Congratulations to the newly engaged couples finding our blog. This is such an exciting time. I am inclined to encourage you to relax and enjoy this sacred time of being engaged and each other’s fiances because it truly is precious and fleeting, but also depending on your personality and circumstances and what surrounds you– you may be able to enjoy this time more once you have a wedding day locked down and a venue secured. Whichever resonates with you two, we can help and would love to schedule a call to get acquainted when you’re ready.  Meanwhile for those couples who are a  little further along in the planning process, and considering an engagment shoot, and need a little nudge? Here’s my advice on the subject.

While engagement sessions are typically an added expense, unless your photographer has structured his or her service to incude this, I’ve never had a client who has regretted this decision.

1.) Engagement sessions are an opportunity for couples to get comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding day. Unless you’re a model, you and/or your partner may not be at ease in front of a professional photographer and camera and an engagement shoot will provide an chance for you two to warm up  and get used to the click of the camera.

2.) Engagement sessions are excellent for documenting your love story in normal clothes and everyday situations. Obviously the photos of you two in your wedding day attire will become instant heirlooms, but it’s also nice to have a variety of photos of this season.  I am sure at some point Erica will look back at her engagement photos and remember how much she loved this sweater and the winter leading up to her wedding.

3.) Having photos taken where you live will provide perfect documentation of what your life looks like now, when you got engaged, as you’re planning your wedding and where you will start your married life. Erica and Brian lived in this apartment in Boston for many years, but are now in a new home just south of the city, but I know for a fact that they look back on these photos with fondness and nostalgia for their first home together and their beloved city where they met, dated, fell in love and got married.

4.) Engagement sessions are an excellent opportunity to get better acquainted with your photographer, learn how they work, and what they need from you to create stunning images. This also gives you an opportunity to convey any dynamics or uncertainties you may have in your family or in front of the camera. This will give you all a greater sense of comfort and confidence going into your wedding day.

Photo Credit: Catherine Threlkeld Photography