More often than not I have booked with couples who have already done an engagement session with another photographer in another area or just someone they knew that had a decent camera. I completely understand the excitement of the proposal and wanting to hurry and get some images for the save-the-dates, but here is why it is so important to want to do your engagement session with the photographer you choose for wedding day.

1. It is probably already included in the package price…so, as we said in the 90s, ’nuff said.
2. You get to actually meet the photographer BEFORE the wedding. Wait, what? You already know where I’m going with this. I like to meet with my couples, but with the busyness of schedules these days more and more brides want to email back and forth – there is nothing at all wrong with this, but when you have an engagement session with them then you get to spend some time together, learn each others personalities and simply get used to one another. You are going to be spending so much time with your photographer on wedding day and it will make you much more comfortable with this person, ultimately making you more comfortable in front of the camera (more to come on this!)
3.  More comfortable in front of the camera – told ya it was coming! This engagement session is going to give your photographer an opportunity to show you some poses that will be the secret to success on wedding day which will not only make wedding day run more smoothly, but you will not be near as nervous in front of the lens since you already know what to do and what to expect. You will be more relaxed and able to just be with one another, enjoying your perfect day! Plus, now you have an old friend with you on wedding day instead of a complete stranger!
4. This session will give you an opportunity to go over some important details about wedding day that your photographer will need in order to create the photography timeline. For example, are you set on a first look, do you REALLY want to make sure you get some amazing sunset shots on wedding day, are there some dramatic family dynamics the photographer needs to be aware of? These are all things you can chat about during the session in a stress-free setting without anyone else around to intervene (like maybe that family member that is the source of those dramatic family dynamics? We all have at least one…)

So don’t be on the fence about the engagement session any longer! Do it! Your photographer wants to, I can promise you that! We want to get to know you two better, and help you become more comfortable for wedding day!

Magan Ward

Magan Ward is a photographer, wife, mom of 3, and educator to fellow photographers. She has an unhealthy obsession with Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese, and has a bit of a love affair with dry shampoo – something she tried to avoid for years until the pandemic of 2020 occurred rendering her dependent upon the waterless revelation that saves her time, something now used to instead apply nutella to waffles for tiny humans.

Putting that Masters in Education to good use, Magan enjoys teaching her fellow photographers and online entrepreneurs the ins and outs of building a business that they love…and occasionally sprinkles in some encouragement for Mamas, because life with littles is just plum hard sometimes.

You can grab her free list of favorite tools for entrepreneurs here.