Why you should take engagement photos with your wedding photographer
So you just got engaged—Congrats! And now you’re in the process of wedding planning and picking a photographer. Besides picking a date and venue, and maybe even a wedding coordinator, one of the first things you’re going to want to book is a photographer. Especially if photos are a priority for you. Due to COVID-19, wedding vendors are being booked up quicker than normal, so it’s more important than ever to prioritize the vendors you must have and reach out as soon as possible!
When reaching out to photographers to get to know them, their process, style, and rates, you’ll hear a lot about engagement photos. Some photographers, like myself, include complimentary engagement sessions in our wedding packages. While others offer discounted add-on rates or fees to include one.
Either way, you and your partner are probably asking each other if you need one. And in my opinion, the answer is YES. Especially if your photographer includes a complimentary session in your wedding package. Take advantage of that!
3 reasons why you should say yes to engagement photos
Clearly, I’m team “Do it!” But why should you really have them taken? After all, aren’t you going to have a ton of photos of you two together from your wedding? Why do you need more?
Outside of why the heck not, here are my top three reasons why you should absolutely do engagement photos with your wedding photographer if you have the opportunity.
1. They make great photos fo save the dates
First and foremost, it makes creating save the date cards super simple. When you have your engagement photos taken by your wedding photographer, you’re going to have a number of gorgeous images to choose from for the cover of your save the dates. Whether you get them printed from Minted, Pic-Time, or custom designed, your family will love to see your two sweet faces hanging on their fridge.
As a bonus, this is a great time to do your hair and makeup bridal trial. This way you can see how you’re going to look on camera with your desired beauty look! Plus, you’ll look extra fabulous in your engagement photos.
2. Commemorate this milestone in your lives together
The next obvious reason is to capture this moment in your lives. You two have taken the next big step in your lives together and are planning on committing to spending the rest of your lives loving each other and growing old together—through thick and thin. Why shouldn’t you have photos that represent this exciting time in your lives and really capture the love you two share.
Plus, doing engagement photos can be a really fun date activity! My recommendation is for you two to make a day out of it. Get dressed up, spend the day eating or drinking at your favorite local spots, do an activity that you love to do together like golfing or hiking, and then go have your photos taken. Not only will you be capturing a special time in your lives, but you’ll be creating more memories together as you do it.
3. Get to know your photographer
And my favorite reason: you get to know your wedding photographer! During your session, you’ll become familiar with their poses, how they direct, and their personality. You’ll build a rapport with them, and you’ll be way more comfortable with them and their equipment on your wedding day! It allows you to get all those awkward feelings out in advance, that way you can truly focus on being present on your day. Trust me, you’ll feel like best friends by the end of your session!
Additionally, you’ll become familiar with their process, how they deliver the photos and their photography style. And when your photos are delivered, I promise it’s only going to make you even more excited for your wedding day!!
Engagement photos are worth it
While in some cases there may be logistical reasons why doing engagement photos with your wedding photographer might be tricky—for example, you live in the Santa Barbara, but you’re getting married in Washington State and your photographer is a Seattle wedding photographer. It could be tricky to travel all that way to have them take your photos before your wedding, or have them travel to California to you. But if you have the opportunity, use these photos as an excuse to meet your photographer, tour your venue, and take some lasting photos of you two!
At the end of the day, these will be for you to look back on and remember what it felt like to be together in this season of your lives. So let go of any expectations, be fully present, and enjoy this time together! Your engagement session will be a safe space and nothing you do is wrong or awkward—in fact, a lot of the poses will feel silly, but they’ll look incredible and romantic in the end.
My advice? Do them and be yourselves—make them you two. It’s the very best thing you can do to ensure that your photos are meaningful and will last you a lifetime.
