[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/is-engagement-photography-worth-the-time-and-money\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/is-engagement-photography-worth-the-time-and-money\/","headline":"Is engagement photography worth the time and money?","name":"Is engagement photography worth the time and money?","description":"An engagement session gives you the opportunity to take your time, explore, and relax.","datePublished":"2023-06-22","dateModified":"2023-06-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/melissa_vr\/#Person","name":"Melissa van Ruiten Photography","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/melissa_vr\/","identifier":6145,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/347cf988da171aa78d781b08fe9ba120cc319c8c7f7dc13b71ff618b8d77a422?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/347cf988da171aa78d781b08fe9ba120cc319c8c7f7dc13b71ff618b8d77a422?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AlainaMaceySF_07.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AlainaMaceySF_07.jpg","height":801,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/is-engagement-photography-worth-the-time-and-money\/","about":["Engagement","Photography & Video","Viewpoints","Wedding Planning Tools & Tips"],"wordCount":584,"keywords":["engagement","opinion","photography"],"articleBody":"Editor’s Note:\u00a0This article was originally published on Melissa van Ruiten’s blog here.The short answer is yes, absolutely.As an engagement and wedding photographer, that\u2019s probably what you\u2019d expect me to say, right? I mean, I\u2019ve photographed engagement sessions all over San Francisco\u2019s Bay Area, but there is always one thing that stays with me: The couples that have chosen to include an engagement session are almost always\u00a0more comfortable in front of my camera on their wedding day.Here are a few reasons why engagement photos should be high on your wedding planning to-do list.It’s the best opportunity to slow down and be yourselves.Wedding days are hectic. That\u2019s not really a secret. Even days that seem like they\u2019ve got a good schedule cushion built-in can still end up feeling like a whirlwind. An engagement session gives you the opportunity to take your time, explore, and relax. You are able to choose a location(s) that is meaningful to your relationship\u2014first date locale, favorite hiking spot, cute cafe, etc.You can plan outfits that fit your personalities. While you\u2019re at it, why not throw together a fun, lovey-dovey playlist? I\u2019m always down for music, and well, jamming to some favorite tunes can really put those awkward butterflies at ease. Planning a wedding can leave you feeling frazzled, so an engagement session is the perfect time to really connect with your partner, and show off how in love you both are!It gives you a chance to get to know your photographer (and vice versa).Here\u2019s the thing, as your photographer, I want you to be\u00a0as comfortable as possible when you\u2019re in front of my camera. If you\u2019re not, it\u2019s going to show. Nobody is born knowing how to act in front of a camera. And the hands, oh the hands. Your engagement session will allow you to see how I work, and it allows me to figure out your quirks and make them shine! We will chat and joke, and there will be lots of laughter because that\u2019s how I do. By the time your wedding day rolls around, we will totally\u00a0be BFFs, which is good, because we\u2019ll be spending\u00a0a lot\u00a0of time together on the big day!You can use the images for all things wedding related.Are you looking for the perfect save-the-dates or a totally personalized wedding invitation? Maybe you\u2019ve got a whole wedding website to help your guests with all the details of your big day. Why not fully customize it with professional photos of you and your fiance? This is what Jen did, and she couldn\u2019t be happier. She says, \u201cThe photos helped make our invitations more personal and we have a set of gorgeous photos that capture the excitement we felt about getting married.\u201dWe live in the age of social media. Rather than posting random, couple selfies with your wedding updates, you\u2019ll have a complete, curated gallery of photos to use. Don\u2019t get me wrong, candid shots definitely have their time and place, but for something like custom guest books, or gift table displays, you\u2019ll want something that looks a bit more \u201cfinished.\u201dAll in all, engagement photos are just, plain\u00a0fun. In the midst of wedding planning chaos, they are the perfect opportunity to step away and celebrate the amazing love that you and your partner share."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Is engagement photography worth the time and money?","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/is-engagement-photography-worth-the-time-and-money\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]