BY KRISTEN CASTILLO

CREATORS.COM

Most couples hire a wedding photographer to shoot their wedding, but not every couple hires a professional photographer to shoot engagement photos.

"For couples who care about photography and want to look natural on their wedding day, the engagement session is the best way to get eased into being photographed and to establish a connection with the photographer," says photographer Mike Peyzner of Choco Studio. "It's a chance for us to get to know the couple and the dynamics between them, and capture their special bond and unique characters with more ease."

Photographer Ben Evans of Photo Images by Ben agrees, saying, "When I photograph a wedding, I tell a complete story, and without engagement photos, a chapter in their story is missing."

Shooting engagement photos is also an opportunity for you to get to know how your photographer works.

"Getting to work with them before the big day builds confidence and releases a lot of pressure," says Sofia Negron of Sofia Negron Photography, who finds that couples wonder how they'll look in photos. "This way, all those anxieties are swept away, because if your engagement photos look good, then your wedding photos will. It also allows everyone else to relax."

IDEAL LOCATIONS

You probably know where you want to shoot your wedding photos, but what about your engagement photos?

Evans prefers outdoor settings with natural lighting. "Great locations for these types of photos are a local park, near a lake, tree, water fountain, monument, historic house or one's very own backyard," he says. "The possibilities are endless, and if the couple owns a pet, include it in some of the photos with you."

While nature settings are popular, so are urban shoots, like those in the middle of the city. "Urban settings can be really fun to work with because the shoots tend to be more spontaneous and offer more diversity in terms of settings, but the photography will be less emotional and more editorial," says Peyzner.

You can also shoot your e-session images at various locations. "The engagement session is also a great way to capture things that are special to you as a couple, but that you may not have time for on the wedding day," says Negron, who often has shoots at two or three locations that are meaningful to the bride and groom.

One thing to avoid? Shooting engagement photos in front of a landmark, such as the Golden Gate Bridge.

When To Shoot Engagement Photos

If you decide to shoot engagement photos, don't wait too long. "Typically, most couples I have photographed schedule their engagement photo session six months before their wedding day," says Evans.

When you shoot engagement images early, rather than late, you can use the photos for wedding-related items like save-the-dates, your wedding website and engagement notices in your local newspaper. You can dress and look any way you want for your engagement photos.

Some couples like dressing up, while others keep things casual. Whatever you choose, just be comfortable in front of the camera and have fun!