Welcome my friends!! (any Jane the Virgin watchers in here?)

I am really excited about this post because I truly believe having an engagement session with your photographer will COMPLETELY change your experience! Why, you ask? Well here are my top 3 reasons why I believe you should do an engagement session!

#1: Connection

You know those people you meet that were complete strangers before, but there’s just something about them that makes you feel like you’ve known them for years? That’s what I strive to be for you in this process! You definitely do NOT want a photographer who shows up for your wedding or engagement session that you do not connect with. If you value photography on your wedding day (which you should!) I encourage you to find the PERFECT fit for your day – even if that’s not me… though I sure hope it is haha.

What’s more is that you want to make sure you choose a photographer that fits your vision. Are you looking for some super dope, editorial style shots that will be on the cover of the next Vogue or GQ magazine? Then you’re probably not going to want to book the photographer who just finished backpacking the Alps and is going to Bali next weekend for an elopement.

I am by no means implying that the Bali photographer can’t do it. I have 100% faith they can. But if they specialize in the exact opposite of what you’re hoping to achieve – it’s probably wiser to find another INCREDIBLE photographer who specializes in what you’re hoping your wedding photos will look like! Connection, connection, even in the smallest decisions it’s important to foster that connection. And doing an engagement session is such an incredible way to make that connection even stronger, which means on wedding day your photos will be that much more beautiful.

#2: Trust

Remember that stranger-turned-best-friend scenario I mentioned earlier? Well, I would say 9 times out of 10 as you guys start to talk more and get to know each other, you are naturally going to start trusting what they say. And if you heard them talk about how incredibly amazing and delicious this restaurant was down the street, you’re probably going to file that away to take your boo thing out for dinner one day, right? Because someone who you’ve CONNECTED with, you are naturally going to trust!

So is true for wedding photography. The moment that point of connection starts, is the moment trust slowly but surely begins to build. From the time I say hello to the time we are walking back to our cars talking about my dad jokes that may (or may not) have hit, I am striving to continue to connect with you so that you naturally fall into a place of trust with me. And this should go for any photographer – so just replace the “me” and “I” with your photographer’s name 😉

Why is trust so important? Because that’s what makes you feel – and therefore look – natural, at ease and comfortable in your images. You value those non-posy, non-stiff photos right? Well then the answer to avoid that is…

Are you ready?

Trust! And connection, annnnnnnnd….

#3: Comfortability

Something that I hope you’re noticing through this post is that each reason listed above are all tied to the ones before it.

You are trying to choose a wedding photographer, so you are naturally going to be drawn to the personality types or character traits that you are/value. So you are basing your choice off of connection. Then you start talking with them and realize all the things you have in common, again establishing more connection. By the time the engagement session comes around (which, if you haven’t picked up by now, I totally think you need to be taking advantage of it!) you are pretty well connected and now it’s time to establish trust by interacting with each other face to face!

You go through the shoot and (hopefully) continue to build that connection and trust so that you feel comfortable.

Listen to me… the only way to accomplish authentic photos is to be authentic. And in order to be authentic you need to feel comfortable, right? So the importance of the engagement session is that you are able to establish these 3 reasons right out of the gate, which reassures you in your decision and makes the world perfect and wonderful.

Okay maybe not the world, but definitely this aspect of the wedding planning process! I’m sure you can imagine how freeing it is to not have to worry one bit about one aspect of your wedding. I mean, I’m pretty sure that’s the level of stress-free we are all trying to get to right? Being able to sit back, relax, and know without a shadow of a doubt that your vendors can handle whatever situation is thrown their way. Now that’s comfortability.

If you have been on the fence about whether or not to do an engagement session, then let this be your sign you’ve been looking for – DO IT! At the very least, it will confirm or deny that photographer for your wedding.

Also, quick little side note/plug to book me – ALL of my basic, standard packages (8 hours, 10 hours and full-day) automatically include a FREE engagement session… because I believe in this THAT much!

I hope these posts have been helpful for you so far! I can’t wait to continue to share more.

Kate