5 Reasons to Have an Engagement Session Before Your Wedding
Planning a wedding is an exciting but sometimes overwhelming experience, with so many decisions to make and timelines to follow. One element that couples sometimes either overlook, or opt out of, is scheduling an engagement session with their wedding photographer. However, engagement sessions are not just another box to tick on your to-do list — they offer a wealth of benefits that will make your entire wedding experience more enjoyable, both emotionally and practically. In my experience, they can actually enrich your wedding day (and the planning process!) in so many important days. In this post, we’ll explore five compelling reasons why an engagement session is a must-have before your big day.
1. Get Comfortable in Front of the Camera
Most couples aren’t used to being professionally photographed, which makes the idea of posing for photos feel intimidating or even awkward. Many people worry about not knowing what to do with their hands, standing stiffly, or simply feeling self-conscious in front of the lens. These feelings are normal — after all, being photographed is not something most of us do regularly. Believe it or not, this is actually why I became a photographer in the first place: I was super camera-shy growing up, and at some point I realised that if I was always the one taking the pictures, I wouldn’t have to pose for any! However, your wedding day will be filled with moments that you’ll want to capture beautifully, from the intimate glances you share with your partner to posed group portraits with family and friends. If you feel tense or uncomfortable, it can show in your photos, leading to stiff expressions or awkward body language.
An engagement session gives you and your partner the opportunity to work through these jitters before the wedding day arrives—and I promise it isn’t as scary as it sounds! This shorter session provides a relaxed, low-pressure environment where you can learn how it feels to be photographed together by a professional, without the time constraints or emotional intensity of the actual wedding day. The goal isn’t to perfect every pose but rather to get comfortable with the process. You'll have time to experiment with natural movements, facial expressions, and positioning, learning what works best for you as a couple.
Your photographer will also guide you with gentle direction, helping you find flattering angles, relaxed poses, and moments of genuine connection. Over the course of the session, you’ll likely discover that posing isn’t about standing perfectly still or forcing a smile — it’s about being present with your partner. This can help you feel more at ease, which translates into more natural photos. You also get all this practice without worrying about family members and friends watching you from the wings (which, for some, can be SUPER intimidating)! It’s often during these sessions that couples realise it’s not just about the final images but about having fun and sharing an experience together.
By the time your wedding rolls around, you’ll have a much better sense of what to expect in front of the camera. You’ll know how to position yourselves comfortably, respond to prompts, and move naturally in front of your photographer. This familiarity will make the photography portion of your wedding day more enjoyable and less stressful. Instead of worrying about how you look, you’ll be able to relax, focus on each other, and fully enjoy the moment.
Another unexpected benefit is that some couples find themselves looking forward to being photographed by the end of their engagement session. What starts as a source of stress often turns into something fun — an opportunity to reconnect with your partner, share a few laughs, and even celebrate this exciting chapter in your relationship. When couples enjoy their engagement session, it helps build positive momentum for the wedding day photography experience.
Ultimately, the engagement session gives you confidence in front of the camera, ensuring that on your wedding day, you’ll feel more relaxed and prepared. And when you feel good, it shows — in genuine smiles, authentic interactions, and beautiful photos that reflect your love story in the best possible light.
2. Build Trust and Connection with Your Photographer
Your wedding photographer will play a key role in your big day, capturing everything from emotional first looks to joyful group portraits. As photographers, we are literally there with you through it all, and that’s a pretty intimate relationship to cultivate! However, building the trust and rapport necessary for those candid, meaningful photos doesn’t happen overnight. An engagement session provides the perfect opportunity to establish that connection with your photographer before the wedding day. The more comfortable you feel with them, the more natural and authentic your interactions will be, resulting in images that truly capture the essence of your relationship.
During an engagement session, you get to spend time with your photographer in a relaxed, low-pressure environment. There are no tight timelines, no crowds of people waiting for their turn to take photos, and no overwhelming emotions competing for your attention. This slower pace allows you to engage with your photographer, get to know their style, and feel out how they work. It’s also a chance for your photographer to observe how you and your partner interact — do you prefer playful, spontaneous moments, or are you more drawn to tender, intimate gestures? These insights help the photographer tailor their approach to match your personalities, ensuring that your photos reflect who you are as a couple.
One of the biggest advantages of an engagement session is the opportunity to communicate your vision and expectations in real time. You can experiment with different poses, locations, or prompts and share feedback with your photographer about what feels natural and what doesn’t. If there’s a particular type of shot or style you love — whether it’s candid moments, close-ups, or editorial-style portraits — your photographer will be able to take note and incorporate those preferences into your wedding day photography plan, and execute it in real time. This collaborative process helps build trust and ensures that you and your photographer are on the same page well before the wedding day arrives.
Trusting your photographer is essential because the wedding day can be an emotional whirlwind, where moments happen quickly, and there’s no time for do-overs. When you have a strong connection with your photographer, you won’t have to worry about directing them or micromanaging the process. Instead, you can relax, knowing that they understand your dynamic as a couple and are fully aligned with your vision. This allows your photographer to focus on capturing fleeting, unscripted moments that you might not even realise are happening — a quiet tear during the vows, a knowing glance between you and your partner, or the joy on your parents' faces as they watch you say “I do.”
Another benefit is that having this established rapport can make group photos and portraits smoother and more enjoyable. Since your photographer has already spent time with you during the engagement session, they’ll know how to put you at ease, guide you with prompts that resonate, and gently direct family and wedding party members without added stress. This familiarity can make the entire photography experience feel seamless, even on a day as busy as your wedding.
Additionally, an engagement session offers the chance to address any specific concerns you might have about being photographed. If you’re camera-shy or worried about certain aspects of your appearance, your photographer can use the session to ease those anxieties, providing personalised tips and tricks to make you feel more confident. This open dialogue helps you build trust, not just in your photographer’s technical abilities but also in their ability to capture you at your best. Once you get to your actual wedding day, you’ll already know which poses are most flattering, what works, and what doesn’t.
Ultimately, the relationship you build with your photographer during the engagement session can make all the difference on your wedding day. You’ll feel confident knowing that they truly understand your style, preferences, and vision. This trust will allow you to be fully present, savouring the magic of each moment without worrying about how it’s being captured. And when you’re comfortable, relaxed, and connected to your photographer, again, it shows in your photos — giving you timeless images that feel genuine, joyful, and uniquely yours.
3. Create Stunning Images for Save-the-Dates and Wedding Decor
The photos from your engagement session aren’t just for personal memories — they can also play a practical role in your wedding planning. Many couples use their engagement photos for save-the-date cards, wedding invitations, and even wedding websites. These photos are a great way to give guests a sneak peek into your story as a couple and set the tone for your celebration.
Additionally, some couples choose to display engagement photos at their wedding. Whether it’s a framed portrait on a welcome table, part of a photo guest book, or even a slideshow during the reception, these images can add a personal touch to your decor. Having professional photos in advance makes it easy to create cohesive design elements for your big day.
4. Try Out Hair, Makeup, and Outfits Before the Wedding
Think of your engagement session as a wedding day dress rehearsal, especially when it comes to hair and makeup. Many brides (and grooms) use the opportunity to do a trial run of their hair and makeup look. This gives you a chance to see how your desired style holds up under different conditions — like outdoor lighting or wind — and make adjustments if needed before the wedding day. You also get a chance to see how it photographs: sometimes the mirror and the camera don’t align perfectly (so pro tip: when you’re first talking with makeup artists, be sure to ask about how they style their clients for photos specifically). Having an engagement session after a makeup trial can be a foolproof way to make totally sure that your makeup look for the big day is exactly how you want it.
It’s also a good time to experiment with clothing. While most engagement sessions call for casual or semi-formal outfits, you can still use it as a way to test colours, fabrics, or accessories. If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, for example, you might try wearing light colours to see how they photograph in natural light. Plus, the engagement photos will provide valuable feedback on how comfortable you feel in front of the camera wearing certain types of clothing.
On the other hand, with all the glam that goes hand-in-hand with a wedding, you may opt for something super casual and comfortable for an engagement session! Instead of using it as a trial, you can think of it as a chance to be photographed in something that’s more you. I’ve done poolside, athletic, or hiking sessions for outdoors-y folks, live music events for the music-lovers, all kinds of things that aren’t white-dress forward. If that’s not you… skip it! Which brings me to the last, and absolutely not least, reason why an engagement session is such a great investment.
5. Capture a Different Side of Your Love Story
Wedding photos capture a specific kind of magic — the excitement, emotion, and joy of one of the biggest days of your life. But an engagement session offers something different: a chance to document your relationship in a more relaxed, everyday context—and a context that feels more like you.
Whether you choose a meaningful location (like the place where you had your first date) or just spend time in a beautiful park or cityscape, engagement sessions reflect the quiet, personal moments that define your relationship. These photos tend to feel more authentic and intimate, giving you a visual story that complements the grander narrative of your wedding day. They’re what differ most from everyone else’s sessions, making your own love story the centre focus. In the past, I’ve hit the court with couples for a fun round of tennis, because that was a huge part of their relationship; as I mentioned earlier, I’ve hiked up mountains with couples to document their favourite weekend activity together; I’ve gone for bike rides, ice cream dates, got lobster rolls, taken a pottery class… the list goes on and on because the possibilities are uniquely endless. Even an at-home session documenting you in your element—making your morning coffee together, playing a board game, dancing around the living room— could be exactly what you both would cherish most to have immortalised.
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An engagement session isn’t just a photoshoot — it’s an investment in your overall wedding experience. From building trust with your photographer to creating meaningful images for your wedding decor, there are so many ways an engagement session can enhance your big day. Most importantly, it gives you and your partner time to connect, relax, and focus on each other amid the chaos of wedding planning.
So, if you’re on the fence about scheduling an engagement session, I highly encourage you to give it serious thought. Not only will you walk away with beautiful images, but you’ll also set yourself up for a smoother, more enjoyable wedding day. And as photographers, we promise — those candid, joyful moments you’ll capture during your engagement session are ones you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
