Why you should have an engagement photo session

If you're hiring a professional wedding photographer, you should absolutely consider adding an engagement session to your package.  I'd love to shed more light on this topic, in case you're on the fence about it!

Wedding photography is a big investment.  You'll want to make sure the photographer you've chosen is right for you.  Having an engagement session with that same photographer will give you a better understanding of their style and what it's like to work with them.  Hopefully you'll love your engagement photos, and have complete confidence in the skills of the photographer you've hired.

An engagement session will give your wedding photographer a chance to get to know you, too.  This is especially important if you're hoping for candid wedding photos that capture your personalities.  This type of session is definitely a more casual way to get used to being in front of the camera, have fun, and be yourselves!

A lot of times, the wedding venue you've chosen is a place you've never been before.  In this case, you might choose to have engagement photos taken at a location that is more meaningful to the two of you.  It can be the place where you got engaged or a place where you spend a lot of time together... 

Engagement photos have so many possible uses.  You can add them to save-the-date cards or create a wedding guestbook out of them.  Or you can simply display them with your wedding photos for a little more variety!

As a wedding photographer based in Ohio, I personally love when an engagement session takes place in a different season than the wedding.  The collage above is of a Summer engagement and Winter wedding.  Fall engagements and Spring weddings are definitely a favorite combo too...

I've never been able to come up with a reason not to have an engagement session.   I would like to point out, however, that I don't think it's a good idea to have your engagement photos and wedding photos done by different photographers.  The edit style may not match, the shooting style may not match, and overall you'll miss out on getting to know your wedding photographer!