Top 5 Reasons to Have an Engagement Session

You’re engaged! And while on the road to the “I Do”, you may be wondering whether or not you should have an engagement session and if it’s even worth the hype. I’m here to tell you that it’s absolutely worth having an engagement session. You and your fiancé are in an exciting time in your journey together, and you should document it!

               I genuinely believe that having an engagement session is a significant part of the entire wedding process. There are many benefits for scheduling an engagement session with your photographer, and here are the top five reason as to why:

1. You get to know your photographer

For many photographers, the engagement session is a time for them to focus on their clients and having the opportunity to connect with them. Having this time with your photographer allows the space for you to experience their work first hand. Having the space to see how they operate in their art as well as how they approach situations when they arise.

You will be surrounded by the people you love on your special day, and your photographer will be there to capture it all. It’s essential that you feel relax and at peace with your photographer around you. Engagement sessions are a wonderful way to break the ice.

2. Practice being comfortable in front of the camera

Practice makes perfect, right! Let’s be real, being in front of a camera can be nerve-wracking for some. I, for one, am, and I understand as a photographer being on the other side of the lens could be strange and foreign. Engagement sessions are a wonderful way for your photographer to see how you respond to being in front of the camera. They’ll be able to see how naturally you fall into poses together, whether or not showing PDA is nerve-wracking for you, and what poses work best for you. By practicing being in front of the camera and your photographer guiding you through the process, it helps with stripping away all the nerves you may have for your wedding day. Your engagement sessions are a walk-through for how your romantics and intimate photos would be on your big day.

3. Establish your expectations for the session and big day

Having an engagement session allows you to communicate with your photographer about your likes and dislikes. If you prefer more candid portraits or having the structure of being posed for photos or capturing the in-between moments, or if you have a list of ideas for poses, this would be the best time to express those ideas and expectations for your photographer. Communication is key in building a connection with your photographer and making your wedding day special, and have it translate into the photos of your big day.

4. Follow up on the business side of things.

Being in constant communication with your photographer is always important. You’ll be corresponding by emails and phone calls with your photographer, but speaking in person is a great way to connect and make sure you’re on the same page about essential details. Your engagement session will allow you to have uninterrupted time with your photographer giving you the chance to double-check all the details about your wedding day timeline, location(s), and payments. Doing so will ensure your peace with knowing that there won’t be any surprise fees and knowing when your photographer will arrive on the day.  

5. Quality time together

This is an exciting time in your relationship, and you should be enjoying it! Your love for each other is beautiful and you don’t want to miss capturing the moments together. It’s easy to lose sight of your relationship during the planning process of your big day. Engagement sessions are one of those pre-wedding actives that you both enjoy together. These sessions are full of love, laughter, kisses, dancing, and all the feels. After getting all dress up for the engagement session make it a date night and go out to dinner and enjoy each other.

Even in the busiest season of your life (weddings, graduations, planning, etc…), having the time to meet with your photographer prior is always worth it. From doing so, you’ll be able to feel comfortable in front of the camera and around your photographer, establish expectations, and follow up on the finances side of it all. Without the elements of an engagement session, things are left up to chance on your special day. As a photographer, we want to have a genuine connection with you as well as making you feel prepared and at ease on your big day!

If you would like to book a session click here.