Why I Include Engagement Sessions in Every Wedding Package
Highlights:
Why engagement sessions are more than just “extra photos”
How they help you feel natural and confident in front of the camera
How do I learn your unique dynamic as a couple
How do you get comfortable with my approach before the wedding day
How engagement sessions make your wedding day feel easier and more relaxed
Read Time: 4 minutes
Topics: Engagement Sessions, Wedding Photography Experience, Natural Wedding Photos, Wedding Planning Tips, Building Client Connection
If you’ve ever thought, “Wait… what do I even do with my hands?” the second a camera comes out, you are absolutely not alone. Truly. Almost every couple I meet starts off feeling a little unsure and a little stiff. Being in front of a camera isn’t something most people do every day. It’s vulnerable, personal, and it’s you being you… with a lens pointed your way.
That’s exactly why I care so deeply about engagement sessions. To me, they’re not just a cutesy add-on. They’re the foundation. It’s the starting point where we get to slow down, laugh a little, and figure things out together. It’s where the nerves start to melt.
And because I believe in that so wholeheartedly, engagement sessions are included in every one of my wedding packages. Not as a rule for the sake of having one, but because I’ve seen, over and over again, just how much they matter.
It Builds Real Comfort
Here’s what no one really tells you: feeling comfortable in photos isn’t about knowing how to pose. It’s about feeling safe enough to be yourselves. And that doesn’t magically happen on your wedding day. An engagement session is like a little practice run, but without any pressure.
At first, it might feel a tiny bit awkward. Totally normal. I’ll probably give you a few gentle prompts, you might giggle through them, and there might be a moment where you look at each other like, “Are we doing this right?” But something will shift.
By the time your wedding rolls around, you’re not walking into photos feeling unsure. You already know what it feels like because you’ve done this before. You trust the process, and more importantly, you trust yourself in it. That comfort will show up in every single photo.
We Get to Know Each Other
One of my favorite parts of an engagement session is about you. I get to see how you naturally exist together—your little in-between moments, your rhythm, your thing. And I’m paying attention to all of it. Because the more I understand how you interact, the more I can guide you in a way that actually feels natural.
But it goes both ways. You’re also getting to know me. You’ll see how I guide you, how I talk, how I gently step in when needed, and when I step back and let a moment unfold. You’ll get a feel for my energy. And somewhere in all of that, trust starts to build. So by the time your wedding day arrives, I’m not just “your photographer.” I’m someone familiar, whom you’ve already laughed with and felt comfortable around.
Why I Require It (From a Place of Care)
I know the word “require” can feel a little intense. Like there’s a rulebook somewhere and I’m enforcing it with a clipboard in hand. I promise it’s not that kind of energy at all. If anything, it comes from the softest, most genuine place.
I’ve seen what happens when couples skip this step. The nerves don’t fully have a place to land, the timeline feels a little tighter, and there’s this pressure to “figure it out” on a day that’s already full of so many emotions. And I just want more for you than that.
I want you to walk into your wedding day feeling calm, confident, and completely at ease. I want photos to feel like the easiest part of your day, not something you have to think about or worry over.
Requiring an engagement session isn’t about control. It’s about giving you the space to ease into this experience, to feel seen, to feel comfortable, and to know exactly what it’s like to be in front of my camera before one of the biggest days of your life. When you feel good, everything else flows so much more beautifully.
