[Originally posted 1/6/19]

So he finally popped the question, and you can’t wait to get started on all the wedding traditions! Engagement photos may or may not be on the top of your to-do list, but they’re definitely an important and popular part of the wedding process. A lot of people think they can just get a friend to take them, and they’ll save the professional shots for the wedding, but engagement photos are important and worth doing right! Here are five reasons why engagement photos are important, why you should definitely do them, and why you should invest in a professional.

1. They allow you to get to know your wedding photographer

There’s a reason most photographers include engagement photos in their wedding packages. We want a chance to meet you before the wedding! Every photographer has their own set of poses and style of doing things. Taking engagement photos gives you a chance to work together and establish trust before the big day. It also gives your photographer a chance to learn you and your fiancé’s personalities so she can make sure they shine through in your photos. Every couple is different, so engagement photos are a great way for your photographer to figure out what works for you and make sure they can serve you well on your wedding day!

2. You get comfortable in front of the camera

Getting your picture taken can be awkward. There’s no way around it. You’re basically prancing around doing PDA at the will of an overly enthusiastic person with a camera. That’s why it’s best to get that awkwardness out of the way at your engagement session. You can meet your photographer, learn their basic poses and style, and get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day. By taking engagement photos, you get a practice run that ensures you feel confident and know exactly what you’re doing when the camera is pointed at you during your wedding. That way when timelines get crunched, you know you can knock out some killer shots quickly and get on with the celebration!

3. You can use them for Save the Dates and to display at the wedding

This is probably the main reason couples decide to get engagement photos taken. They want to get that one perfect shot to use on their save the dates. And this is a good reason! Grandma would much rather display a save the date on her fridge that has an adorable picture of you and bae smiling at each other than just a plain invite with a date. It also allows distant relatives, or people from your fiancé’s guest list who haven’t met you, to see you together and get psyched for your wedding. A lot of couples also like to decorate their guest book table with framed pictures of them together. I even got my engagement pics printed in a special guest book for people to look through and sign. They’re a great way to personalize your wedding decor!

Photo from our wedding. Taken by Kayla Smith Photography.

4. They document one of the happiest times in your life

The night Nick proposed to me, I didn’t sleep at all. I was just so happy! I laid in bed all night reliving the moment he got down on one knee and was already planning the wedding in my head. Two weeks later, we got our engagement photos taken (I wasn’t wasting any time. lol) and looking at those photos still makes me feel a little giddy and reminds me just how happy and in love we were as we looked towards a lifetime together. That’s one of the reasons engagement photos are so important! They document one of the happiest times in your life. Sure, wedding planning can be stressful, and family drama can cause issues, but this will truly be a joyous and exciting time. You feel like your life is about to begin! Engagement photos document that joy for you, and they’ll be something you cherish forever, which is why they’re worth doing right.

5. Quality time with your fiancé

Last, but not least, engagement photos are so much fun! Yes, they’re a little awkward at first, like I mentioned earlier, but you’ve been waiting for this day for so long. And spending an hour with your fiancé showing off your ring, kissing, laughing, and talking all about your love story and wedding plans is seriously a blast. Things can get a little hectic after getting that new bling. There’s so much to do with venue tours, dress shopping, vendor consultations, and everything that goes into planning a wedding. It’s nice to spend an hour of quality time with your fiancé. Because after all, this whole shebang is about your love and devotion to one another. So find your dream photographer, spend an hour making goo goo eyes at your fiancé and get your engagement photos taken!

So that’s it! As a former bride and photographer, I really believe engagement photos are an important part of the wedding process. Because of that, I include a complimentary engagement session for all of my couples who book me for their wedding! If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out through my contact page here.