Why You Should Have an Engagement Session

 

An engagement photography session is a form of photography that involves taking portraits of the couple in the season between the proposal and the actual wedding day. When searching for a wedding photographer, one of the best practices is to book an engagement session along with your wedding collection, if it isn’t already included. Why should you consider doing this, though? Here are some top reasons why you should have an engagement photography session with your chosen Hawaii wedding photographer.


 
Couple’s engagement photography on a beach in HawaiiPhoto by HNL Studios

Couple’s engagement photography on a beach in Hawaii

Photo by HNL Studios

 

1. It’s a way to become comfortable with your wedding photographer

Your Hawaii wedding photographer will undoubtedly become your shadow during the wedding day. Establishing rapport and a great working relationship with your wedding photographer will help make the day go smoothly, a lot more comfortable for you, and translate to amazing wedding images. Your engagement session is one way of being able to build a relationship with your photographer and it definitely helps a lot during the wedding day to get rid of some nerves or camera shyness. You will be able to walk away from your engagement session knowing how to work with and communicate with your wedding photographer on the day of your wedding.

 

Couple’s and engagement photography on Oahu Hawaii

Photo by HNL Studios

tropical and foresty couple hawaii wedding and engagement photographer oahu
 

2. You can use engagement images in your guestbook

If you’re out of ideas on how to style your wedding guestbook, you can easily use your engagement images to design the guestbook. Many print shops offer this option, or you can improvise and make postcards out of your engagement images for your guests to write messages on. There are many ways to use engagement images, and this is just one of the many possibilities to incorporate them into your special day.

 
Couple popping champagne on a rooftop in HonoluluPhoto by HNL Studios

Couple popping champagne on a rooftop in Honolulu

Photo by HNL Studios

 

3. It’s good practice for your wedding images

Getting comfortable with the camera takes a bit of getting used to. Having an engagement session gives you the opportunity to practice and get used to being photographed. It’s amazing how posing and following direction from your Hawaii wedding photographer can feel a bit easier on your wedding day after having had an engagement session months before. Seeing the amazing images from your engagement session also provides you with some confidence in your photographer’s direction and can help eliminate some awkwardness when posing and allow you to trust them to know what they’re doing.

 
Urban and forest theme engagement portraitsPhoto by HNL Studios

Urban and forest theme engagement portraits

Photo by HNL Studios

Engaged couple in the woods Engagement Wedding Photography on Oahu Hawaii
 

4. It can be a time to take a break and have fun with your fiancé

Wedding planning is time-consuming and it can take up a lot of your physical and mental energy. It’s great to take breaks and go on dates to make sure you’re taking care of your relationship. The engagement session helps to hit two birds with one stone. You get to check off a part of your wedding list and also have fun with your spouse-to-be. Some of the ways to be able to do this is to make the day of your engagement session a date day! Go somewhere special for breakfast and spend time together before you head off to do your makeup and go on a dinner date after the session and talk about your experience during the day.

 
Couples having fun and laughing together during their engagement sessionPhoto by HNL Studios

Couples having fun and laughing together during their engagement session

Photo by HNL Studios

Engagement photography piggyback ride on the beach eeach Engagement and Couple Photographer on Oahu Honolulu Hawaii
Urban engagement photography on top of building in Honolulu
 

5. You can use engagement images in your invites or save the dates

One way to use your engagement images is to use them on invites or save the dates. There are plenty of great uses for your engagement images, and they can go a long way with a little bit of creativity. You can even use your engagement images for your wedding photobooth template design. The great thing about engagement images is that they provide you with beautiful images that can be used for the wedding and even beyond that.

 

Save the date cards and engagement portraits

Photo by HNL Studios

garden engagement portrait showing mountain range on oahu hoomaluhia gardens hnl studios
 

6. You can get some creative use out of engagement images for your wedding decor

Engagement images can also be used to decorate certain areas of your Hawaii wedding venue. Framed engagement photography can be used for your reception. Prints can also be hung from string tied to trees for a rustic feel. You can also display some framed pictures near your guestbook at your wedding reception. Your wedding planner can also provide you with ideas to incorporate and utilize your engagement images in wedding decor.

 

Table showing engagement images and other photoraphs

couple having fun together on the beach engagement session
Photo by HNL Studios

Photo by HNL Studios

 

7. It will tell the story of the special once in a lifetime season of your engagement

Just as your wedding day is a once in a lifetime event, your time of being engaged is also a special season in your life. Engagement images can help commemorate this wonderful season of preparing to get married to the love of your life and can help you recall just how you felt as you were planning your wedding and preparing for marriage. Aside from your wedding images, your engagement photography is something for you to look back on and enjoy as it’s part of the journey to your wedding.

 

Are you looking for a Hawaii wedding photographer for your special day? See how HNL Studios can give you peace of mind knowing your most important memories will be taken care of.

 
 
 
 

 
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Keshia is a lifestyle writer and the Studio Manager at HNL Studios offering wedding photography, videography, and photobooth. You can find her at home watching Korean dramas, experimenting with different ways to brew coffee, or playing The Legend of Zelda or Stardew Valley on the Nintendo Switch with her hubby Billy. She is an avid fan of fountain pens and have used them exclusively as her writing tool of choice since 2013. Follow HNL Studios on Instagram at: @HNLStudios