February 22, 2019

Why You Need to Do an Engagement Session with Your Wedding Photographer

As a wedding photographer, it’s super important for me to love my clients the best I possibly can. One of the ways I show this love is through a COMPLIMENTARY ENGAGEMENT SESSION that I gift to every couple that books me for their wedding. I absolutely ADORE engagement sessions for dozens of reasons, but the main reason is that I really get to know my couples while we’re on a great adventure somewhere out in the world that has personal meaning to them. We can go to the place where you met, where you had your first date, where you plan to be married, or just a place you’ve always wanted to go! Still not convinced you need an engagement session? Here are 4 reasons why you need to do an engagement session with your wedding photographer.

1. We get to know each other!

On your wedding day, you spend more time with your photographer than with your spouse. It’s crazy to think about, but it’s true! If you spend 8 hours with someone on the most important day of your life, you don’t want it to be a complete stranger! I use my engagement sessions to get to know my couples, so when I arrive on their wedding day we’re already friends, a few inside jokes included! I’ve had real friendships sprout from my couples because we’ve gotten to know each other so well along the process, and a huge part of this is because of the engagement session!

We get to know each other better when I get to photograph your engagement session

2. It’s practice for your wedding day!

The only way to get comfortable in front of the camera is to practice! During every session, I make it my priority to have my clients be as comfortable as possible and to make sure they have fun throughout the session. However, this is never immediate – it takes time and effort on all our parts. Engagement sessions give you a chance to practice bring in front of the camera before the big day – trust me, you’ll thank your future self for the rehearsal! This is also the best time to figure out what your best poses and prompts are.

Every couple is different, and the engagement session is the time for the photographer to figure that out. Some couples are most comfortable when they’re moving around, while others like to be posed down to the fingertips. This is when the photographer can figure out how to best make you look good on your wedding day, and for you to figure out how your photographer works! Just like every couple has a different poses that work best for them, every photographer has a different posing or prompting system that they use. Instead of trying to figure this all out on the wedding day, the engagement session is the best time to learn each other’s styles so you can be in the same wavelength when it’s important.

An engagement session is great practice for your wedding day

3. There are so many ways to use your photos!

When you do an engagement session, you get an entire gallery for you to use in every way you can! Use those photos for save the dates and wedding invitations that are fridge-worthy for all your friends and family. Print and frame your photos to decorate your wedding venue so all your guests can see the beautiful photos of you two before the ceremony or during the reception. Then take them home and decorate your house with them, or send them to your parents as thank yous.

Post those photos EVERYWHERE online to show your excitement for the wedding! Change your profile picture to alert everyone you’re engaged, post weekly photos on Instagram as a count down to your wedding, and post a gallery to Facebook so your mother can share it with all her coworkers. Also, it allows your photographer to post all about you on their website and social media. We’re super excited for the big day too!

There are so many ways to use the photos from your engagement session

4. This is a time that’s only going to happen once – make the most out of it!

The season of engagement is arguably one of the happiest times of your life. Everything is painted with excitement and a permanent smile is plastered on your face (even during the most painful parts of planning). Despite this, it goes by so fast. A year-long engagement can feel like a week. Use this engagement session to savor the moment and enjoy each other.

Celebrate your love in a place that means a lot to you – or a super cool location that you’ve always wanted to go to. Plan to turn it into a date night or a weekend getaway. Pause the wedding planning for 48 hours and go on an adventure with the love of your life (and bring your photographer along for an hour or two to capture the memories).

You can only get engagement photos once! (Or many times if you love it that much!)

I’d hate for you to miss out on all these benefits, so I give a complimentary engagement session to EVERY couple that books me for their wedding. Because of all these amazing reasons, I don’t allow the engagement session to be swapped out for extra hours of coverage or rehearsal dinner coverage. Have questions, or still aren’t hooked on the idea of an engagement session? I’d love to talk! Email me at sydney@dmvpix.com and let’s get started!

Want to see some examples of engagement sessions with me? Check out Rachel and Ryan in Downtown Harrisonburg, Sawyer and Alex in Skyline Drive, and Maddie and Steven at Burke Lake!

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