Why your photographer wants you to have an engagement session

A few months ago, I wrote a post about WHY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS ROCK AND WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK ONE.

But there is another side to the story. Your photographer NEEDS you to book an engagement session as well. Want to know why? Well then, keep reading.

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ITS A CHANCE FOR US TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER

And I mean really get to know one another!

Of course I want to hear all about the 15 different shades of champagne you are choosing from for your linens. And I adore hearing about how you and your fiancé met. I want to know about you husbands grandmas sister who can’t help but pinch everyones cheeks and the crazy second cousin on your dads side who may or may not be dancing on the table by the end of the night. Bridesmaid dresses, bachelorette party plans, and cake tastings (which I am happy to be the tie-breaking opinion on. Seriously, just tell me when and where to show up!) are all extremely exciting to me! I love weddings and everything that goes with them!

But what is even more exciting to me, is YOU! I want to know who YOU are. Not just about your wedding. I want to know about where you went to college and what you want to be when you grow up. I want to share in your dreams of touring Europe and reminisce about playing Dream Phone with your girl friends at your sleep over. Heck, I even want to hear about your fiancé’s favorite sports team and what his favorite meal is that you cook.

I could go on and on, but the point is, I want to know about you. This is the best, most reliable way for me to get honest, emotional photos on your wedding day. I don’t want to be a stranger to you on the most important day of your life! I want to show up and give you a hug like old pals and toast you with a mimosa before heading down the aisle.

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IT LETS ME KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE

Let’s be real here. Posing with someone else for photos is awkward. Like, super awkward. And then your photographer goes and tells you to do crazy things, like look down at the ground. Smile. Don’t smile. Pretend you are smelling her ear. (Yes, I really do use that one.)

We try a lot of different things at your engagement session. Some of them you will like, and some you won’t. Maybe you will realize that you hate how your smile looks on camera and you prefer the non smiling photos. Maybe you are self conscious about your chin, ~~or the fact that your ears look like Dumbo.~~ Whoops, sorry. That’s just me.

And then you realize you love the photos with his hand in yours. And you are crazy for the ones where you are both laughing like crazy after I asked him to smell your ear. But your absolute favorite is the natural expression on your face when you are looking at each other.

Going through your engagement photos and picking out what you like and don’t like is huge! It really does help make everyone, including myself, more comfortable on your wedding day.

Disclaimer: Even if you don’t book an engagement session or if other circumstances keep you from scheduling one, don’t worry. I work very hard to make you look your best in your photos and you will still absolutely love them!

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FOCUSES ON WHATS IMPORTANT

We can get so wrapped up in our wedding planning that we lose sight about why we are here; why we are studying 38 different shades of champagne.

The reality is, all of this started with two people. One of you asked the other to spend the rest of your lives together, and the answer was a resounding YES! The wedding is there to declare this intent in front of your family and friends and to throw them a really awesome kick butt party for always being there for you.

Engagement photos pull everything back to where it started. You and him. Together. Just the two of you (and an obnoxious girl in your face with a camera)

Your engagement photos are a great way for you to spend some time together. Make a date night of it. Grab some dinner afterwards and then maybe a few drinks. Talk about anything but the wedding. Enjoy a stress free evening when everything else is consumed by wedding plans, appointment, and tying 800 tiny little ribbons onto those adorable wedding favors you spent hours researching.

Okay, so maybe I am cheating. Reason #3 really isn’t as much for me as it is for you. Sure, I can argue that having a relaxed bride and groom who are completely in the moment can do wonders for your wedding photos (and it totally does!) But having your entire being focus on what the day is truly about means the most to me. Who cares that you ultimately chose the wrong shade of champagne-even after you agonized over all 435 colors, what matters is that you just promised to spend the rest of your life with the one other person who makes your heart skip a beat, whose hand fits perfectly in yours and whose shoulder is perfectly designed for you to lay your head at the end of the day.