It’s that time of the year again! If you got engaged over this holiday season, you probably have a lot of things running through your mind right now. You might be wondering where to start with all of the wedding planning. And you might wonder whether or not you should plan an engagement session. I’m here to help you out! I’m a wedding and engagement photographer in Sacramento, California and I’ve taken engagement photos for hundreds of couples! Couples are always telling me how happy they are they decided to take engagement photos. Here are a few reasons you should definitely have an engagement session:

5:  You’ll have photos for your Save the Dates, Invitations, the wedding website, and to share on the wedding day.

There’s no shortage of things you will need photos for in the upcoming months. When it comes time to send out Save the Dates, having professional photos will make it easy to find images you love and look great on paper! Some couples also use their photos on their wedding invitations. If you’re creating a wedding website, you’ll be able to showcase some of your engagement photos for all of your guests to see. You can also display your engagement photos on your wedding day and, of course, on social media!

4:  It’s a great excuse to use your bridal makeup trial!

If you’ve booked your makeup artist and have a makeup trial, your engagement session will be the perfect excuse to use it! I always recommend planning your makeup trial and your engagement session for the same day. You’ll get a good idea of how your makeup will look on your wedding day and be able to take some great photos at the same time. Then you won’t be stressed about doing your makeup for your session and you’ll see how your makeup will look in photos. 

3:  You’ll be able to get comfortable in front of the camera and learn how different poses and angles turn out.

Some couples haven’t had photos taken by a professional since taking family photos as a kid or since their graduation. When you book an engagement session, it will help you to become more comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day. Most couples go into their session at least a little bit nervous, but by the end of it, they are almost always having a great time! An experienced photographer knows how to help you feel more natural while getting your photo taken. You can think of your engagement as a practice run to help you feel less nervous in front of the camera on your wedding day,

2:  You create a relationship with your photographer.

Another thing I highly recommend is checking with your wedding photographer to see if they offer engagement sessions as well. When you book both your engagement session and wedding with the same photographer, you’ll be able to create a relationship with them. The better your photographer knows the two of you, the easier it will be to capture meaningful images on your wedding day. And when you get more comfortable with your photographer, you’ll feel less nervous around them. That makes it so much easier to document your genuine love for each other!

1:  You get to make the most of an incredibly special time and celebrate your engagement!

Finally, choosing to have an engagement session is super fun! Your engagement will go by so quickly. There is a lot of planning going on and some stress comes with it. However, it’s important to celebrate this unique time in your life, and choosing to have an engagement session is one way you can do that. Trust me when I say you won’t regret having beautiful images of this special time. You can even turn your engagement session into a whole day event by planning a date. Then you’ll get to enjoy some bonding time with your fiance and make the most of your engagement!

So you want to have an engagement session. What’s next?

If you decide that you’re going to plan an engagement session, what should you do next? First, you’ll need to find the right photographer! You can either book your engagement session with the photographer who will be shooting your wedding or with another local photographer you love. You can also look into a destination engagement session if you’re the adventurous type! Reach out to the photographer about their availability and get your session in their books. Then, you can start planning your outfits and locations with the help of your photographer. If you’re going to use your makeup trial, don’t forget to schedule that in advance! Then, show up to your session and try to enjoy yourselves as much as possible!

Are you planning an engagement session in the Sacramento area? Contact me today!