One of the current trends in wedding photography is an engagement shoot. Now, these may seem like a bit of a waste of time for us gents, but hold on, there may be more to this than meets the eye. When I was getting married, this was something I wasn’t too fussed about, as it seemed like just another afternoon consumed by wedding activity. However, it turned out to be a great idea, and a very valuable experience. And here’s why:
- Comfort.
Here’s a common scenario. On your big day, it’s that time, after the ceremony, where you all get together for the photos of the family and friends. You get close to your new wife, look at the camera, and pull the most unconvincing smile ever as you feel totally uncomfortable. Imagine if there was a way to meet and spend a few hours with the photographer before the wedding day, get to know them a little and get used to standing in front of the camera…. - Relaxation.
The engagement and lead up to a wedding can be a bit of a blur to some. There’s so much to sort, so many things to plan and arrange, that a lot of the time your head is all over the place. An engagement shoot gives you chance to slow down, and actually spend some quality time with your partner, away from the hustle and bustle of wedding planning (at least for an afternoon). - Ideas.
On an engagement shoot, there’s no time pressure for the perfect photo, so you can experiment. Bounce ideas off the photographer. You always wanted that photo of you and your wife stood on the top of Ben Nevis? Well, now’s the time to find out if its feasible. Even your most elaborate plans may be possible, so discuss it now while you have the photographer’s full, undivided attention. - Photos.
Obvious, right? But hang on, look around your house. How many photos do you actually have of you and your beautiful fiancée that aren’t selfies or holiday snaps? An engagement shoot is a perfect time to get some professional photos to fill a few picture frames for that gap on the living room wall. - Comfort.
I know this has already been mentioned, but it is so important. You want your wedding photos to look perfect, a set of images to capture the emotion and joy of the day. This isn’t possible if you look like you’re stood in a pair of wet underpants. In order to get those amazing shots, you have to appear comfortable and natural in front of the lens. And the only way to do it is to get used to being in the centre of the camera viewfinder.
There are other reasons why an engagement shoot can be beneficial to the groom, but I think the above are reasons enough to consider the possibilities of how a professional photo shoot before the big day can help to make you, and your intended, much more comfortable and relaxed when the time comes to capture those perfect wedding memories on film.