Why Engagement Sessions are Important
10 reasons why we think engagement photo sessions or ‘pre-wedding sessions’ are important for couples before their wedding day.
What is an engagement session? Why are engagement sessions a ‘thing’? What purpose does an engagement session serve? I’m super awkward in front of the camera, why would I want one if I’m just about to get a bunch of pictures on my wedding day anyway? Aren’t engagement sessions super cheesy?
Some of these questions (or even a whole lot more!) have probably gone through your head at some point during your proposal/engagement/wedding planning process. Well, we’re here to help you answer some of those questions and maybe even give you a few handy engagement session hints and tips too :)
An engagement photo session is important for a number of reasons, one or all of the below reasons might resonate with who the two of you are as a couple. Whatever reason you choose to have an engagement session, we can promise you won’t regret it!
So here it is -
10 reasons why engagement sessions are important by Ink Photography
Hint: It’s about so much more than pretty pictures!
Why Engagement Sessions Are Important: Reason #1
To celebrate.
You said yes. They said yes. It’s totally happening! Let’s celebrate that!
Anyone who has planned a wedding or elopement will tell you that it can be stressful at times. You suddenly have to make a bunch a decisions, more than you really thought were possible! But choosing to have an engagement photo session is an easy one. It is an opportunity to take time, before all the craziness kicks in, to just celebrate and have fun together without any pressure.
Engagement sessions are there to celebrate the anticipation. Celebrate the Yes. Be super excited nerds about the wedding. Enjoy and revel in the moment of real ‘Holy sh*t, this is it’ love.
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #2
Adventure with your favourite adventure buddy.
(We’re just going to go ahead and assume that’s the person you’ve decided to marry ;) Hope that’s A-OK! )
Whatever adventure means to you. Having engagement photos is an opportunity for you and your favourite human to pick whatever adventure you feel like doing to celebrate together. You want to take your dog for a walk in the woods? You want to take a helicopter and land on an ancient glacier? You want to lay down a blanket and have an al fresco snack beside your favourite lake? You want to pop a bottle of Champagne on the top of a mountain? You want to hike to a knock your socks off view and finish with a beer at a local craft brewery? Let your mind wander.
It’s called Beautiful BC for a reason, right? Engagement sessions in the Sea to Sky are so much more than just a walk in the park. There are tons places you can take this, from simple and super accessible to outright crazy (bungee jumping anyone?) and we’re here to help with all the ideas and scouting. It’s creating a wonderful memory in of itself … that just happens to be photographed by awesome photographers ;).
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #3
Ease those pesky nerves.
The majority of people get nervous in front of the camera, you are not alone. Do you want all those nerves to be at their highest when you are also just about to say your vows? Having an engagement session gives you the opportunity to get used to being in front of the camera. It allows you the time to feel those nerves and then slowly begin to relax and ease into it. All when there’s no pressure and no expectations and you’re not the centre of attention.
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #4
Get comfortable with your photographer.
Your photographer/s are going to be there during some pretty intimate moments during your wedding or elopement, you might want to check you actually like hanging out with them!
Engagement sessions also give your photographer a chance figure out what works best for you. Are you the quieter and more subtle type? Are you the laughing and joking type? What style is going to get the your best and truest side as a couple?
This way you’ll be more familiar with your photo team and feel way more relaxed and comfortable when it matters most.
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #5
Get used to seeing yourself in pictures.
We occasionally see ourselves in selfies, but a lot of people avoid having photos all together (you can read more about how we have experienced challenges in this area ourselves HERE). Getting comfortable looking at photos of yourself is important because it’s so easy for some of us to pick ourselves apart and focus on what we think are our negative attributes.
After your engagement photos arrive take time to look at how much your love shines, how beautiful your connection is and what a stunning human your partner believes you to be. It’ll mean take away any fears or nervousness for when your wedding/elopement photos are delivered.
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #6
Play, have fun, see what works for you.
Having engagement photos helps you figure what works for you. It allows you to figure out what you do and don’t like, resulting in more photos that you love at the wedding.
It allows you to play with different directions, explore ways of being together and this all gives you the confidence to relax and go with the flow as your wedding day is being documented.
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #7
Save the date and wedding website pics.
This one isn’t for everybody but if you are going down the save the date card and wedding website route (not all couples do and thats totally cool!) engagement sessions can get you the type of beautiful photos that you’ll feel stoked using for these cards and webpage.
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #8
Gorgeous photos … that aren’t in your wedding clothes!
Engagement photos are a chance to get some rad photos of yourselves that aren’t all in your wedding attire …or just a selfie! Having gorgeous photos in your wedding clothes is obviously wonderful but having some photos outside of that is meaningful too.
Photos of you guys doing something you love together and being cute together and just hanging out. More relaxed, natural and totally you.
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #9
Location, location, location.
An engagement session can be an opportunity to revisit a location that has meaning to the two of you. Your first hike together, first date, first kiss, where they proposed?
Or do you want to use a location that you love, that has epic views or you’ve always wanted to visit, but for accessibility or timing reasons you can’t use it on your wedding day. Let’s go!
Or maybe you want to use the session as a scouting mission to suss out new locations for a first look or ceremony site if you don’t have your day planned out yet. They’re all awesome reasons to have an engagement session.
Why Engagement Sessions are Important: Reason #10
Ultimately engagement sessions are important because it will help you see how blooming gorgeous you already are, how incredibly beautiful your connection with each other is and fill you with confidence for your wedding day.
You’ve got this!
So there it is; 10 reason why engagement sessions are important, which reasons resonate most for you? We could chat about this all day so please feel free to Contact Us if you have any questions or are stoked to book in your engagement session with us!