc. This time together will absolutely help inform his or her work with you in the future. Spending these hours on the front end will pay off in dividends, in the form of pictures you are ultimately happier with.
A Low-Pressure Time to Get Comfortable in Front of the Lens
Most people don’t spend a lot of time being the center of everyone’s attention and the sole focus of a photographer’s lens for some hours on end. These pre-wedding photos allow you both to get comfortable in front of the camera in advance of your nuptials. You can take a little time learning how to angle your face or body best, or which poses are easiest and most comfortable for you.
A Chance to Experiment with Different Styles or Approaches
These sessions are a fun time to experiment with different themes, styles, or looks. You can–and ought to–try out the makeup and hairstyle that you are planning to wear on your wedding day (or do your back-up choice so that you’ll have photographs of both). If you don’t like the way it looks, you have time to shift gears before the wedding. You can also toy around with a host of different vibes– dramatic, cinematic, bohemian, elegant, super laid back… The idea is, you can be a little more creative and versatile in this session than on the day you say your ‘I-dos’. Check out my “How to Prepare for Your Engagement Photo Session” blog for everything you need to know beforehand.
The Time to Include Meaningful Places, Moments, or People
Perhaps most importantly, you can use the opportunity that engagement photo sessions provide to incorporate people, places, and/or pets that will not be there on your wedding day. Maybe you want to feature a favorite neighborhood park or restaurant? To take a photograph of you both in front of your home’s front door or in the backyard? To feature your much-cherished furry friend(s)? Now is the time to capture these treasured images!
What to Do with Your Photos
The best part about choosing to book an engagement shoot is that, in the end, you will have a treasure trove of gorgeous images that you can use for so many different purposes. If you do them early enough, you can use them to announce your engagement on social media (if that’s your thing). Likewise, they make for perfect “Save-the-Dates”, invitations, or announcements. They can, furthermore, be integrated into your wedding website, if you choose to create one. And last, you can (and ought to) compile them into a lovely keepsake that you will cherish forever. (I am loving the timeless, minimalist ones created by Artifact Uprising.)
Ready to Celebrate Your Day Your Way?
Elopement Photographer Andrea Enger (Portrait by Realm Studios)
Find out how I can help make that happen!
If you’re ready to get the ball rolling to secure your photographer, that’s great!
You can do that by filling out the form below, by emailing me directly at andrea@andreaengerphotography.com, or by calling/texting me at (720) 739-0784. I look forward to hearing from you!
If you’re still in the research phase, I hear ya! Here are some more resources that my couples have found helpful. I hope you do, too!
