Why have an engagement photography shoot before your wedding?

Engagement photography shoots or pre-wedding shoots are common place these days. Some offered with wedding packages, some offered as an extra. More and more photographers are offering this service to newly engaged couples which can create a few nervous twitters in the stomach.

London Engagement Photo Shoot

So why an engagement photo-shoot? Why bother?

Engagement shoots are a time for just you and your partner. Its a time to kick off those work shoes, pull a sickie and have a lot of fun with your wedding photographer, while creating some cool pictures and generally having a great time.

Maybe you will just tell your photographer to leave it. Maybe you’ve had a chat with your fiancé and come to the conclusion you will feel awkward and would prefer to wait until the wedding.

Firstly, this is one of the main reasons to actually HAVE the engagement photography session with your photographer.

I offer an engagement photo-shoot to my couples as a way to ease them into being photographed. You don’t want that awkward feeling on your wedding day! Get it over with now, and feel much more relaxed on your big day.

Engagement photo shoot in Brighton

During an engagement photography shoot, you get used to being photographed, posing for the camera and having people look at you, especially if you are in a public place. I tell all my couples when we first meet on the morning of the engagement shoot, “I know you feel nervous now, but I promise you, later today you will say… ‘that wasn’t to bad. In fact I really enjoyed it!'” Every couple I’ve worked with, tell me by the end of the shoot they enjoyed it, didn’t feel nervous and more importantly had fun.

The second main reason to have an engagement photography session, is it gives you a chance to get to know your photographer! You see how they photograph, what kind of thing they ask you to do for particular pictures and it gives you a chance to bond with them.

This photo shoot also helps your wedding day, as its not a stranger taking your photos anymore! Its your friend from the photo shoot a few weeks back. Its the person who made you laugh, helped you get the best picture and has since liaised with you to get the perfect wedding photography package.

Maybe you’ve had a shoot somewhere else and feel like you’ve done it?

I’d still recommend having the shoot. It’s best to have this shoot, with the photographer of your wedding. Mainly for the reasons above! It helps you get to know your photographer, become friends and you get to know their individual style ultimately helping you on your wedding day. It also helps your photographer get to know you and the intricacies between the both of you. By not having one solely on the fact you’ve had a shoot with someone else, puts your photographer on the back foot, leaving them to walk into your wedding day not 100% in the know of how you guys work. So, in short, even though you’ve had a shoot elsewhere, it wasn’t a pre-wedding photoshoot with your wedding photographer, something which I highly recommend having.

Can you bring the kids?

Sometimes couples ask “Can we bring the children?’ My advice is if you can, leave them at home. I understand the reasons you would like them there. Some are that it will make you feel more comfortable having another focal point away from yourself, as your feeling a little nervous. Another reason is it might be nice to get some family pictures done. But this is not the shoot for family portraits and bringing children changes the dynamics completely.

An engagement shoot is about you and your partner. So try not invite the kids, or get the parents involved. It’s about you. It helps you with any nerves, it helps with getting to know your photographer, it helps the photographer get to know you and it’s definitely lot of fun!

why have an engagement shoot

Can you bring the dogs?

I love dogs, cats, pet chinchillas and all kind of domestic animals, but should you bring them to a photo shoot? My answer is probably not.
You certainly can bring the dogs if you want to, but I would actually recommend leaving them at home. Couples who have brought dogs to engagement shoots, have spent half the time trying to chase the dogs down or tie them up somewhere, which really cuts down on the time of us having fun shooting some pictures. (Once the ‘cute’ shot with the dogs is done, they can kind of get in the way).

Some people bring their dog so the attention is taken away from themselves as they are nervous having their picture taken. But if you can, i’d recommend not having them there so we can alleviate the nerves before the big day. Plus, you certainly get more out of it and I promise by the end of the shoot, you will have loved it!

So what to expect from an engagement photo-shoot?

Usually I meet my clients on location. I try to organise it as close to their home as possible. We liaise with what locations are near by and what would work for a ‘quirky’ shoot.

One of my favourite locations is London. This is a great location as it has nearly everything you could ever want for a shoot. Want rustic? Its got it. Want urban? It’s got it. Want trees and greenery? Its got it. You get the picture. This would be the same for most major cities.

Rainy engagement photography shoot in Greenwich

What can you use the shoot for?

Have you thought about your save the date cards? Engagement photography shoots are a great way to get great personal images for your save the date invitations, that you send to guests.

Another great idea is to use the engagement shoot pictures for the reception signing book that your guests will fill in on the day.

So in conclusion my advice is, if you have been asked by your photographer to have an engagement photography shoot but are feeling a little shy about it… have it.

Go for it! Go and do it, get to know your photographer and more importantly have fun!

Are you looking for a wedding photographer? Would you like someone who photographs it in an alternative, fun and natural way? Fancy seeing your wedding pictures on my Instagram and on other cool wedding blogs? Get in touch and let me know all about your day! I need to know the date, ceremony and reception details and most importantly all the ideas you have! 

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