Engagement shoots

Our engagement shoot came with our wedding photography package. I was really happy I did them! They came out beautiful and it was a good way to get to know the photographer's style and for us to figure out how to pose together. And we used three of the pictures from the shoot on our save the dates.

If it wasn't part of our package, however, I probably wouldn't have paid for it because it can be expensive for just 2 hours of shoot time!

I wouldn't say they're a waste, it just depends on you personally. I was excited for our engagement shoot. They were the first professional photos we had done together that we now have printed in our home and on our desks at work. We also used them for our save the dates and it gave us a chance to get to know our wedding photographer a little better before the big day. That being said, they're definitely not a necessity so it's totally fine to skip them if it doesn't appeal to you

I loved my engagement shoot! We got so many beautiful pictures. It also gave us a chance to get to know our photographer a little better and break the ice before the wedding day. We didn't have many pics of us together besides ones we've taken so it was nice to have professional pics of us that aren't just wedding pictures. And now we can display them at our wedding. Our engagement shoot was included in our photography package but even if it wasn't I would've done it anyways. Everyone's different though and may not find them necessary but it was definitely worth it for me!

I didn’t plan to. But my wedding photographer package comes with a free one hour engagement shoot so... I guess we are lol

Ours came with the package, and I honestly am so glad we did them. We used them for save the dates and the wedding website, but we also got a chance to know the photographer more and how to pose in general. By the end he had the two of us laughing and enjoying ourselves and not being nervous about photos. I don't think they're a waste - they were also our first posed photos together. We even got a family shot with the dog included.

We took my camera and a friend to the pumpkin patch and DIYd them. It was a great time and editing them together was a good bonding time.

I do dabble in photography so that may not be everyone's cup of tea, but we really loved it!

Just some ideas on what you can do with the pictures so they don’t feel like a waste. Incorporate in your save the date and thank you cards for after the wedding. Use them to make a photo guestbook that your guests can sign or write advice/ wishes in. Put them up in your home as decor.

Hi! I do not feel like they are a waste for one reason...they give you time to meet with your photographer and see how you work together and what the experience on your wedding day may be like. We actually did TWO rounds of engagement photos, because our first round with our first photographer did not go well. She was not very personable, and the direction she gave led to photos that definitely were NOT "us".

The second photographer we used for engagement photos was WAY more personable, and understood who we were and the photos reflected that.

I cannot stress how important it is to do a 'test run', whether it's for engagement photos or just fun. If we had gone with our first photographer and committed to a contract prior to doing engagement photos, I think I would be dreading taking photos on the wedding day. Now I'm really excited to meet with our photographer again and feel very comfortable, which I am sure will translate to happy, comfy, glowing wedding pics.

Ours also comes with our package. I'm really looking forward to having professional photos of us aside from our wedding photos. I also think it will be a great chance to find poses we like and get comfortable with our photographer. They definitely aren't necessary, but I also don't think they will go to waste.

View Quoted Comment I agree they gave you the opportunity to get to know your photographer and their style and vice versa. I don’t think they are a waste at all. Especially for someone who’s like me and we don’t have a lot of pictures together to hang on our wall so this will be a great way for us to get professional photos done

Our pre-wedding shoot, I photographer doesn’t call it an engagement shoot., Is away for our photographer to learn us and for us to learn him and it is included in our wedding package so I don’t think it’s a waste because it gives you the opportunity. Also will have some beautiful professional photos to hang on our wall since we don’t have many as it is

I'm VERY happy that I did engagement photos! We used them as Christmas gifts for close family members (grandparents and parents), which they all LOVED. I also used them for our wedding website and framed a few for myself. You can also use them if you want a photo invitation. It just depends on if it worth it for you, I guess. And, like others are saying, it gives you the opportunity to meet and really work with your photographer.

Our engagement shoot was a blast! It was such a great bonding experience and we used them for our wedding website and Save the Dates. Plus, it's a great chance to get comfortable with the photographer and get over some of the nerves you feel getting in front of the camera. It was very special and I would 1000% do it again, definitely not a waste.

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I'm with Tiffany. It was a great experience and we had a chance to get to know our photographer and feel comfortable in front of the camera. The photos were great and we used them for our Save the Dates, Entry Welcome Banner and Menu Cards we had custom made. Well worth it!

I did it but had an informal one my moh did with her camera

They are definitely not required. A lot of couples use them as a test run for their photographer so they can get used to their style, poses etc and decide if they want to use them for their wedding. If you are already used to your photographer or like their style then you should be good to go.

I think the main benefit is it’s basically a “trial” with your wedding photographer to see how you like working with them and how you like the photos. We weren’t happy with how our engagement photos came out at all but I was actually really grateful for that because then I knew to get a new photographer for the wedding.

We didn't do them. We have never spent money on a photographer before, and we don't like taking many pictures anyway. We DID hire a photographer for the wedding, just for an hour and a half to get some photos of the ceremony and of us with our families.

The selfie you see on my profile page here was my "engagement photo". I sent it to friends and family and then put it up on all my social media with a caption saying, "I guess he liked it 'cuz he put a ring on it". That was it.

Like others said, it's up to you to decide whether or not having a photo shoot is a waste of money, and there are ways you can incorporate the photos into other aspects of your wedding later on. Bottom line: While they're very trendy, they're not necessary.

They are not a waste at all. We had never had professional photos taken together before, so this was a great opportunity! We used some of the photos on our save the dates and used them around our reception.

We weren't planning on doing engagement photos, but they were included with our photography package. We ended up being really glad we did them, because we got some beautiful pictures with each other. When we wanted pictures for other things (save the dates, guest book, bridal shower decorations), it was nice to have some photos of us that weren't selfies.