So you said yes! Congrats, seriously. But now what? There’s this massive to-do list, and somewhere between picking centerpieces and tasting cake, your photographer mentions an engagement shoot.

And you’re probably thinking—wait, more photos? Don’t we already have enough to worry about?

I totally thought the same thing before my friend’s wedding. She skipped hers, said it seemed unnecessary. Fast forward to her wedding day, and she spent the first half hour of portraits looking stiff as a board. She told me later she wished she’d practiced beforehand. That conversation stuck with me.

Turns out, when you’re searching for the best wedding photographer Williamsburg has around, most packages include these sessions. Not as a money grab—there’s actual logic behind it that makes your life way easier down the road.

Nobody Talks About How Weird Posing Feels

Real talk? Being photographed is awkward as hell for most of us.

Unless you’re constantly taking Instagram selfies or modeling professionally, having someone point a big camera at you feels unnatural. Your face does this frozen thing. Hands suddenly feel like they weigh 50 pounds each. Where do they even go?

My cousin literally asked during his wedding portraits, “Should I be doing something with my arms?” Poor guy looked like a robot.

Engagement sessions fix this weirdness. You get comfortable without the pressure of 200 people watching. Mess up a pose? Who cares, try again. Laugh at something random? That’s probably the best shot anyway. By the time wedding day rolls around, you’ve already been through this. You know what works, what feels natural, and most importantly—you can actually relax.

Getting to Actually Know Your Photographer Matters More Than You’d Think

Think about it. This person’s gonna be basically glued to you on one of the biggest days ever. They’ll see the happy tears, the nervous energy, maybe even some family tension if we’re being honest.

Starting that relationship on wedding day morning feels… rushed?

The engagement shoot gives you real time together. You figure out if their vibe matches yours. Are they goofy or serious? Do they boss you around with poses or let things happen organically? Some photographers talk constantly, others barely say a word. You need to know which type you’re working with.

And they’re learning about you too. Who’s the silly one? Who needs encouragement? What inside jokes make you crack up? This stuff can’t be faked on wedding day—it either exists or it doesn’t.

When your photographer already feels like someone you’d grab coffee with, everything just flows better.

You Actually Need These Photos Soon

Okay, practical moment. You’re engaged NOW. Not next year when your wedding album finally arrives.

Those save-the-dates won’t design themselves. Your wedding website needs photos that aren’t just selfies. Some couples even create entire guest books from engagement pictures or display them at the reception.

Plus—and this part’s kinda special—these photos are completely YOURS. No bridesmaids accidentally making faces behind you. No groomsmen doing bunny ears. No coordination with 12 other people. Just you two at that park you always visit or the restaurant where everything started.

It’s your story before it becomes everyone’s celebration. That deserves good photos.

Testing Everything Out First Just Makes Sense

Remember doing practice runs before big presentations in school? Same concept here.

Your engagement session lets you experiment with locations. Maybe there’s this cool industrial area with amazing brick walls. Or a field that’s gorgeous at sunset. You and your photographer can explore options, see what photographs well, figure out what style you’re drawn to.

Lighting’s huge too. What works at 2pm versus 6pm makes a massive difference. Better to learn this stuff during a relaxed session than while racing against your wedding timeline.

And honestly? If something doesn’t work—a location feels off, certain poses feel awkward—you’ve got time to adjust. That’s valuable information you can’t get any other way.

Your Wedding Day’s Already Stressful Enough

Let’s be real about wedding mornings. You probably didn’t sleep great. There’s hair and makeup happening. Someone’s running late. Your mom’s emotional. Everything feels like controlled chaos.

Now imagine adding “figure out how to be photographed professionally” to that list.

Couples who skip engagement sessions basically spend their first chunk of portrait time just… learning how this works. Getting comfortable. Figuring out what the photographer means by “turn toward each other slightly.” That’s 20, maybe 30 minutes of your day gone.

Meanwhile, couples who’ve already done a full session? They’re pros. They know exactly what to do, portraits fly by, and they actually make it to cocktail hour while there’s still food. (Pro tip: photographers eat all the good appetizers first if you’re not there.)

You’ll Want These Later More Than You Realize

Here’s something that hits different as time goes on. Right now you’re focused on the wedding. Makes sense.

But years from now—maybe when you’re looking for a family photographer Richmond folks recommend for maternity shots or baby pictures—you’ll stumble across these engagement photos. And man, the feelings that come up.

These pictures show you before everything changed. Before kids and mortgages and “what’s for dinner” becoming your most frequent conversation. Just two people head-over-heels in love, planning this massive life together.

Your wedding’s one incredible day. But your engagement? That’s months of anticipation, planning, dreaming. It’s its own chapter. Don’t let it disappear without any documentation.

So… Should You Actually Book One?

Look, I can’t make this decision for you. But if your photographer’s offering it, and you’ve got the time, why not?

Pick somewhere meaningful. That coffee shop from your first date. The hiking trail where you got engaged. Even your neighborhood if it’s got character. Wear clothes that make you feel good—comfortable’s key though, especially shoes. Trust me on the shoes.

Don’t stress about looking perfect or doing everything right. The best photos happen when you forget you’re even being photographed. When you’re just laughing at something dumb or stealing a quick kiss because it felt right.

You’re only engaged once. This time goes faster than you think. Having photos that capture exactly where you are right now—excited, nervous, completely in love—that’s something you’ll never regret.

And wedding day photos? They’ll be incredible because you already know what you’re doing.

Worth it? Yeah, I’d say so.