Why Our Included Engagement Sessions Are a Must for Any Couple
Imagine you’ve got 60 minutes to knock out pre-ceremony portraits. You’re totally nervous as it is, and someone keeps telling you where to stand, what to do with your hands, and how to breathe for a solid portrait. No doubt, that can make things a bit tense on your wedding day. Now imagine having a practice session with the photographers, and instead, knowing that as soon as they show up, the jokes, laughs, and portraits come far more naturally for everyone involved. We’ve tested this theory time and time again. It works!
Bride-to-be says “yes”
Let’s rewind a bit. The question gets popped. You’ve said “yes” and share some fuzzy iPhone photos to social media. From here, you begin to pick a date for your wedding day, find a venue, and hit the ground running with immediate planning. You’ve booked Love Wins Photography (awesome!) after a brief consultation to set expectations and outline the general plan for “game day.” It’s at this point where Kim and I just love what comes next. Now we set a time to meet for an engagement session, which is included in all Love Wins Photography wedding packages.
Vermont provides a myriad of beautiful scenes for engagement sessions
in other words, “a practice session”
While for some couples this doesn’t have to specifically be an engagement session, the purpose is always to offer a chance to work with us prior to the big day, so you know generally what to expect and can feel more comfortable being photographed come wedding day. For Kim and me, this gives us an opportunity to see how each couple works together so we can cater our shooting style to the exact needs of our clients. Some couples love being in front of the lens while others may feel totally uncomfortable with it...and that’s perfectly fine. For our clients, these sessions provide an essential opportunity to establish a relationship with their photographers. We are all about building relationships with our clients, as photographing something as intimate as a celebration of love and commitment requires a certain sense of trust which can be hard to achieve on the wedding day alone. When a couple can trust their photographers in their own personal space, their guests almost always follow suit. The result? Natural smiles, warm glows, and a true sense of the love your guests feel towards your happiness.
Lamp’s eye view of the happy couple
bringing some warmth to those cold feet
Oftentimes, one of the parties in the couple is comfortable with being photographed while the other is a little hesitant. In Bride/Groom marriages, we see this the most with the groom. Don’t worry, dudes, we’ve got you! We’ll start out in a place that is comfortable for you, where you can work out the kinks. Kim usually cracks an awkward joke or two, and after a few pointers like what to do with your hands, the shutter begins firing away. Blink away, burst into spontaneous laughter, or whatever you need to do to break the ice. Perhaps a survey would be appropriate to determine who’s the most sarcastic of the two of us, but the bottom line is that Kim and I both like to have a good time and really try to make sure you do too!
Sunsets and beautiful smiles
just relax, you’re doing fine
In most cases from here, we’ll move to another location. This gives our clients an opportunity to get back alone together for a moment while we move along, where often they have a good chuckle about feeling awkward or silly, and by the time we reconvene, there’s a noticeable sense of relief. I’ve noticed time and time again that by the second location, smiles are more real, shoulders are more relaxed, and couples look more natural together. This is why we strongly recommend we work together for an engagement session.