When it comes to weddings, trends come and go. There may be things that were being observed and done before that have already become irrelevant in these modern times. But in wedding photography and videography, there’s one practice that has been universally embraced and is almost always a part of every wedding photographer’s package – the engagement session.
Click here to see the full set of this engagement shoot.
Simply put, an engagement photo session is a photo shoot featuring the soon-to-be bride and groom, and usually, the purpose is to have perfect quality time together (before you become three!) and of course to use as materials for their upcoming wedding. Although it can just be as straightforward as posing in front of the camera at a studio with your fiancée, or just trusting your photographer to capture you being your utmost selves as a couple.
Engagement shoots can be done anywhere, either at the place where you and your fiance first met, or your favorite hang out place, you may also opt to go for themed photo shoots on picturesque locations just like most of the couples nowadays. Here in the Philippines, some couples even go as far as enlisting the help of an entire squad (including the glam team (hair and make-up artist, wardrobe, and production stylist), wedding photographer and videographers) and bringing them out of town or out of the country to achieve the perfect shot. But despite this being a popular practice at weddings for decades, some people (usually the soon-to-be grooms) are very private or camera-shy and would prefer to skip the engagement photo shoot. So if you or your partner needs a little more convincing, here are some reasons why you should consider participating in an engagement session:
1. It’s a way to get to know your chosen photographer.
You don’t want to feel like a complete stranger is taking your pictures on your wedding day, that’s why it’s important to establish a rapport with your wedding photographer. The engagement session is a good way to do this.
Click here to see the full set of this engagement shoot.
You’ll be able to see how your photographer works firsthand; how he handles the shoot and how he connects with you and your partner. It’s also a way for him to observe your dynamics as a couple; how you interact with each other.
From that, he will have an idea on what shots to take that will bring out your personality as a couple. All these things can contribute to you guys feeling relaxed and looking confident in your wedding photos.
2. It will help you be comfortable in front of the camera.
Unless you and your fiancée are professional models and can think of poses in a snap, you need to practice and get used to being in front of the camera. Some couples are not keen on public displays of affection and may feel awkward expressing their love in front of many people, which, (no surprise there) is exactly what’s to be expected on the day of the wedding.
Click here to see the full set of this engagement shoot.
So think of the engagement photo shoot as a dry-run for your wedding day. Some brides even schedule their hair and makeup trial done on the same day as the photo shoot so they can see how they will look like on camera. With the help of your photographer, you and your fiancée can get more comfortable while discovering your best angles that you both look good in. This will help you become more at ease with expressing your love in front of the camera so that everything will look natural on the day itself. At the end of the day, being your true selves during the engagement shoot will help you remember the final moments prior to your wedding.
3. It can get your guests excited about the event.
Click here to see the full set of this engagement shoot.
Thanks to technology and social media, it’s so easy to get your guests involved in all the details pertaining to the wedding - from the engagement up to the bridal showers and after-parties. A beautiful photo showcasing your love for each other will definitely pump up the guests’ excitement for the upcoming nuptials. If you’re having a destination wedding, you can opt to have your photo shoot at your selected city or country. Give them a teaser of what’s in store on your big day with chosen photos from the engagement session, along with a catchy hashtag for your wedding.
4. You’ll have beautiful photos to display at the wedding.
Sure, couple selfies are sweet, and old pictures together will make a great topic of conversation at the wedding reception, but why don’t you take your wedding slideshow up a notch by featuring stunning pictures from the engagement session? Aside from documenting those precious moments of you and your fiancée in pre-wedding bliss, having an engagement session will capture those moments and give your guests a glimpse of how you are as a couple in your intimate times together.
Click here to see the full set of this engagement shoot.
Wow them with your theme, or you can even recreate a special memory from the past, like your first date. There are a lot of talented wedding photographers in the Philippines who would be willing to help you with your concept. That’s why it’s best to choose a wedding photographer that fits your preferences and discuss with them how you envision your engagement shoot to be.
5. You can use this opportunity to rest and reconnect.
Planning and preparing for a wedding isn’t easy, especially if you’re the hands-on type. Even if you’ve got a great event coordinator helping you, some aspects of the preparation can still stress you out. So why not use the engagement session as a chance to relax, unwind, unplug if you must, and enjoy this moment with your beau? Seize this opportunity to spend some time together, and take a quick break from all the planning and worrying. Especially if you’re having your engagement session out of town, take a breather and you’ll find yourself energized for the coming days, with beautiful pictures in tow.
Click here to see the full set of this engagement shoot.
Whether you’re a shy, reserved pair or naturals in front of the camera (or maybe you and your fiancée are polar opposites, but somehow it just works), having an engagement photo session is something you should really consider doing. It’s a great way of telling your story as a couple, celebrate your love for one another and immortalize those precious moments before you enter a new chapter in your lives together.
Whether you’re having a destination wedding or doing it locally, you’d be thrilled to know that you can enlist the help of very gifted and highly skilled Philippine wedding photographers to make your concept come to life and capture those moments that you never want to miss.
We take pride in capturing the uniqueness in every couple. We want to tell real stories, those that are not planned or forced, but rather the raw and unfiltered emotions. Thus, we call ourselves BIG BLISS WEDDINGS.