Engagement photo shoots: are they worth it?
Start Your Wedding Story with an Engagement Photo Shoot
Engagement photo shoots are really popular these days. It’s a lovely way to start your wedding day story. It can also calm any nerves that you have about posing for the photographs on your big day. A lot of people haven’t had their portrait taken professionally before, so it can seem quite daunting and you don’t want to feel daunted on your wedding day.
Some photographers will have a studio where they will take your photographs but I work on location. I find this helps with the nerves, as a studio situation is quite alien whereas strolling through a park taking a few snaps seems more natural. You could choose somewhere, which is special to you both. You could even meet at your venue to get a really good idea of which photos you’d like to have from your wedding day.
Once you’ve agreed with your photographer where you would like to have your Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot, decide on clothing. I always advise choosing one or two co-ordinating colours so you don’t clash with each other. Also consider your location. Don’t wear dressy clothes if you’re going to the beach, as it would look out of place. If it’s going to be cold then wear a coat or snuggly jumper because if you’re too cold it will come across on the photos. Above all, something that you’re comfortable in.
An engagement photo shoot can be a chance to have some fun. If the forecast looks like rain – and the photographer is happy to go ahead – why not turn up in bright wellies and an umbrella? One of my couples was up for this but on the day it was lovely and sunny. I was a teeny bit disappointed – wellies would have been fun.
Apart from starting the wedding story and relaxing you in front of the camera, it’s also a good way to cement your relationship with your photographer. You’ll get to know how they work, how they pose you and what to expect on the big day. You also have the time to give them more idea of the kind of photographs you’d like for your wedding day.
A few of my couples use the engagement photo shoot to have a photograph put into their signing frame for the wedding day. It has a wide mount so your guests can sign it and leave their best wishes. You can see an example of a before and after signing frame in this blog post Newton Hall Wedding. It’s nicer to have a photo in it rather than a hole in the mount! One couple even put a framed photo from their engagement photo shoot on the table where they signed the register.
So just relax, have fun and enjoy yourselves with your engagement pictures!
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Love the idea of the mounted photo for guests to sign around instead of a guest book. We have created them before for couples where we have used a storyboard of their lives – how they met etc but a photo is a great idea, especially if it is of the quality you have shown here.
Thank you Sarah. The signing frame is a lovely memento of the couple’s day. I love seeing the comments that the guests put on.
Gillian x
Really good point about cementing your relationship with your photographer. I think that makes the photos on the day a lot better especially where people aren’t that comfortable about being photographed all day.
Thanks Nathan. The couple have to get on with their photographer as they will be there for a lot of the day.
Gillian