You’ve got a beautiful ring on your finger! And now you can begin planning your wedding – and the rest of your life – with your partner. With all the stress of planning a wedding, you may wonder if having an engagement session is necessary. If you ask me, I definitely say YES! So many couples simply don’t understand the benefits of their engagement session. Not to mention all of the fun involved! Engagement sessions are more than just a task to check off the list in your planning binder. It’s a chance to celebrate and document your love. As a DMV wedding photographer, I want to share a few more reasons why you need an engagement session!

Getting to Know Your Photographer

Engagement sessions allow you to work with your photographer and get to know her/him before wedding day. This is a great chance to learn their personality and even some posing so that you’re more comfortable on your wedding day. Most couples don’t even realize that you will spend a large part of your wedding day with your photographer (sometimes more than with your spouse!).

During your engagement session, you will have conversations, laugh, share life stories, and get to know each other on a more personal level. This time together is helpful because on your big day you have met with your photographer and you are not spending the day with someone you don’t know. And, you can also communicate any personal preferences to your photographer and get an idea of how it feels to be in front of the camera.

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Images to Display

After your engagement session is over, you’ll receive professional images of you as an engaged couple! What an amazing reason to have engagement photos taken. These can be displayed at the wedding, on save the dates, on your wedding website, or in your home. Photos are a great way to capture a moment in time and whenever you look at your photos, you’ll always have memories of your engagement – filled with excitement, anticipation, and pure bliss. 

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A Well-Deserved Break

Let’s be real, planning a wedding is stressful and taking a break is necessary. You’ll be able to get out with your sweetheart, have some fun and get creative. Your engagement shoot can be anything you want it to be and there are tons of great ideas for engagement shoot photos. Make these photos all about you and your love story! Try incorporating pets, your favorite date night locations, favorite parks, sports teams, foods, and activities. And when you’re all done, enjoy the rest of the evening together on a date – you’ll already be all dressed up!

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Hair and Makeup Trial

Use your engagement session as a hair and make up trial for your wedding day. It can be nerve-racking when you don’t know how your hair and makeup will come together for the big day. So believe me when I say, there’s no better way to test your wedding day look and vendors than by scheduling your hair and makeup trial on the same day as your engagement session.

What’s the Verdict?

Regardless of what you choose to do for your engagement session remember to have fun! This is an exciting time in your life, and it deserves to be celebrated just like your wedding day. Engagement sessions are a great chance to connect with your photographer, relax, and just be together.

Because of how strongly I believe in engagement sessions, most of my wedding packages include an engagement session as a gift to you! Contact me here to learn more about my packages, Washington DC and Virginia microweddings, or to inquire about your special day!