the engagement session

A good amount of clients these days are foregoing an engagement session, and everyone has their own reasons whether it be financial, they don't feel the need, their wedding portraits will suffice, they don't have the time, or they live out of town . . . but for those that want one, here is some good information, feedback and thoughts on the shoot for y'all on this lovely Wednesday!

1. To the photographer, the most important reason to have an engagement shoot is for the opportunity to work together prior to your wedding day. It gives me a sense of how my couples are in front of the camera, and makes me all the more prepared on your wedding day with direction, prompt, or having the knowledge that you two are relaxed, flirtatious, and create a more candid feel to your portraits.

2. To the client, I think it is a fabulous start to your wedding adventure! It is quite different to have a few dozen photographs of the couple in their everyday clothes, whether casual or dressed up, than it is to have your actual wedding photographs in traditional wedding attire. Enjoy having these two different sets of photographs that document you in the blissful engaged stage, as well as the incredible day of your wedding.

3. Casual or dressed up? Both, please! I encourage my clients to bring a change of clothes and nothing makes me happier than an excited bride-to-be wearing a fabulous dress and beautiful heels for this part of the shoot. :) Celebrate being a woman and enjoy! There is something magical that a pair of heels can do for us, isn't there?

4. An engagement photo is perfect to customize your Save-the-Dates if you choose to send those along to your guests!

5. Engagement photos can be incorporated into your wedding style and decor whether it be an engagement photo guest book, a canvas print, or displayed in beautiful frames. Everyone loves to look at pictures, right? :)

6. I love, love, love to watch my couples interact with one another during these shoots because it just makes my heart so happy to see two people in love, and making this commitment . . . what a better way to start off the celebration than to spend an hour or two kissing, canoodling, laughing, hugging and running around together with big, beautiful smiles?

Here is one of my favorite photographs from a beautiful couple I photographed over the weekend . . . stay tuned for the full blog post on this shoot, as well as details and photos of an engagement album that will be offered to all of my past and future couples!