If you are not sure what an engagement session is, or maybe you're one the fence about doing one, my professional opinion is book one right now. Okay, I may be a little biased, but there are some great benefits to doing an engagement session.
1. Eliminates the Awkwardness
How awkward would it be on the day of your wedding if a random person you met one time for a 30 minute consultation shows up to your wedding and follows you around all day with a camera and a flash trying to capture your most intimate moments. An engagement session helps eliminate that awkward, uneasy feeling the day of your wedding. You’ll be able to learn what to expect when it comes to the photography. It makes for a much more relaxed wedding.
2. Save the date cards
Besides having awesome pictures to look back on, you can use them for more practice purposes such as save the date cards or announcements in the newspaper. How about a book for your wedding guests to sign? You can even gift the pictures to a parent or grandparent.
3. Practice for the big day
You know what they say, practice makes perfect. It’s no different when it comes to pictures. You’ll get to learn my shooting style and how I direct the shots. It will be very similar to how I direct you on the wedding day so you’ll know exactly what to expect. It’s also a great time to learn the foundation poses that we will use again on your big day. I’m not promising you’ll be able to go straight into modeling after a session, but you will be able to understand the basic guidelines that will help make your pictures as flattering as possible.
4.Let me get to know you!
This is not only a great trial run for you, but it’s also a great opportunity for me to get to know you guys as well. It lets me understand if you’re timid or big on the PDA. Do you need little direction or a lot? I also get to learn about your personalities as well. Are you goofy or serious? An engagement session also allows us to get a little more creative then we might have time for on your wedding day. I love to get to know your hobbies and interests and incorporate that into your session.
5. You get to know me!
As crazy as it sounds, besides your fiancée, you and your photographer will spend the most time together on your wedding day. The engagement shoot is a perfect ice breaker to transform your photographer from a ‘stranger’ taking your photos to a ‘friend’ taking your photos. It’s important to establish a good relationship. The best wedding photos we’ve taken have been from couples that were able to do an engagement session.
