So you’re engaged…yay!! And you’ve picked a date, a photographer and probably a venue as well…triple yay!! Now what?!

The first thing we like to suggest to our brides is to book their engagement session! The engagement session can sometimes be overlooked since you’re so focused on your wedding day, but trust us – you’re going to want to hop on the engagement photo train!

Here at Cotton, we like to kick off your wedding experience with an engagement session because we truly believe that it’s a VITAL part of the entire process.

It acts as the perfect trial run, so you can get to know us, experience how we shoot and how we handle all the details that go into capturing your big day!

Not only will it help make your life easier as your wedding day approaches, but it will preserve a special time in your relationship as you prepare to take that next step in your relationship together!

Here are a few perks of doing an engagement session with your photographer:

5 Reasons To Do An Engagement Session

1. You’ll feel relaxed and like pros on your wedding day!

No matter how much you love the camera, we all need a little warming up before being the center of attention. That’s why the engagement session is the BEST way to release any nerves that you may have and get comfortable so that the posing feels natural. After all, practice makes perfect! If you don’t want to spend the first half of your wedding portraits learning how to relax in front of the camera, then an engagement session is for you!

2. Your Photographer will know how to photograph you!

At your engagement session, we will learn how you two interact, what you like, what you don’t like and how to photograph y’all in a genuine way! Your wedding day will flow so much smoother if you have that figured out before hand.

There’s so much more that goes into taking beautiful wedding photos than just knowing how to use a fancy camera! We want you to look at your photos and really feel like they are 100% you guys! Choose a photographer you love and you’ll feel so much more comfortable with them. You are giving them a front-row seat by allowing them to peak into your relationship to photograph this sweet time!

3. This is a once in a lifetime session!

The engagement phase, though wonderful, can usually feel like it disappeared in the blink of an eye! When you have your engagement photos taken, you get to savor that sweet feeling a little bit longer! : )

Plus, this could be the last session of just the two you! If you are wanting to have a family down the road, the next portraits of the two of you might be a maternity session! So you’ll definitely want to have memories of this special engagement season with your hubby-to-be!

 

4. You’ll have loads of beautiful photos to use for your wedding!

We’re talking engagement announcements, save the date cards, displays at your venue, guestbooks and so much more! One less thing to stress about! ; )

 

5. Make it a date night! 

Since you’ll be all dolled up, you can go out for a hot date afterward! #winning I challenge you to NOT talk about anything wedding related! Trust us, we know it’s hard! ; )

Sometimes when you’re in wedding planning mode the last thing on your mind is making special time for you and your honey! That’s why we encourage our couples to have fun during and after their engagement session to let loose & remember what their special day is truly about!

BONUS: You can include your sweet pet!

You get photos with your honey and your fur baby! What more could you want!?

There are SO many good reasons to do an engagement session! Are you team #EngagementSession? Let us know in the comments below!

Happy planning, bridal babe!

XO,

Michelle & Alyssa