Megan Breukelman

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Do I Need An Engagement Shoot?

What is an engagement shoot?

An engagement shoot is a photo shoot that you book when you are planning your wedding. It happens after you get engaged (obviously!), but many couples ask: do I need an engagement shoot? That’s completely dependent on your needs as a couple, but here’s why many couples say yes.

Engagement shoots are beneficial in both your planning process and in your personal life for a multitude of reasons. Here is why you need to book an engagement shoot.

Announcements

For any of your major wedding announcements like save the sates, invitations, wedding websites, etc., you’re going to want to have some visuals to accompany them. Engagement photo shoots are perfect to use for these. Use your engagement photography to liven up your website, and give people a little taste of your excitement to get them excited about your wedding. 

Get to Know Your Photographer with an Engagement Session

Engagement sessions are a great way to test run your photographer. If you’re ever wondering why you need an engagement shoot, this is a great reason. Use your engagement shoot to get to know the photographer that you want to book for your special day. Make sure that you vibe with them and get the kind of images you want. After all, this person is going to be spending one of the biggest days of your life with you!

Related Reading: Get the wedding photography you want with these tips

Create Memories

Create memories together that you can hold onto that aren’t just your wedding photos. How often do you get to have professional photos taken of just the two of you? Use your engagement photos as a keepsake to remember this happy time in your relationship. Plus, I can almost guarantee that your engagement photos are going to end up in your parents’ homes, on their desk at work, or wherever else they can show off just how much they love you.

Get Comfortable Posing Together

Use your engagement shoot to practice posing together. Posing for couples photos may be a little difficult, especially if you or your partner aren’t used to having many photos taken. Engagement shoots are a great way to get comfortable with the camera on you ahead of your big day, and figure out what works and doesn’t work. That way, when the big day comes, you know exactly how to pose for your wedding photos.

Revisit a Special Place

Treat your engagement shoot like a nice date or a walk down memory lane. You might want to have your engagement shoot at the same spot of your first date, the place you got engaged, or some other special place to you. It’s a perfect opportunity to solidify memories in a place that means a lot to you. 

Social Media

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to show off their adorable engagement photos on social media? Use these to announce your engagement to a wider audience, or simply as your next amazing profile picture. 

Do I need an engagement session? 

You don’t need an engagement shoot, but not only is it beneficial, but it’s a lot of fun. Already booked yours? Here are some tips on how to dress for an engagement shoot.