Few wedding decisions are more important than choosing a photographer for your big day. Luckily, once you've found the pro photographer of your dreams, there's an easy way to make sure your wedding photos will be absolutely perfect: scheduling an engagement photography session.
Here are Featured Photographer Alicia Wiley's five reasons why she believes the engagement session is the best way to kick off a successful wedding photography relationship:
1. You and your photographer can get comfortable with each other.
How well do you know your photographer? In most cases, your interaction with your wedding photographer is limited to a few emails, a phone call, a quick meeting in person, a walk through at your venue, and, finally, your wedding day.
An engagement session is a great way to get to know a photographer better because you're spending an hour or two chatting with him or her and physically interacting. You get to see their personality a little more, how they shoot, and generally what their style is.
2. You'll have a firsthand look at the photographer's work.
Yes, you can see portfolios on photographers' websites and blog posts of the highlights, but how often to you get to see entire galleries? Working with him or her on an engagement session is a great way to get a fully-informed understanding of their standards of quality and their style of shooting.
You should always trust the photographer you choose to deliver amazing work, but just to be super-duper sure, work with them first!
3. You can practice posing.
Sometimes, when you step in front of a camera, things get really awkward. Before your wedding day, how often do you take professional portraits together as a couple? Not so often.
An engagement photo session is the perfect way to see what feels comfortable to you and your fiance. Not every pose works for every couple, so it's nice to be able to figure out what may or may not work before your wedding day.
4. You can see yourself in photos before your big day.
This is a hugely important one! Your engagement session is often your only chance to spot things you don't like in your photos (and, therefore, to make sure they don't show up in your wedding pictures). Whether it be a certain pose or the way one of you smiles, take note, and make sure you don't duplicate it on your wedding day.
Do you like how you look with a soft, closed-lip smile or a full-teeth cheesy smile? Do you have a "better side?" Is one angle more flattering than the other? Chin up or chin down? These are all things to consider so that you are fully thrilled with the way you look in your wedding photos.
5. You can make it about you.
Your wedding day is obviously about you and the person you're marrying, but you're in a tuxedo or a wedding gown 99% of the time. An engagement session is a great way to incorporate your real, everyday personalities into your photo story.
Make it fun and try a lifestyle session at home or a date night out. Or, have your photographer join you while you're doing something you love, like sports, crafts, or music. Your photographer will most likely LOVE to try something new!
This is a great way for them to get to know you, too, and they'll definitely be able to deliver images that truly represent your love.
Check out more of Alicia's work on her website: www.aliciawileyphotography.com.
