Have you ever wondered why engagement photos are important?

There is truly something remarkable that happens during engagement photo sessions. Every couple shows up a little nervous and almost every single one tells me their don’t like having their photos taken. It’s no surprise to me, and I expect it. Engagement photos are important and this is why!

The first 20 minutes or so I spend warming up with you, as a couple. We pretty much always start the session with what I refer to as “the prom pose.” You know the one! Yeah, that somewhat awkward arms around each other, hip to hip, smile and look at the camera one. It’s an important photo. Parents usually love this one and it gives me a chance to test the light and break the ice. But it’s not who you are as a couple and it doesn’t reflect your deep love and commitment and the reason why your taking this journey into marriage with your partner. Don’t worry though, we’ll get there with your session, even if you don’t like having your photo taken. The engagement session is your experience and your chance to be you!

I get it, it’s a little strange to show love and intimacy with a camera pointed at your face! 

I promise you, as we begin to work together, you will forget the camera is there and that’s when the magic happens. Working with you is my chance to get to know you more as a couple. Sure, I send out a little questionnaire that gives me some insight, but there is nothing like one on one time with people to learn who you are. This is such an important step before the wedding day and one of the biggest reasons why I feel engagement photos are important. Wedding days are hectic and if we don’t have much of a relationship other than the papers we signed, it’s harder for me to get real emotion in the short time we have for portraits on your big day. Those real authentic emotions are what I strive for in all of my couples’ portraits. It’s what really connects us to our photographs. We can look at the photograph later and remember the story of that moment.

I will always give you little cues to help bring out real, authentic emotion. 

As we work through your engagement session, I strive to get to that real emotion. Whether it’s a gentle touch, heartfelt embrace, laughter or tears, getting there is important. I want to tell your love story through my images.

So, in the end, the engagement session is my getting to know you tool. It’s a chance to have fun together and get some gorgeous portraits in a location that special to you and reflects who you are as a couple!  I want to know you. I want to learn about you. So, when you ask if you can skip the engagement session, I want you to understand why the engagement photos are important. These are the photos that you will truly cherish, I promise.

Your engagement photos are important, just like the love between you two! 

To see more engagement photos take a peek at these past blog posts:

https://www.ericaswantekphotography.com/powell-butte-ranch-lifestyle-engagement-session-oregon/

https://www.ericaswantekphotography.com/fall-shevlin-park-engagement-photography-bend-oregon/

https://www.ericaswantekphotography.com/dutchman-flats-snowy-engagement-session-matt-courtney/

https://www.ericaswantekphotography.com/river-meets-industrial-engagement-session-bend-sarah-joe/

https://www.ericaswantekphotography.com/brewery-engagement-photos-crux-bend-rochelle-ben/

All of my full day wedding collections include an engagement session for this reason, but I do offer sessions a-la-cart as well. If you are getting married soon, I would love to chat! I still have some 2017 dates available and would love to see if we are good fit for each other. Fill out that contact form, give me a call or send me an email and let’s talk!

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Hi, I’m Erica and I specialize in lifestyle wedding photography for sentimental, free-spirited and natural couples that love the outdoors.