Are Engagement Photos a Waste?

My 18yr old is a photography freak and did a whole yr last yr on it. She got a REALLY nice camera gifted to her so we are going to let her take a stab at it. At worst, we tried, at BEST we end up with AT LEAST a few awesome shots!!! I am planning on more then one trip out, which I can do cause we're all here So if we want a rain shot, it's starts, we spontaneously all get ready and head out. We are going to scope out a few places, because I wanna hit EVERYTHING on my Pinterest list

http://www.pinterest.com/mlw914/engagement-photos/

My plan if we get enough good ones, is to do something like this with them as centerpieces... And I have a special photo planned JUST to use as the backdrop for our invitations.

We weren't going to do them, didn't have the budget for it. my photographer charges 300 for a session. I actually went on groupon and purchased a $49 one hour session, includes 20 photos. so well see how that goes !

We did them and I'm really glad that we did for the following reasons:

- we don't have too many photos together (neither of us are big photo takers)

- following up to the first one, we aren't used to being in front of a camera. Wedding photography is important to me so we used the experience to get to know our photographer and become comfortable

- we received about 45 edited photos after, which I loved ( our photographers work makes me swoon!). BUT, we also learned a few things from seeing the photos that are helpful for the photo day. Ex: I laughed in almost all of the photos, which is fine... But I would like to have a couple non-laughing photos. We also realized that we want a few traditional close-up photos, a la 'smile for Granny' style.

All in all it was really fun, we got to hang out with the photographer and got the photos as well!

I hadn't heard of engagement shoots until we were looking at packages with our photographer and found that we could choose between an e-shoot or an extra hour at the wedding. We talked about it and decided to go for the e-shoot - it will give us some nice pics of us together not in wedding outfits, and also give us a chance to get used to being in front of the camera before the wedding. It'll give us a chance to get to know the photographer and make sure they know what we like too. Even if you don't pay for the pics afterwards it could be a fun day anyway so I say go for it!

I don't think engagement photos are a waste. It's an enjoyable & fun time with your FH that will be captured for all to see. Beside, we used a groupon, so the cost was low. Go for it, have fun with it! We used a few for our STDS.

We splurged on an excellent photography pair and got the most beautiful pictures back. It was a lot of money for photos, but so worth it to have. Especially when the next professional photos we'll have, besides wedding, are probably going to be family photos in 7+ years. We're glad we got them done!

I love our engagement photos and one even inspired the wedding 'theme'.

I don't think they're a waste because I got to get comfortable following a photographer's instructions and FH and I had a great time goofing around in front of the camera. It did however take us a while to relax.

Wow, your family and FH clearly don't appreciate the value of a photographer beyond the camera and that's a shame. They are fun to do and help you really connect with your photographer, but if that photographer isn't doing your wedding, that's a moot point. People get them done for save the dates, decorating the reception area, or using the photos for a sign in album. If you are using them in that way, the value of them is great....if not, than it's fine not to get them. My couples are 50-50. But hard to beat free.....but if both of you don't value it and the photographer, it will show in the photos.

We just did ours and what a treat! I love them! Since I didn't have time to send save the dates I'm choosing a wedding invitation that's a trifold that allows for four pictures and I also out some of them up on my wedding wire website. My family and friends have enjoyed seeing them. I can't wait to frame so as they are the best pics we've ever had of each other.

DH insisted we have them done and I was meh on the subject. However, I'm SO glad we did. We got to know our photographer a little bit, got to spend 2 solid hours together being in love and acting silly, and it was just fun. We used the photos for our shutterfly guest book. I haven't actually printed/displayed any yet, and I don't know if I will.

I thought it was a fun bonding experience.

Paris, exactly why they are great to do!

Ours were included in our package and while we are horrible picture takers, I like that we are the only ones who notice the little things we were doing while they were taking them. We also have a 4 year old so we used them as family pictures also since we hadn't had one in 3 years. My FH could have cared less about pictures, but we are kinda happy that we have a few together before all of the craziness begins. We did use ours for our STDs also so that was nice. I think that you if thought they were worth it in the first place, go for it. My family is all old school and my grandparents thought our STD were our invitations lol...my grandmother couldnt figure out why there wasn't a time or venue on the invitation and why it didn't come with a response card...I was laughing forever about that one

I am so glad we did them! Now we have lovely pics of the two of us and I framed a few of my favorite and they made perfect holiday gifts for moms and dads

We're only doing engagement pictures because they're included in the photography package for our wedding. However, the more I think about it, I might want to do it anyway, and here's why. You will have your wedding pictures forever, and they are probably the best (and sometimes only professional) pictures you will ever get of yourselves. Yet, you're all gussied up in formalwear with a veil on your head. Isn't it also sort of a nice idea to have really good professional pictures of yourselves just being yourselves? Wearing normal clothes and doing normal things in a non-formal environment of your choosing?

I just had mine done Monday and got them back today. My FH thought I was crazy but I love having pictures taken to remember special times and since we got the pictures back he loves them. they are not a waste of money because even if you don't use them for anything wedding related you will have them look back on and remember when you were just engaged.

We only did them because they were free! LOL

I love how our engagement pictures turned out. I've used them for numerous things for our wedding and my family loved having them to display. It was also a good way to see how our photographer interacted with us prior to our wedding.