The Benefits of an Engagement Session

Another huge reason I see couples forego their engagement session is their fear of the camera. Clearly you and your partner aren’t posing for photos all day, every day, and your wedding photographer shouldn’t expect that out of you. Some couples feel self-conscious and completely out of their element displaying affection in public, let alone in front of a practical stranger. Most of engagement photographers understand this and want to work their hardest to prove that being in front of the camera isn’t as scary as it seems. Sure, you might have to get all cuddled up in front of us- but by the end of that session you will most likely walk away feeling loved, appreciated and excited to see the results. When you think about it, an engagement session is a really good way to gauge how well you mesh with your photographers on a personal, and creative, level. Having the ability to collaborate before your wedding gives your photographer the opportunity to show you their skills in a more tangible setting. It also helps set the tone of your day, that way they’re able to arrive at your wedding ready to go and without any trepidation because they know how you two work as a couple. On top of engagement photos, you may want to consider the advantages of additional photography coverage on your wedding day. Most couples can name a family member, friend or mutual acquaintance that has something to do with photography. Often times their gift to you will be an engagement session and this is up to you to decide if you want to accept it, but don’t let that impede your hired wedding photographer’s chances of shooting with you before the wedding day. It’s awfully nice to gift a friend a session, but in situations like this there’s often no guarantee of what the results will look like. You don’t typically sign a contract, either- so if something were to go wrong, there’s nothing in place to legally protect you. There’s nothing wrong with accepting this as a gift, but keep in mind you hired your wedding photographer for a reason- their consistent portfolio, professionalism and the guarantee your photos and experience will be dependable from start, to finish.