The Top 5 Reasons to Have an Engagement Session

One of the decisions you are going to be expected to make as you start planning your wedding is whether or not to have an engagement session, so we’re here to help you out by giving you 5 reasons why you should plan an engagement session.

We know you’ve got lots on your plate. You’re picking your date, deciding if your friend Samuel will be allowed to bring his partner du jour, going back and forth on colour schemes and settling on the rings you will wear for the rest of your life. We get it. It’s a lot. So we’re breaking it down to the Top 5 reasons you should have an engagement session to make it nice and easy for you to decide if this sounds like you or not.

Photography by Frances Beatty Photography

1. Get comfortable with your photographer -

You will be spending a truckload of time with your photographer on your wedding day, how weird and awkward would it be if you’re not comfortable with them. I heard local planner, Amanda Jerome, say once “you have to kiss in front of your photographer” as a way of explaining how comfortable you should be, and guess what? It’s true! Spending some time ahead of the wedding with your photographer is a great way to get to know each other better and also get comfortable with their shooting style. Each photographer is different and will approach things a unique way.

2. Get comfortable in front of the camera -

How many of you out there are professional models? Yah. Me neither. Having a big camera in your face is very different than you and/or your friends taking cell phone selfies together. It does take a bit of getting used to for most people. The best way to become relaxed in front of the camera is to have experience with it, to know what to expect from that part of the day.

3. Document yourselves as you are day-to-day -

Your wedding day is an incredibly important and special day to document, but let’s be honest… it’s hardly a realistic depiction of who you both are on a daily basis. Whether this is for you or for future generations, it’s a nice way to showcase who you are as a couple on a regular day.

4. Spend time some place you love -

We don’t always get married in the places that are really special to us. Sometimes you’re lucky enought to be getting married close enough that you can take photos in a place you love, but it tends to be rare. Whether it’s the first home you and your partner bought together, where you got engaged, where you had your first date, or just a place that you love a ton, it’s nice to incorporate locations that mean something to you.

5. Do your hair & make-up trial -

What better time to try out your hair and make-up than for your engagement session? That way you know how it looks and feels, but you’ll also be able to see what it looks like on camera. Often what looks like far too much is just right for the camera, and it’s comforting to know that ahead of time.

Bonus - Include your dog -

So many of my couples have puppies together and desperately want to include them on the wedding day. Sadly, due to logistics or rules at the venue, that’s not always possible. This way your pup can be part of your wedding story by being in your engagement photos. It’s also a great trial run to see if having your dog at the wedding is indeed the route you want to go. I’ve had a handful of clients change their minds about bringing their dogs to the wedding after they ran amok during the engagement shoot.