If you’re not a fan of having your photo taken, you might be wondering, “Should I have an engagement session?” or “Why do I need an engagement photo shoot if I'm already engaged?”
As a wedding photographer, I am, of course, highly biased because I LOVE shooting engagement sessions! But an engagement photoshoot also has tons of benefits for you as a couple.
If you’re on the fence, here’s why I’m such a fan:
Why Engagement Photography Sessions are Awesome
In a nutshell, an engagement photo session is:
- FUN. (Really! I promise you’ll both like it.)
- Super romantic. (You get to hang out, crack jokes, and stare deeply into each other’s eyes - which is a New York Times-approved way to fall deeper in love.)
- All kinds of useful. (Here are 9 things you can do with your photos.)
- THE best way to try out your future wedding photographer, learn their style, and get comfortable in front of the camera.
- Memorable. (Walk away with photos for your home, wallet, desk, albums, grandma's birthday gift… They’re a slice of your current life that you can share with family forever.)
- Included in your wedding package. (My wedding photography packages include the engagement session as a gift to you both. So why not?)
Get to know your wedding photographer and practice having your photo taken before your wedding day
If you or your partner are introverted or camera shy, I highly recommend an engagement session.
Engagement photo shoots are a fun, laid back way for us to get to know each other. They’re also my secret weapon for a smooth flow with photography on your wedding day.
Your wedding day is going to be fast-paced, emotional, and overwhelming (in the best way possible). In contrast, I love that engagement pictures are very relaxed. You get to spend time with your photographer and your partner, you learn some posing tips, you get comfortable in front of the camera, and you get great pictures of the two of you.
This opportunity to practice will make your wedding day a whole lot easier. By the end of our session, you’ll understand my approach, know all my cues, and you’ll feel like a picture-taking rock star. I'll also get your feedback about which photos and angles you love, so your wedding day portraits will be a breeze.
— Alex C.
"I didn't realize we could look so good!"
Coolidge reservation — North shore, MA
I instantly felt a connection with Shaina from our very first email. She helped me research locations and even plan my wardrobe. We could not be happier with the entire process. The photos she took are very natural and beautiful - I honestly didn't realize we could look so good! We had an absolute blast during the shoot and felt very comfortable and natural with Shaina!
Use your engagement photos for your pre-wedding activities
Have you been wishing for a beautiful, meaningful photo to use for your Save the Dates?
You can use your engagement pictures in a bunch of creative ways for your pre-wedding activities. I actually wrote a blog post about this, if you haven’t seen it yet. (It's an old post, so if you look closely, you may even catch a glimpse of the original GDP logo.)
Capture everyday moments and memories of who you were when you fell in love
What is extra cool about engagement photos is that, twenty or thirty years from now, you can look back at a snapshot of an ‘everyday’ moment in your lives together.
Whether you choose to have your photos taken at your favorite neighborhood brewery while you shoot a game of pool, at the beach where you decided to take up surfing (see above), or somewhere you love to hike on weekends... Maybe the COOLEST part about these photos is that they will bring you back to this moment in your life - before you had kids, before you moved into that house, before you got married - when it was just the two of you, living out your daily adventures.
You should always do what's right for you, but I happen to find myself pretty convincing... Are you in? Okay, let's do it!
And if you still have questions about engagement sessions, let’s talk it through: shaina@goldendoorphoto.com
