Six reasons to have an engagement shoot
I love it when couples choose to have an engagement shoot. Obviously I love to take photos so this is another opportunity to find a great location and get snapping. However often couples feel it’s not for them. And that’s totally fine. But if you are undecided whether to invest the time and money, here are six reasons which might convince you otherwise.
1. BETTER ACQUAINTED
In my opinion this is the one of the primary reasons to have an engagement shoot. If we’re relaxed around one another this results in better images on the day. You get the benefit of feeling more comfortable with someone who is an integral part of your wedding. It really can make a difference to have spent a bit of time together before your special day. It can start to feel like another friend is present and trust me, that has impact.
2. LESS OF THE AWKWARD
Equally important as above (and very much connected) is the more you feel relaxed with your photographer the less awkward you will feel about their camera. I hear ALL the time how people do not like having their photo taken. I get it. It’s why I am behind the camera! But once you find someone who is focussed on how you feel rather than ‘a look’ I can’t tell you how much this will be reflected in your photos. The end result will feel like ‘you’ not something the photographer wants you to look like. And voila, the awkwardness will have disappeared.
3. creative and relaxed
During a pre wedding shoot there are no timelines, no schedule, no wedding party and a million distractions. This means we can take our time and be more relaxed. It makes sense so on your day you will have experienced that process and won’t feel stressed or worried about what’s to come.
4. understand ‘posing’
During an engagement shoot you will learn how your photographer works with your vibe and how to pose. But I use that word tentatively – a good photographer won’t put you in a pose while you awkwardly kiss and they try and find the right angle. A lot of ‘posing’ is more instruction about interacting with each other. Then natural reactions happen and bam, a more realistic, authentic set of images.
5. tell your whole story
Yes of course it’s imperative you document your big day on camera and have some awesome couple shots. However your wedding day is one part of your story. To choose your own clothes and a setting which is special to you – perhaps where you spend your free time such as walking the dog in the woods, strolling through a city, by the sea, in the countryside, coffee shops – it’s all possible and it will give you a very different set of images to the ones you’ll get from your big day.
6. beautiful set of images
Finally some shots of the two of you which aren’t selfies off your mobile phone. You can’t beat having some professional couple shots. They should be photographs you actually want to print off and frame and they will be pics you will always treasure. Depending on the timing of your engagement shoot, many couples have used their engagement shoot photos to use at their wedding or even before for invites. They can also be used for photo boards, wedding related stationary or as table place names in the form of polaroids.
Fancy getting in touch? Fill out my contact form here and we can take it from there. x
So that’s it! Six reasons to have an engagement shoot… are you convinced?! Get in touch if so. x