As you plan your wedding, you may wonder whether you should or should not book an engagement session with your wedding photographer. Some couples love the idea of capturing their engagement moments; others wonder if it’s really necessary. After all, your wedding day will provide you with plenty of opportunities for beautiful photos, so is an engagement session worth the time and cost?

TL;DR: If you identify with the following statements, you should probably book an engagement session:

I feel apprehensive or nervous about having my photo taken.
I want my wedding photos to feel and look as comfortable as possible.
I want to trust my wedding photographer to take images that I love.

Get Comfortable in Front of the Camera

If you have any apprehensions about getting your photo taken, you should probably do an engagement session! For many couples, engagement sessions are the first time they’ll have a professional photographer capture their moments together. It’s normal to feel nervous and awkward at first, and these sessions are the perfect opportunity to warm up to the camera and not be afraid of it on the day of your wedding. 100% of my couples leave an engagement session feeling assured and excited about their wedding photos.

Build a Relationship With Your Wedding Photographer

Engagement sessions are a great opportunity to get to know your wedding photographer, and vice versa. As you take direction and improve your communication with your photographer, they are able to better understand your dynamic as a couple and provide guidance toward wedding photos that feel comfortable and authentic. These sessions allow you to build a rapport with your photographer and get a sense of their style, direction, and personality. Your wedding photographer will be with you and around you for the majority of your wedding day, and it’s important that you feel comfortable around them and trust them!

Engagement Galleries and their Endless Opportunities

Ultimately, at the end of your session, you’ll receive a beautiful gallery of images commemorating your time as an engaged couple. There are many ways you can display and share these personalized images! Whether you print them for your home, use them as save-the-dates, on a wedding website, or as decor for your wedding day, there are lots of ways to show off your photos.

Enhance Your Wedding Photos

You will love your wedding photos even more after your 'practice run.' Once you’ve had an opportunity to review your engagement gallery and identify poses, locations, and lighting that you prefer, you’ll know what to adjust for your wedding photos. Your photos can only reflect the comfort you feel—if you feel uncomfortable, your photos will reflect that.