When you are planning your wedding, you are designing a once-in-a-lifetime day that is FULL of things you’ve never done before. This time in your life is unbelievably exciting and, let’s be real, at times a little stressful. Thankfully, there’s one part of your wedding day that doesn’t have to remain a mystery; what it is like to work with a wedding photographer (namely, me!).
If you’re like most couples, your wedding day may be one of the very few times you experience being in front of the camera and working with a professional photographer. As your wedding photographer, the last thing I want you to be wondering about on your wedding day is if you’ll look awkward in your wedding album, if the poses will be cheesy, or if you’ll jive with me. (SPOILER: you wont, they won’t, and you will 🙂 )
So before the tables get set, the cocktails get mixed, and the suits get pressed, I want you to have peace of mind knowing your wedding album will be as beautiful as you’ve always imagined by booking an engagement session. As an engagement and wedding photographer (and a former bride!) I am confident when I say it’s a choice you’ll be very happy you made. Here’s why…
YOU’RE ENGAGED!
How often does that happen? Your engagement shoot is a way to celebrate your love and indulge in this special time of your life before you begin your next chapter. It’s an opportunity to focus on just the two of you (without timelines, vendors, and wedding guests) and to show off your personality. During your engagement photoshoot, you’ll have the chance to tell your unique love story; take me to the place you met, your go-to date night spot, your art studio, your favorite record store, the sky’s the limit! This is a chance to share a unique memory together and to celebrate your love story as an engaged couple.
GET TO KNOW YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER!
When it comes to taking wedding photos, relationships are SO IMPORTANT, and this is the best way for us to get to know each other. Doing an engagement shoot ahead of time will clear up any ‘unknowns’ about what it will be like to work together. It will build a foundation for our working relationship so that, by the time the wedding comes around, we will have rapport and will feel like old friends. Establishing our connection will help you feel comfortable having me around, camera in hand, on your wedding day which will make it easier for your true selves to shine through.
While we take engagement portraits, you’ll also be able to express to me anything and everything that’s on your mind. If you have any questions about your wedding photos, if you have any specific photo requests, or if there is anything you’re self-conscious about, I am eager to put your mind at ease by having those conversations in advance.
LET YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER GET TO KNOW YOU!
Your engagement shoot is also a time for me to get to know YOU better, and that will help me take photos that really represent the two of you as a couple. While I’m snapping your engagement portraits, I’ll learn how to interact with you to elicit real, natural emotion, and will get a sense of what really makes your relationship special. We’ll be more in sync with one another and that will make everything go more smoothly on your wedding day.
From a technical side, your engagement shoot will also give me a chance to find out what angels, poses, and settings will make you look and feel amazing. Trust me, taking this time to play in front of the camera will make your wedding photos look EVEN BETTER!
IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE!
Feeling self-conscious in front of a camera is totally normal, but the more you do it, the more you’ll begin to feel natural. Think of your engagement shoot as a rehearsal for your wedding photos. Feeling at ease in front of a camera doesn’t just happen, it usually takes a little while to shake off your nerves and get into the swing of things. Being able to warm up during your engagement session means we won’t have to spend that time getting comfortable on your wedding day. Ultimately, that means you’ll have more time with your guests and a greater number of beautiful photos for your wedding album.
Simply put, booking an engagement session is a great way to get over those pre-wedding jitters!
Your engagement session will also help build your confidence by giving you photographic PROOF that you look amazing in photos. Not to toss my own confetti, but I am confident that when you see your engagement photos, you’ll feel amazing about yourself. Seeing your engagement photos before your wedding will help you feel way more confident in front of the camera on your wedding day and confidence = a book-load of drool-worthy wedding portraits.
IT’S FUN!
While the idea of having your photos taken may sound daunting, the truth is, engagement shoots are really, really fun. In the chaos of planning a wedding, think of it as time you’re carving out to have fun together while enjoying a carefree little adventure with a new friend. Your engagement shoot is essentially one hell of an amazing day that will just happen to include me taking some killer portraits of you and your love in your element.
Dare I say, it’s a win/win/win.
I hope this blog has given you some clarity on the value of planning an engagement shoot. Not only is it a fun chance to connect with your love, it’s an opportunity to build your confidence in front of a camera, get to know me, soothe any potential wedding day camera fright, and (did I mention?) receive a romcom-worthy photo gallery that you can show off to all your friends and family, use as your phone screen, have printed on matching sweatshirts, whatever your heart desires!
If you’re still on the fence about doing an engagement photoshoot, I’ll leave you with these words from the lovely newlyweds, Calla and Danielle.
“Briana is an amazing photographer and a lovely person to be around! She did an engagement shoot for my fiance and I and took the time to chat with and get to know us beforehand. Because of this, we felt very comfortable with her and she was really able to capture our life and love beautifully. She found really creative places around our home to take photos and the results were better than we could have hoped for. We loved working with her and really couldn’t be happier with the way the photos turned out. I would highly recommend her to anyone!”
– Calla & Danielle
Though I am a Portland based engagement and wedding photographer, I travel often for photography sessions along the West Coast and around the world. I would love to photograph your engagement session, so reach out to me for a quote! And for a little engagement and wedding photoshoot inspiration, check out my portfolio!
