It’s so important to me that couple’s have an engagement session with me before their big day. For so many reasons! This is why I include engagement sessions in all of my packages of 8 hours or more. It’s almost a necessity in my eyes. Here’s why:

• Getting to know the couple.
  Beyond just a client meeting, I want to see how they interact with each other, how they photograph, and generally to learn more about what makes them smile, giggle, and feel more comfortable in front of the camera. It’s a chance for me to refine some poses that work or don’t work so that on their wedding day, we aren’t wasting precious time.
• Less jitters, more fun.
  There’s nothing worse than showing up to your wedding day dreading having your photo taken. I can completely relate. I recently had to have some photos taken of myself for one of the yoga studios I teach at, and I was a hot mess. Like sweating, red in the face, jittery mess. So I know what it feels like to show up to a shoot feeling like a fish out of water and like everything I’m doing in front of the camera is awkward and unnatural. I always tell couples that the first 15 minutes are painful, but then you kind of forget that there’s a camera around and it’s way more fun than you would think. It’s like a first look, before your first look. So when the wedding day arrives, you’re a pro. You know what to expect. You spend more time enjoying yourself and less time feeling awkward.
• MORE photos!
  On the wedding day, you are your most polished, beautiful, amazing self. Dressed to the nines, you’ve never looked better. But let’s be real…you don’t look like this every day, even though you might wish that you could show up to work wearing your wedding dress, with the fanciest of up-dos. I think it’s a nice add-on to have some photos of the two of you that actually reflect your every day personalities and styles. Plus, you can use these photos for save the dates, to add to your wedding website, or to use around the reception as decor.
• Get creative!
  I have yet to have a couple get on board with this idea in it’s entirety, but it’s my life goal. What do you like to do on weekends? Stay in, open a bottle of wine, cook dinner together, and curl up on the couch and watch a movie? Boom, I’m there. Sunday afternoons spent going for a bike ride and doing laundry at the local laundromat? Adorable. It may not sound like the glamorous engagement session you had envisioned, but I think it’s such a unique opportunity to capture the realness that makes you a couple. I always try to encourage my couples to think outside the box a little. Where did you meet, go on your first date, get engaged, etc.? Incorporating a location or something that has meaning to you and your story together is so much more unique than just going to a pretty park at sunset.

Mat and Pam suggested grabbing a coffee at Planet Coffee in the market and walking around downtown one afternoon. We went back to have a second coffee towards the end of our session, where Mat and Pam cuddled up together and enjoyed what they like to do on weekends – enjoy coffee and their cuteness.