Because it's tradition?
WRONG! This couldn't be further from my outlook on engagement photos! I will be the first person in your corner to back you up if you don't want to plan your wedding around traditions and social norms.
What engagement photos really are, and why I view them as a necessary step in your planning process, is your chance to truly celebrate yourselves! Think of it as a date, except you have me creeping in the background capturing those precious moments! LOL
They can be reflection of your personalities, somewhere symbolic of your relationship, or maybe your chance to have an excuse to go on an adventure!
More importantly...
Engagement sessions are your time to trial run how your wedding day will go. To work through any awkwardness you may think you'll have in front of the camera; which for the record I call bullsh*t on. :) I promise you're not awkward!
It is the time for you to really connect with your photographer, see first hand how you vibe together and what their process is like during a real shoot. You should walk away from your engagement shoot feeling confident that when your photographer shows up on your wedding day that they feel like a friend arriving and not a stranger.
I strongly suggest that even if you have done an engagement shoot with another photographer before, that you still do one with your wedding photographer!
That is why I offer a complimentary engagement session with each of my wedding packages. Even if you're working within a certain budget, I still include at least a mini engagement session to get us out together and building an important bond.
