Engagements are some of my all time favorite sessions to photograph. There are quite a few reasons engagement photos are important to capture and today I’m listing five major ones below!
Why I Love Photographing Engagement Sessions
There’s nothing more beautiful than the pure joy an excitement my couples feel after just getting engaged and announcing the news to their friends and family. During these sessions you’re still riding that “just engaged!” high and it shows. I honestly think these photos are cherished just as much as wedding day photos.
After all, it’s just the two of you basking in the newness of your engagement session (while I hype you up and capture some fun photos on the sidelines!) Here’s why I recommend prioritizing these photos and all the places you’ll end up sharing your session!
Read More: Your Guide to Fall Engagement Photos
Engagement Photos Document A Major Milestone
Getting married is the most important decision you’ll ever make! Just like you would take graduation photos or headshots for a new job, engagement photos are important to capture to document one of your biggest life updates! These aren’t just photos for a moment in time—these are heirloom pieces that will be passed down, giving future generations a beautiful piece of your story and family legacy.
You’ll Use Them To Announce Your Engagement
Sharing your big news is so much more fun and * dramatic * when it’s done with professional engagement photography. Whether you’re printing physical engagement announcements to mail or simply posting to social media, getting professional engagement photos taken by your wedding photographer gives friends and loved ones a peek at how both of your personalities will come together.
You Can Practice Being Behind The Camera
For many couples, an engagement photo session is the first time you’ll have professional photos taken together. Many people aren’t naturally comfortable in front of the camera (although, one of my best traits is making anyone laugh in an uncomfortable situation!) so it’s really important to get the jitters out before your wedding day. You can practice posing without an audience and see what feels natural in the comfort of this intimate setting!
Read More: The Top 10 Best Outdoor Engagement Photoshoot Locations In PA
You Can Recreate Photos On Your Wedding Day
Another reason engagement photos are important to capture is for the purpose of recreating the moment. I love when couples pick out a few photos or poses from their engagement session to recreate on their wedding day! This is such a fun way to see how far you’ve come, how you’ve glowed up from then to now, and how much more relaxed you look behind the camera (because been there, done that!).
Even better? Finding poses from your parents’ or grandparents’ engagement photos and using them to inspire your own session. This is such a special way to include your family in the moment even when they’re not present.
You Get The Chance to Meet Your Wedding Photographer
This is my favorite, and arguably the most important, item on this list. While I always “meet” my couples via a video call (or several!) during the planning process, meeting up to take engagement photos give us the chance to really get to know each other.
Many times when I do golden hour engagement sessions I’ll take my couples to dinner or drinks after their session so we can chat, laugh, and get to know each other! I treat all my couples like close friends and family; it’s so special to me when we can have more than just a working relationship.
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Where To Use Your Engagement Photos
Here’s a bonus reason why I think engagement photos are important to capture: You end up using them more than you think. Some ways my couples use their engagement photos are:
- On their Save The Date cards
- Framed at engagement party
- Displayed at the rehearsal dinner
- Displayed at the wedding
- On your wedding website
- For Christmas and holiday greeting cards
- Framed in their homes
- Gifted to parents and grandparents
- In their wedding albums
- In a coffee table book
Engagement photos are more than just a “nice to have” piece of the wedding planning process. They are a special keepsake you’ll look back on for years to come!
If you’re ready to book your luxury East Coast and Philadelphia wedding photography, simply send me a wedding photo inquiry here! I would be so honored to capture your engagement and your big day!
More Featured Engagement Sessions on The Blog
- Vintage Taxi Cab Engagement Photos in NYC
- Elegant Engagement Session at the New York Public Library
- Hollywood Glam Fall Engagement Session in the West Village NYC
- Cherry Blossom Engagement Photos at Central Park in NYC
