Do I Have to Hire a Second Photographer for Engagement Portraits?

Most wedding photographers will list an engagement portrait session under their services. Some photographers will throw in a “free” engagement portrait session when you book them for your wedding.  I put free in quotes because while the shoot itself may not cost anything you’ll have to pay for any prints you order.

An engagement session can be shot any time before your wedding and many couples will use these photos on their save-the-date cards or wedding website. If that’s what you’re thinking of doing you should book the shoot at least six to nine months before the wedding so that you have time to order save-the-date cards with the photos on them.

An engagement shoot is also a great way to get to know, and get comfortable with, your photographer. Remember that he or she will be with you -- literally in your face -- all day on your wedding day so it’s important that you hire someone who doesn’t annoy you.

If you are expecting your wedding photographer to shoot your engagement session make sure those details are in the contract, including if the shoot is in a studio or on location, how much it will cost to do the shoot and how much print orders will cost.

Engagement Portraits

When you're meeting with wedding photographers ask them if an engagement portrait session is included or if you can add one.  You want to know the added cost, if there is one, for the shoot and the cost of prints or albums from the shoot.  Find out how you will receive them, as printed proofs, on a CD or if they'll be posted on a website to review.

Besides framing a few photos in your home, and maybe gifting one to your parents and his, you can use your engagement photos on your save-the-date cards, wedding website and holiday cards, if you send them.

Engagement portraits are not a wedding must-have, but how many times in your life will you hire a professional photographer to take pictures of the two of you?  It might be worth cutting other areas of your wedding budget to make room for this expense.

Engagement Photo Session

It's very common these days to have an engagement portrait session where your wedding photographer takes photos of the two of you.  Sometimes the couple may use the pictures on their save-the-date cards or wedding website, but I think it's just nice to have them framed for your home - and your parents' homes.

Until you have kids you are probably not going to splurge on a photographer to take formal photos of you and it's really nice to have great pictures of you as a couple for your family albums.

Check out portfolios of wedding photographers and click through wedding blogs to see what other couples have done to capture great engagement photos.  Splurge on a great outfit that you'll wear again and make him get dressed too, and go get your hair (and makeup) done.  After the session, since you're all dressed up, make it date night or why not host an informal engagement party.