5 Reasons Why You Really Need Engagement Photos

You’re already doing a LOT to prepare for your wedding. Do you really need engagement photos, too? Well, I’m an elopement and wedding photographer with years of experience under my belt. And these are major 5 reasons why I say HELLS YES!

How Do Engagement Photos Work?

Engagement photos are basically photos you take to celebrate your engagement—but the benefits of an engagement photo session go way beyond the memories you make! Typically, couples will have their engagement photos taken early—way before the big day. That way, they can use the photos in their engagement announcements, wedding invites, and in so many other, super-cute and sentimental ways.

These types of photo sessions are super popular. They’re often paired with your wedding/elopement photos, and taken by the same photographer who will document your big day.

How Much Do Engagement Photos Cost?

It really depends on the photographer, their experience, and their packages. Some photographers include the cost of engagement photos in their wedding and elopement packages. Others offer them as an add-on fee. That said, you can probably expect a value of anywhere between $500 and $1000+ for the session itself, plus the cost of any prints or albums you order afterward.

Definitely talk to your photographer and specifically ask about their engagement photo rates if you’re interested. And if I’m your photographer, or if you’d love me to be (same, by the way!), you can check out my small wedding packages or adventure elopement packages. Once you’ve had a chance to look it over, send me an email and let’s chat!

5 Reasons To Have Engagement Photos Taken

I know some couples are ALL IN on engagement photos. They might have been planning them (or Pinning ideas) for weeks or even months by the time the engagement happens. If that’s you, nice! High fives all around ✋🏾✋🏻✋

That said, lots of couples aren’t that excited about the idea of engagement photos—or at least, they need some convincing. Whether it’s because they’re not fans of being photographed or they just don’t see the value at first, I get the initial hesitation. But, I do still recommend at least considering engagement photos, because there are tons of benefits for you as you prep for your wedding. So without further adieu, here are 5 reasons why, in my humble opinion, you really do need engagement pics!

1. Engagement Photos = Time For Yourselves

Planning a wedding is a LOT of work—it's stressful as hell. By now, you probably know this well. And, when you’re in the midst of planning a wedding, it’s way too easy to get so caught up in all the prep and drama that you barely have any free time—let alone quality time together. 

Your engagement session is like a time-out from all of that! It’s time to reconnect and spend some QT frolicking around with your loved one in a place you both love. 

Pro Tip: Turn your engagement photos into a date night! Get dolled up so you’re both like, “Damn! 😍  I’m marrying UP!” Schedule your photos in a place you really love and feel totally comfortable in—like your fav park, your first-date spot, or your cozy living room couch with your pup. And go for dinner and drinks afterward. (Or maybe do drinks before if you need a little liquid courage!)

2. Use Engagement Photos as a Wedding Photo Dry Run

I don’t know what your life has been like thus far, but I personally don’t haven’t had my photo taken professionally all that often! And I’m willing to bet you haven’t either, since most of us are in the same boat! So knowing that on your wedding day—the biggest day of your life so far—you’ll be professionally photographed like alllll day long? Yeah, it can be a little nerve-wracking! 

Thankfully, your engagement photo session will be like a dry run for your wedding. You get the nerves out of the way, you figure out what the eff to do with your hands 😅  and you get some practice being in front of the camera. Especially if you know you’re nervous in front of the camera, I personally think you really do need engagement photos. Even for this reason alone!

3. Perfect Time to Trial Hair & Makeup

Without a hair and makeup trial, you have to just TRUST the stylists you’ve hired will nail your vision. And what’s worse is that even if you love the makeup that gets applied on your day, often what looks good IRL isn’t enough to show up on camera. I dunno about you, but there aren’t enough mimosas in the world to make me gamble on how my face looks on my wedding day 😂  

To save the added stress of wondering if they’ll nail it on the day, I recommend scheduling a hair and makeup trial—and doing it on the same day as your elopement photos! This way, you know exactly how you’ll look in real life and on film for your wedding day.

4. Get To Know Your Photographer

Something a lot of couples don’t realize is that you spend a lot of time with your photographer on your wedding day! So it’s important to find someone you vibe with and get to know them a bit before the main event.

I love that engagement photos let me get to know the couples whose weddings I’ll be photographing. We get to hang out and become friends in a non-weird way. (I’m really nice, promise!) Who knows, maybe we can even have a bevvy or two together before the engagement photos, or while we plan!

5. You’ll Use Your Engagement Photos!

Don’t let your engagement photos sit in a drawer or collect digital dust on your computer! Because if you’re intentional about it, you will get a ton of use out of them. For reals! You can use them for so many things. Here are just a few ideas for how to use your engagement photos, to get you started:

• Use your engagement photos for Save-The-Date or Thank-You cards

• Create a guest signing book using your engagement photos 

• Put together an engagement photo slideshow and play it at your wedding

• Print one photo for each table to accompany your table numbers

(Cheap decor, easy invitation design, and even entertainment at the wedding? I mean, what can’t engagement photos do?!)

Vancouver Engagement Photographer

Hopefully, by now I’ve convinced you that yes, you really need engagement photos! So your next step will be to plan them out. If you’re ready to book your engagement photos, click the button below and I’ll get back to you in 24 hours!