Why Should You Get Engagement Photos?
Are you going back and forth on whether to do an engagement session before your wedding? As a photographer, I include an engagement session in my two main packages because I truly believe there are so many reasons as to why you should be doing one. And those reasons are what I’m going to share with you in this blog.
Getting the Jitters Out
So many couples have never had professional photos taken of them together - whether it be for engagement photos or just photos in general! You should do an engagement session so that you both can ensure that your wedding day will be the first time having your photos taken together.
I recently had the opportunity to be hired as a wedding photographer for Abigail and Stefan. A major part of our correspondence was setting up a time to do their engagement photos - something that is included in their wedding package at no extra charge. They had never had professional photos taken together before, except for their selfies, so I just knew the engagement session would be a perfect opportunity for them to get those first photo jitters out of the way.
If you have had pictures taken before, many couples admit that they're super awkward or shy in front of the camera. So having this engagement session beforehand helps them calm their nerves when it comes to being photographed. The last thing you want to worry about on your wedding day is having your photo taken! And trust me, you’re already nervous about so many other things on your wedding day, this will just be one less thing to worry about!
Seeing How Your Photographer Works
After being hired as Abigail and Stefan’s photographer, we were able to meet each other and get comfortable with one another. This is extremely important because your wedding day will be chaotic. This gives the opportunity to be able to build a relationship with your photographer without feeling rushed (unlike the big day). Abigail and Stefan were able to see how I work as a photographer and become familiar with how I may prompt them on their wedding day. If you are seeking a wedding photographer, I highly suggest hiring one that includes an engagement session in their packages so you can get the meeting each other jitters out!
Also while corresponding for the engagement shoot, they were able to see how I work behind the scenes. For example, they both wanted to take photos while the leaves were still on the trees (it was soon to be fall). So I sent them a fall foliage map that predicted when the leaves would begin changing colors and falling to the ground. I did this because in Maine, different parts of the state go through foliage at different times. It’s always good to check when the leaves will start changing colors and falling from the trees based on when and where you want your photos taken! This helped us narrow down a location and we ended up picking Wolfe’s Neck State Park in Freeport, Maine.
Needing Photos
There are many reasons why you need photos and some play a major role in wedding planning! One main reason is that you’ll need them for your Save the Date cards or invitations. I’ve also seen many have their engagement pictures used in centerpieces on the wedding day.
As a bonus, you’ll have extra photos just for fun. You can use them for your home decor, make a wedding album and include them in. You’ll have new gorgeous pictures for any needs you may have.
