There are many reasons it is important to take engagement photos once you have become engaged.  An engagement photo session is without a doubt one of the greatest services you and your fiancé can take advantage of prior to your wedding. As a couple who likely has never been photographed professionally before, the engagement session is a valuable tool every couple should utilize or insist upon.  Some couples may feel it’s a waste of time or is not necessary; however there are many valuable reasons why you will benefit from utilizing this opportunity.

Establishing a relationship with your photographer long before your wedding will make a difference in the outcome of your wedding images.

The benefit for you is, your images will mean more to you than if your photographer took you to the park and snapped a few pictures. You might also feel more at ease in an environment you are familiar with. The other benefit is you get to know your photographer and see how he or she works and you will get to see images of yourselves long before the wedding.

The advantage of this is that you can let your photographer know ahead of time if there are shots or angles you do not care for, also you can let your photographer know the things that you do like, communication is key.

Another thing you might want to think of doing is having your hair and makeup test done on the same day as your engagement session. This way you get to see how your hair and make look in photos and you can let your hair and makeup people know if there is anything you would like to change.

I can promise you once you see your engagement images and you are excited about them, you will have more confidence in yourselves and in your photographer. On the wedding day you will look forward to having your picture taken, instead of dreading the thought of having a camera pointed at you all day.

Once you have your engagement images there are many things you can do with them. They can be given, as gifts to the family, parents especially always appreciate photographs of their children. You can make a small album or a coffee table box for yourselves, or maybe order some sort of wall collage or portrait to hang on the wall in your home. Some couples would rather have an engagement image on their wall instead of one in their wedding attire, however some do both. We all have individual tastes so there is no right or wrong.

You can send an engagement picture to your hometown newspaper to announce your marriage. This is usually important to your parents. They may be used in your wedding program, invitation, or in a save-the-date card.

If you do choose to self publish your engagement images, make sure to get permission from your photographer. The images rights belong to the photographer, you might even have to compensate him or her for the usage.  Depending on how you intend to use them, most photographers will let you publish as long as you just ask and give them a credit.

Whatever you choose to do, I encourage you to get creative, go out with your photographer, have some fun and create some art. In the end you are the ones who win.  On the wedding day there are lots to think about.  Knowing and liking your vendors, especially the photographer, is significant in the success of your wedding and will help keep you focused on the real reason you are having a wedding in the first place, each other.


The Wedding Channel