Three reasons an engagement session is a crucial part of wedding preparations.
He “popped the question,” of course you said “yes!” and now you’re faced with one of the biggest to-do lists of your life: wedding planning. Now you’re looking for vendors, and you might be wondering why all these photographers keep talking about engagement sessions. Maybe you can’t wait until it’s your turn to pose on camera and show off your ring. Or maybe you hate being on camera and you’d rather skip this step altogether. Either way, I’d like to convince you that every engaged couple should plan a portrait session with their wedding photographer.
Engagement sessions such are an essential part of my workflow that I offer them as a complimentary gift to every couple that books me for a full day of coverage. But why do I feel so strongly about them? Let’s look at three reasons I think an engagement session should be at the top of your to-do list!
1. Celebrating the Season
Your wedding day isn’t just a DAY. It’s the beginning of a life together, and that story has already begun. The engagement season is one you’ll only experience once, and it’s such a sweet time of excitement and anticipation. An engagement session can document the magic of this season in a unique way!
2. Practicing Your Posing
Posing is probably the #1 point of stress when you’re on camera. Let me tell you this before you even get started: you can’t mess up. It’s not your job to know what to do- it’s mine. Your engagement session is an opportunity for us to practice our communication so I can help you get into the most flattering poses for you both. We will work to emphasize your best features, while creating genuine connection and emotion in your photos. I will come to your session with a pocket full of poses ready to try with you and your husband-to-be.
But not every pose works for every couple. Sometimes height variations, personal preferences, and even mobility issues can come into play when it comes to posing together. That’s why having an opportunity to practice is essential for making your wedding day portraits flow smoothly. This is especially true if you aren’t doing a first look or have other time constraints. Practicing ahead of time will allow us to show up on the wedding day with a plan for creating beautiful, flattering images of you together in the shortest amount of time possible.
3. Building Our Relationship
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and a lot of it will be spent in front of a camera. Most people don’t love being on camera- I know I don’t! I genuinely don’t want taking portraits to make your wedding day feel like a chore. I want you to trust me to put you at ease and help you have fun on your wedding day! My biggest goal at your engagement session is to get you comfortable with me and in front of my camera. When I walk into the room where you’re getting ready, you should feel like a friend just arrived! If you know me and you’ve already seen the beautiful images we create together, you’ll be more relaxed and natural on camera. The fun will follow!
Some Final Thoughts on Engagement Sessions
An engagement session is never mandatory. Sometimes because of time or location constraints, it’s just not possible. But if you can make it happen, I always recommend it! Whether you’re working with me or another photographer, it is the best tool in your preparation kit for creating beautiful images of your wedding day. I hope this has helped you make a decision about booking an engagement session! If you’re searching for an wedding photographer in Auburn, AL or the surrounding areas, I would love to hear from you. You can find more about my services here.