You're engaged! Yay! By now, the confetti has been thrown, the bubbly has been popped, your best friend has mapped out the bars you'll go to for your hen night or stag party, and now the first big questions arrive: "should we book an engagement shoot?” or “should we book an engagement shoot with our wedding photos as a package?" Decisions... decisions... Let's check out some reasons why it's a fabulous idea to book an engagement shoot:
(1) It's a good opportunity for you and your fiancé to "break the ice" and spend time with your photographer before your wedding day. This will allow you both to have an understanding of the photographer's shooting style and to feel more comfortable in front of their camera on your big day. It's also a great way to learn different posing techniques. (2) Your engagement photos can serve a very practical use. They can be printed on your Save the Dates, Wedding Website, Invitations, Thank You Cards, and/or Guest Book. Personalizing these items can make the whole wedding experience a bit more fun for everyone! Your engagement photos also make for great gifts to family or friends.
(3) Your engagement photos can be sent out to your local newspaper or school alumni magazine to announce your good news! (4) The time right after you've become engaged is special; full of hope, love, and ideas for the future! Use this time to capture these new and happy emotions! Although these same ecstatic feelings will be photographed on your wedding day - that day will move very quick! The engagement session is when you and your fiancé can really soak it all in!
(5) Last but not least: it's a fun activity to do with your honey! Along with receiving the engagement photos, you'll be able to "check off" another little adventure with your fiancé. You'll want the backdrop for your pictures to look awesome, which gives you a good excuse to plan a trip to a fun new spot! Many times my clients tell me, "if it wasn't for this shoot, we may not have visited this exact beach" or "fort" or "park". Particularly if you're visiting from away, an engagement shoot can be a great way to explore a beautiful place with a photographer who knows the area well! Regardless of whether or not you're going to book an engagement shoot separate from your wedding photo package, there are lots of good reasons to have engagement photos taken!
A special "shout out" to Anna & Thomas; the lovely couple seen in the photos! These two flew down to Bermuda to plan their June 2018 wedding at the Fairmont Southampton. Between meetings with their event planner and hangout sessions with friends, Anna and Thomas met up with me for a sunrise engagement shoot at Horseshoe Bay Beach. From Horseshoe, we went to Gibbs Lighthouse, and ended our "photo tour" at Jobson's Cove! I'm looking forward to shooting their wedding next year!
