Congratulations, you’re engaged!
– But now what?
Sure, go on and tell your friends & families, share the very first moments of your engagement on your Instagrams, and just enjoy floating above the clouds in love, joy, and happiness.
Go on your first date as an engaged couple, throw an engagement party, and just forget about the world for a few days of pure bliss. After they’re done with all that and are ready to ‘get back down to planet Earth’, some couples decide that the next logical step is to dive headfirst into the wedding planning rabbit hole.
Venue – check.
Caterer – check.
Band or DJ – check.
But wait a minute, aren’t you forgetting something?
– Like… your engagement photoshoot? Hello??
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: “An engagement photoshoot? But why? Isn’t that just an extra expense we could do without?”
Well, at first glance: kind of. I mean, some couples actually do seem to manage just fine without an engagement photoshoot. But if you look close enough, you might realize that these are usually the very same couples who end up stressed, burnt out, and exhausted just a few days before their wedding days.
Now, that doesn’t sound like a good way to approach YOUR wedding, does it?
So, as a wedding photographer from Melbourne, I’m here to let you in on a little secret about why getting an engagement photoshoot is probably one of the smartest wedding planning decisions you can make. I’ll also show you how it can save you not only A LOT of time, money, and effort down the line – but also save you from disappointments, regrets, and doubts.
But first…
Why most people want engagement photoshoots
When it comes to engagement photoshoots, some people are just like: “hell yeah, let’s do this!” – without even thinking about it. Now, those are my kind of people – but with good reason. I mean, just think about it…
You can tailor them to reflect your personalities and your love story. You can get beautiful professional photographs that reflect who you are as a couple. Are you two total foodies? How about a cozy cafe shoot with lattes and laughter? Or maybe you’re the adventurous type? Why not hike up to that breathtaking view to snap some epic mountain-top pics?
Or maybe you’re a pet person (and you really – REALLY – love your fur babies), but don’t want to put them through the hassle of your wedding (or maybe your venue doesn’t allow pets). Well, anything is allowed at your engagement photoshoot – and it’s a lot less stressful for your furry family members too!
The possibilities are truly endless, and they’re all yours. And you’ll have tons of fun in the process, too!
I mean, an engagement shot is an adventure – a special date – with your best friend where you can laugh, kiss, and just be silly together. And your photographer will capture all those genuine moments of joy & tenderness that happen in between the posed shots. These will often be the photos you’ll cherish most…
Now, the best thing about these beautiful photographs is that you can share them with your loved ones almost immediately. Sure, you can send them to grandma or post them on Instagram too. But they can also be used for save-the-dates, invitations, or even a lovely guestbook at your wedding. The possibilities are truly endless here!
And years from now, when you’re both sitting on your porch, sipping on some iced tea (or a glass of wine, I don’t judge), you’ll want to look back at your young, in-love selves and remember the time before the official “I dos”. Your engagement period is a unique and fleeting moment in your relationship, and capturing it with professional photos is like bottling up a bit of that pre-wedding magic.
So, it’s safe to say that an engagement photoshoot adds depth and color to the tapestry of your love story. It captures the raw emotion and excitement of this special time – a time where everything seems possible, and every moment feels like it’s drenched in golden-hour light.
But that’s just one side of why you need an engagement session…
The most important thing about engagement photoshoots
An engagement shoot gives you a chance to work with your wedding photographer before the main event. It’s like a first date without the awkward “who’s gonna pay” dance at the end of the night. It’s important that you jive with your photographer, and what better way to test the waters than with a low-stakes photoshoot where you can be yourselves?
So, you can make sure you’re comfortable with your photographer well before your special day. You can make sure you like how they capture you and your love – their style of photography & editing; their ideas and how they communicate with you; the way they position you and make you feel comfortable in front of the camera…
Speaking of posing and the camera…
Not everyone is a natural-born model – and that’s totally fine. The thought of posing can send shivers down the spines of even the most confident couples. But here’s the thing: an engagement shoot is the perfect practice run to learn how to be comfortable in front of the camera and with your photographer, which is a big deal for your wedding day. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for your nuptials.
But wait, there’s more! If you’re already having a test-run with your photographer, why not extend it to some of your other vendors too?
An engagement photoshoot can also be a fantastic opportunity for a makeup and hair trial run. You’ll want to look your best on your wedding day, right? So why not use the engagement shoot to see how your chosen styles hold up in front of the camera? Plus, it’ll give you an extra boost of confidence seeing how stunning you look in your engagement photos.
Think about it…
…how much time would you save before your wedding if you already had a wedding photographer, hair stylist, and makeup artist who you knew you could trust?
…how much easier would it be to loosen up and be yourselves in front of the camera if you not only knew your photographer – but also knew how breathtakingly stunning you looked on camera (and in person too)?
…what would you give for a chance to make sure all your vendors share your vision for your big day – and still have plenty of time to find someone else if you find out you’re not a good fit with one of them?
An engagement photoshoot will give you all of this – and a lot more, too.
So, to wrap this up (because I can sense you’re already Googling photographers), let’s not forget that an engagement photoshoot is an investment in your love legacy. These photos will be part of the story you tell for generations. They’re not just for likes on social media or to impress Aunt Linda with your impeccable taste (though those are perfectly valid reasons too).
Engagement photoshoots are also a stepping stone to the real deal: your wedding day. You can get to know your vendors, rehearse a few poses, and make sure you’re all on the same page. With an engagement session, you’ll gain more than just a fun memory – you’ll gain confidence, peace of mind, and of course: breathtaking photographs.
So go ahead and book that engagement photoshoot. Embrace it as part of your love journey. Trust me, when you’re looking back at these photos years down the line, you won’t regret it. You’ll see two people standing side by side at the threshold of a beautiful commitment, blissfully unaware of all the wonderful moments yet to come.
