Planning a wedding can be crazy. Husband and I had a 4-month engagement, so there was quite a bit of planning and shopping and DIY-ing crammed into those 4 months. Even if you have a super long engagement there always seems to be a rush in those last few weeks. One thing that may be bumped down the priorities list is your engagement session.

I mean, why bother, right? You’re going to be taking tons of portraits together at the wedding, not to mention for the rest of your life, right? What’s the big deal about engagement photos?

Well, to be honest, I think engagement photos are a pretty darn big deal, actually. Big enough, in fact that I offer a complimentary engagement shoot with every single wedding package. So, why such a big deal? Here are a few good reasons. 🙂

Better Wedding Photography

How many people would you guess feel nervous or at least a little awkward in front of the camera? If I had to guess, I’d probably say that it’s pretty close to 100% of people feel a little strange about having pictures taken of themselves. This may be part of why it’s so easy to skip the engagement shoot in the first place, but what if I told you that taking your engagement portraits could prevent that awkward phase at your wedding? Yep, it’s true. Your engagement shoot is your big opportunity to get in front of the camera, learn the ins and outs of your photographer’s shooting and posing style, and work out any kinks there may be. Working that out at your engagement session means you don’t have to work through it on your wedding day which means that your wedding photos will lose any stiff, awkwardness as a result. No stiff, awkwardness = better photos. Win!

The Chance for More Fun Shots

Wedding days are hectic. You’ll have a schedule and a tight timeline, and it’s pretty important to stick to that timeline. Obviously your photographer will be sure to take TONS of photos and incorporate all the fun poses and shots you can think of, but it’s also important to keep in mind that there are sooooo many other shots to take on a wedding day, too. You’ll want shots of all the details you’ve worked so hard to plan, and you’ll want shots of your daddy giving you away and of the happy tears running down your momma’s cheeks as she watches the man of your dreams promise you forever. You want photos of the ring bearer making a face during The Kiss, not to mention photos of The Kiss, as well as first dance photos and toast photos and cake cutting photos and First Look photos and walking down the aisle photos and literally hundreds of other photos. The bridal portrait photos are a fraction of the final gallery–a very important fraction that are a SUPER high priority, but a fraction nonetheless. Your engagement photos, however, are just you and your fiance in front of the camera. Dream up all the fun poses you possibly can; your photographer will dream up all the fun poses she possibly can; then, put them together and have a ton of fun at your engagement shoot.

Date Night

You’re about to get married. Right now date nights are probably pretty easy, but that might not always be the case. With engagement photos you’re literally being handed a date night. Get dressed up! Wear that dress that’s been hiding in the back of your closet that you hardly ever get to wear! Then go out for dinner after your portrait session. Or, if dressing up isn’t your jam, go on a hike and take your photos at the top. Or pick a cool area in or near your own town and explore it while your photographer documents the whole thing. Or do something else altogether. The point is to make it something special, and have fun with it.

You Need to Breathe

Have I mentioned that wedding planning is busy and hectic? You need your engagement session if for no other reason than the fact it’ll give you a built-in time to stop, relax, breathe, and have fun with your love!

You’re Only Engaged Once

Your engagement is a brief moment in time after which you’ll be married for the rest of your life. Your engagement shoot is a chance to just enjoy being engaged! It’s an opportunity to celebrate your engagement and to look excitedly forward to marriage. Enjoy the moment. 🙂