While photography has always been important to me, Dylan and I never had engagement photos taken. It still hurts me to admit aloud that we never had them taken and is one of the biggest regrets I have in our wedding planning.

We wanted engagement photos, but our wedding photographers were from out of state so we never had the chance to get them taken.  We also considered hiring a local photographer, but there aren’t too many wedding photographers in Corpus (where we lived at the time) whose style I liked and planning a wedding in 6 weeks left us very little time to plan a trip to Austin or Dallas.  Beyond that, every photographer I checked with was booked on the weekends (of course, as that is when weddings usually take place) and that is the only time we could travel without missing work, as we both planned on taking most of our vacation for the honeymoon.

At this point in my life, I just liked photography.  There was just something about being able to record a moment in time that you could relive every time you looked at a photograph.  Photographers, to me, are memory catchers.  Not yet being an Austin Wedding Photographer, I did not have the connections to other photographers that I now enjoy, nor did I really know much about photography.  Having very little other options, I decided to take our engagement photos myself.  And… they sucked.  After looking at all the pictures, I felt like I had wasted my time since NOTHING turned out like I had imagined.  Beyond that, I had NO IDEA what I was doing with a camera outside of Auto-mode.

With all of this in mind and the sorrow that I still carry that Dylan and I never took engagement photos, EVERY one of my wedding clients are gifted an engagement session with me. It does not make the wedding package cheaper if you decide not to have one nor does it cost you anything if you want one.   It’s a gift from me to you.  Here’s why:

1) Engagement sessions reflect couples’ love for one another while they’re still dating.

When they look back at their engagement photos years later, I want couples to remember how they loved each other in the beginning.  I want the photos to reflect what they love doing together and the sparkle they put in the other’s eye.

2) Engagement sessions serve as a “date night” that let you step away from the planning process.

Every single one of my couples have told me about all the fun they had during their engagement session.  I think it’s because I strongly encourage couples to pick a location they’re familiar with, do things during the session they enjoy doing together, and often praise kissy faces during the session.  Who wouldn’t have fun?!?  This isn’t just the brides either – the GUYS have come back to say how much they enjoyed it, despite thinking (originally) that it would be dreadful.  (I still haven’t figured out why guys don’t like being photographed, but I’m pretty sure it’s the male gene.)  Beyond the fun aspect, it gives you a break from wedding planning, which can be super time consuming if you let it.  It’s a great excuse for a date night – you’ll both be looking super cute already, anyway!

3) I get to meet you!

The majority of my brides are currently booking online or over the phone.  Thanks to modern technology, I feel like we’re friends before we ever meet with the amount of “chatting” we’ve already done and they have, usually, gone through my blog, so know about my life, as well.  Engagement sessions are often the first time I’m meeting the bride and groom and it is SO SO SO nice to finally put a face to their names!

4) You get casual portraits of you and your future husband.

Most people use portraits as art pieces for their home.  While there will be a lot of photos from your wedding day, most people often want to include some more casual pictures of their newly-started families in their home.  Engagement sessions allow you to get just those sort of pictures!

5) You walk away feeling confident and comfortable in front of my camera before your wedding day.

One of the first things couples say to me during their engagement shoot is “We’re not models.”  I know that.  I don’t expect you to know how to pose or where to look – that is MY job to tell you.  More than anything, I would like every couple to feel confident and comfortable in front of my camera after seeing their engagement photos.  This, in turn, allows them to breathe easier on their wedding day, knowing I’m only going to capture their best side and put them into only flattering poses.  They know this because they have already SEEN it put into action during their engagement session.

When planning your wedding, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE remember to include an engagement session.  It serves as a perk both to you, the couple, AND the photographer.

– Mylah Renae

Austin Wedding Photographer

www.Eureka-Photography.com

(Click here to read Part One of June Bride: The thing most photographed at your wedding)