Should We Get Engagement Photos Done?
CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve popped the question, they said YES, and now it’s time to start planning your big day. One of the first questions that will pop into your head after finding and booking your wedding photographer is “should we get engagement photos done?” As a wedding photographer (based in Kamloops, British Columbia) my answer is yes. 1000x YES! Often times couples think “What’s the point of an engagement session? We will get tons of photos on our wedding day!” and while that is true, here are a few things to consider when making the decision, with 5 reasons why you too should say YES to the engagement session. Let’s get into it!
It gets you comfortable in front of the camera.
Chances are, neither you nor your partner are professional models. An engagement session is the perfect time for a “practice run”. Not everyone feels natural in front of a professional photographer, especially when it comes to taking candid, intimate shots with your partner. By having an engagement session, you'll learn how to relax, feel at ease, and look less tense and awkward in your real wedding photos. I’d say that’s a huge plus!
It’s a great time for us to get to know each other.
Building a trusting relationship with your photographer before your wedding will make a huge difference in the outcome of your day-of photos. Let’s spend an hour or two getting to know each other, learning tips and tricks from me, and having a whole lot of fun! I’ll take note of how you interact with each other and your individual personalities. These details will help me capture moments on the wedding day that are unique to just the two of you.
Tip: I highly recommend booking your engagement session well in advance. The last thing we want is for you to be stressing about this in the midst of wedding planning!
It gives you a chance to simply be together, celebrating your engagement just the two of you (well, and me!)
I love being the reason two people in love get to head out, step away from the craziness that is life, and spend some intentional, uninterrupted time together. You’ll hear it a million times, but the wedding planning and your wedding day will go by SO FAST. Enjoy the process, and let me capture this short and special time you get to call each other fiancé’s. It’s always a bonus to choose a meaningful location for your engagement session. Another option would be to choose a location inspired by your love story and the journey that brought you here. For example, one of my couples met in high school while cliff jumping with friends at Rattlesnake Point in Vernon, BC; so we went back there and jumped some cliffs for their engagement photos. So special!
It gives you the chance to see yourself in photos before your wedding day.
The advantage of seeing professional photos before saying "I do” — especially taken by your own wedding photographer — is you can let me know which poses/angles you like and don’t like. Remember, communication is key! I want you to love your photos, so please don’t hesitate to tell me your preferences.
Tip: Have your hair and makeup trial done on the same day as your engagement session. This way, you get to see how it looks in photos and can let your stylists know if there's anything you'd like to change. After seeing your engagement photos, you'll have more confidence in yourselves and in your photographer. When the time comes to tie the knot, you'll look forward to having your pictures taken, instead of worrying about having a camera pointed at you all day. You’ll be naturals!
You’ll have photos to use pre-wedding.
Once you get your engagement photos back, there are so many things you can do with them! They are often used in save-the-dates & invitations, you can gift them to friends and family (I’m sure your parents and grandparents would love a copy), you can make yourselves a small album as a keepsake, or order a print or two to hang in your home. You can even display the photos at your wedding — guests love it!
Pro tip: If you do choose to self-publish your engagement images, be sure to get permission from your photographer. The image rights belong to the photographer, and you might even have to compensate them for the usage. Depending on how you intend to use the photos, most photographers will let you publish as long as you just ask them and give them credit.
Engagement photos exist not only to formally announce this next step in your journey, but also to tell more of your love story. I highly recommend them! Some of my packages even include an engagement session, so that’s a bonus! My husband and I had a short engagement and said no to having an engagement session, and to this day I still regret it. Don’t be like me — if you’re considering it at all, I say go for it! You won’t regret it.