Why to ALWAYS take engagement pictures with your photographer
Trust me, I understand how crazy wedding planning can get; you have to choose all of your dream vendors and then hold your breath, praying that they all are available on the same day until you can get your contracts signed. Then there’s the deposits, the outfit selections, the invitation ordering, the never ending guest list, all the wedding tasks can really add up. I know for some people, the last thing they want to do is take time out of their already tight schedule, and have an engagement session.
I’ve heard all the reasons why couples don’t think they need an engagement session; their proposal was photographed, they just had pictures taken recently, their significant other (or themselves) don’t really LOVE to be in front of the camera, the list goes on and on.
My biggest piece of advice for all engaged couples, whether you book your wedding with me or not, is to make sure you have a photo session with your wedding photographer BEFORE your wedding. If you don’t believe me, ask all of my friends who have gotten engaged and didn’t have me as their wedding photographer, I alwayssss recommend booking a session with your photographer. I suggest this for so many reasons:
1. It will make all three of you WAY more comfortable on your wedding day. Not only will your photographer walk into the venue knowing exactly what you and your fiancé look like, but they will also already know how you do in front of the camera, and you will know how your photographer works behind the camera. EVERY photographer does something a little different, so it’s so helpful to know how your photographer works and that you are comfortable with them. When you are comfortable, your pictures will reflect that, so when you are uncomfortable, you best believe, everyone will notice that too.
2. You all will learn which poses you love, but more importantly, which poses you hate. Photographers have a ton poses in our heads all the time; unfortunately some poses just don’t work on everyone, or even though the photographer loves the pose, once you see the image, you realize you just don’t love it as much as you all thought. This is SO helpful to know prior to your wedding day. I mean, personally I’d rather tell my photographer after my engagement session that I just didn’t like the pose of my fiancé picking me up, rather than after my wedding. This way we can avoid having that pose done on wedding day and instead replace it with a pose that was LOVED. Engagement sessions are pretty much a trial wedding day in my opinion! I once had a couple that came to their engagement session telling me that did not want any kissing poses, they just weren’t comfortable with kissing pictures. Because I did their engagement session, I knew on their wedding day that the only kissing pictures they were going to receive were the first kiss, and any that they did on their own. But then I’ve had other couples who love their kissing pictures.
3. Your photographer can learn the ways to make you smile….I mean really smile. Whether that might be terrible dad jokes, having your fiancé whisper something silly in your ear, or just honestly being yourselves.
4. Your engagement session can be FUN. When my clients booked their wedding with a photographer and had them do their engagement session in the fall. Unfortunately (but fortunately for me, because I loveeee them) by spring, something came up and their photographer couldn’t photograph their wedding anymore. When they booked their wedding with me, they picked the collection with an engagement session, but this time they wanted to do a themed photoshoot based on who they were as people (because they already had done the formal engagement pictures). Her exact words to me were, “We’re thinking Busch Light, Canadian Tuxedos, and a mullet. And we also want to shot gun a beer.” Not only did we have so much fun, but they loved their pictures because they felt like themselves! Because of their session, I also knew that we needed a shotgunning picture at their wedding as well...but this time with me a little more out of spraying range. ;) haha!
5. If you plan on having your pet at your wedding, it is best to let them meet your photographer prior to wedding day….but even better if they’re in some of your engagement pictures so everyone is best prepared at what needs to happen to get your fur baby to participate. Or maybe your pet isn’t able to come to your wedding day, but you still want them to be included! Engagement pictures for the win!!
6. Saying this again because it needs to be emphasized. Your photographer will figure out which poses work best for you and they will make sure to get at least one of that pose during your wedding day. BONUS: You’ll know exactly what they’re talking about and what to expect, so it will come out EVEN BETTER.
7. Your kids (may) have the option to be involved, if you want them to be! Kids need to be comfortable with your photographer as well because we all know that children aren’t necessarily a fan of pictures. Sometimes it’s better to just have the engagement session be of the two of you, other times it might be better to include your children, even just for a pose or two so they can meet the person that will be around them on wedding day. Of course, talk to your photographer about whether or not they allow your children to be part of your engagement pictures (not every photographer allows additional people in engagement sessions). Luckily this couples daughter had no problem being in pictures on wedding day, because she didn’t come to their engagement shoot. Because of this, I made sure that she was involved in a bit of pictures on wedding day, so they could have some nice family pictures as well, (although, the dance happened 100% naturally).
8. Last but not least. Because who doesn’t love more pictures of your love story?
If this hasn’t helped you understand just how helpful engagement pictures are and you truly don’t want to take them, I don’t know a single photographer that would force you to. (haha) BUT I would HIGHLY recommend at least meeting your photographer a couple times in person so you can plan your day together and know exactly what you want, that way you are expecting the same things on wedding day. If you’re a Bre Palumbo Photography wedding client, we have already met in person (unless it’s a special circumstance of course), and we will meet again the week before your wedding to make sure we are on the same page, and also to hang out because I love each and every one of my clients so much. :)