The Real Reason We Recommend Taking Engagement Photos

Maybe you're camera shy or feel like engagement photos are an unnecessary waste of time. But the truth is, we always recommend having an engagement session with a professional photographer once you make it official—in fact, we think it's immeasurably important. Here's why. 

This is your biggest opportunity to become comfortable in front of the camera.

Odds are, neither you nor your partner are professional models for a living. (But if you are, you'll be just fine.) That's why it's important to get a "test run" before your wedding day where the photos will likely feel more significant. Not everyone feels natural posing in front of a professional photographer—especially when it comes to taking candid or romantic shots with your partner—and an engagement session should feel, in part, like practice. By having an engagement session, you'll learn how to relax, feel at ease and even look less tense and awkward in your real wedding photos. That's pretty important. 

You'll get to know your photographer. 

Going off of that, establishing a relationship with your photographer before your wedding will make a difference in the outcome of your wedding photos. Spend about an hour or two getting to know your pro, listening to them, having fun with them, and then get photographed. They'll take note of how you interact with each other, your individual personalities and even your quirks. These details will help them capture moments on the wedding day that are unique to just the two of you. Also, we recommend taking engagement pics sooner rather than later so you're not stressing to get them done when you're in full-on wedding planning mode.