Engagement sessions, why are they so important? (With pro tips on how to make the most out of them)

Thanks to “the gram”, TikTok and other social media platforms, engagement sessions have become increasingly popular over the years. Still, not every couple wants one, that is until I give them all the benefits that they have to offer. As a wedding photographer with over a decade of experience, I can promise you that your engagement session will not be just a trend, they will actually be incredibly important leading up to your big day. In this blog, I’ll explain why engagement sessions are so crucial and provide some pro tips on how to make the most out of them.

Building rapport 

Warming up to the elephant in the room.

Imagine a complete stranger who you’ve only exchanged a few e-mails with, coming to photograph one of the most important days of your life, naturally you will feel a little uncomfortable. Much of that will go away after an engagement session because you and your significant other will become comfortable in front of the camera. For many couples, having their photos taken can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if they’ve never had professional photos taken before. An engagement session will help alleviate this stress and make you feel more at ease on your wedding day, resulting in fewer awkward moments and stress, so the photographs can capture your authentic personalities and love for each other.

Every couple is unique

I know us wedding photographers are thought of as bada$s photo-taking machines” but we are actually human too and, like you, can benefit from engagement sessions.  By spending time with our couples during the session, we can get to know them better, learn about your unique personalities, interests, and preferences. This is particularly important during the wedding day, as it will allow your wedding photographer to flow with confidence because they will have a better understanding of who you are. After the session is complete, we can go over wedding day details and talk about the moments that are most important to you.

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Choosing the perfect spot

Let’s talk about some tips on how to make the most out of engagement sessions. I always recommend that the couple pick a spot that is meaningful to them, such as where they first met, got engaged, or just a place that they both love. Not only will this add a personal touch to the photos, but it will also make that spot much more special every time you guys go back to visit it, think a romantic nostalgic feeling. 

What to wear

Additionally, I like to encourage the couple to wear clothing that they feel comfortable and confident in. Please, if you can help it, choose colors that compliment each other, never matching. Avoid branded shirts with other companies logos because they will most definitely come off as tacky. If wearing shirts/pants with stripes, make sure they are vertical stripes, as those lines tend to slim you down as opposed to the horizontal stripe that stretch you out. Go for neutral colors, black and/or white is always great, avoid bright colors such as neon or red unless you are making a fashion statement.  It’s amazing how much more relaxed and confident someone can feel just because of what they choose to wear, and yes, that transfer over to the photographs.

Plan ahead

One of the most important pieces of advice that I can give to a couple is to plan their engagement sessions ahead. Together with your photographer, take the time to iron out all the details we’ve discussed, put it on paper and make sure everyone is on the same page (you can literally make sure everyone is on the same page with a shared Google doc, lol). By taking the time to plan ahead, not only will you make the most out of your session, you also won’t be stressed or rushed during your engagement shoot.

Enjoy the moment

Whatever you do, do not make this feel like homework! Engagement sessions are a great opportunity to spend quality time together and capture memories that will last a lifetime. If you’ve chosen the right photographer, this should feel just like an exciting date that you’ve waited a while for. Yeah, there will be a whole human prompting you and preserving that date with photographs, but that just adds to the experience, lol. As a photographer, it is highly important to me to create a chill and enjoyable atmosphere, so that the couple can simply be themselves and let their love shine through.

In conclusion

Engagement sessions can be an important part of your wedding journey. Here is a quick summary of all the benefits they offer:

-The couple gets to know their wedding photographer and posing style.

-The photographer familiarizes themselves with the couple and their personalities.

-Promotes a more relaxed and natural environment during the actual wedding day. 

-Memories and photographs that you get to keep forever.

So now you know the value of an engagement session and how you can make the most out of it, all while enjoying the process. Get in touch with me if you want a wedding photographer that will help you make the process of planning your engagement session, stress-free. I hope this blog is of use to you, best of luck! 

Oh yeah, if you want to know how to plan your dream wedding in 13 steps, check this out!