Thoughts on engagement pics/Do them or not do them?

Sara191431

Trying to budget a photographer and deciding if we even want to do engagement pics.  I do think they'd be good for STDs but otherwise not sure if they are that vital for us.

Opinions?  TIA.

Luswen

I ran the option of engagement photos through my fiance and my parents. Oddly enough, my parents have never heard of engagement photos! My wedding photgraphy package came with a free engagement photo session; many photographers include it.

Cute tidit: My photogrpher suggested that if we don't have a "use" for engagement photos, we could still do the shoot but have props or something. For example, we could be holding up cards that say "Thank" and "You" and send them out as Thank-you cards for after the wedding.

But just my opinion... I like little pictures of my FI and me together, as he is camera shy (and I'm always the one with the camera in my hand).

Izzygrim

We have been planning on doing them, but we're already 5 months out and haven't even scheduled them yet, oops. Ours will be included in our photography package. I think we will do them, mostly so FI and I finally have nice pictures of us together (and it will be nice to have some pro pictures where we won't be in our wedding attire). That and I kinda wanna include our dogs in them so we have nice "family" pictures as well

MN_Jen

I strongly suggest doing them, even just so you can get more comfortable with your photographers and with having your picture taken. My FI is definitely camera shy, but I think he even ended up enjoying our e-pics and will be much more relaxed in front of the camera on our wedding day.

Since we don't have any specific use for the pictures either, we decided to have a lot of fun and have retro-themed pictures (which I'm hoping to post in the next few days!).  One awesome thing about e-pics is that there aren't any rules and there isn't any pressure, so you can do whatever you want.

Finally, there was an added bonus I didn't even think of.  I scheduled my trial run for my hair and makeup on the same day as our pictures, and realized that even though I liked my hair in person, I really didn't like it on film.  So its back to the drawing board with the hairstyle.  I'm glad I realized that before my wedding!

kkaew816

I think the best part about engagement pics (aside from the cute pics) is getting used to being around your photographer and getting comfortable around the camera.

We used ours for our STDs, our guestbook, photo card box and framed a couple

izzyjenni

I agree. It is nice to get comfortable with your photographer.  We weren't going to do them because we had been engaged for about 5 months and didn't feel we needed them.  We weren't going to put our pictures in the paper or anything. BUT we got it with our package and decided why not.  It was a good choice because we've used them in our Save The Dates, pictures for our table numbers and trivia, picture guestbook, and the list goes on.  Plus they were really fun and it was a nice way to spend time getting to know our photograher and goofing off with my FI.  Either way though they are not a necessity and if our package hadn't included them, I don't think we would have done them.

hkiesling

Do them!  It's fun, you get to know your photographer, and you will find uses for them.  Plus, it's nice to have some good pictures of the two of you together sans the poofy white dress.

beka0404

We've already sent out our STDs, but we're doing an E-session anyway. As PPs have mentioned, I think it will help us built rapport with our photographer, and we'll use them in the card box, guest book, etc. I also would like to have pictures of my fiance and I without the formal bridal attire - something that would be at home framed in our rustic living room and such.

debbieupper

I didn't really get the point of e-pics either, but they were only $50 extra to add them to our wedding package with our photog. We just took them this weekend, and I have to say I am really glad we did. 

You find out things you do in photos (i.e. I raise my shoulders up all the time and it looks weird) that you can try to avoid doing on the big day. 

It's also just really exciting to see cute photos of yourself and your sweetie. We had such a good time taking the photos - it was like a date.

HTH!

drdifabio

We did them and they were so much fun. It was great to get to know our photographer and we have used them for a lot - favors, photo guest book, STDs, and they will be around the reception.

leggwilliams

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_anyone-not-engagement-pics-done?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:864cdad4-e88a-4929-b18e-6670e32da094Post:6c3fada6-0dd7-49ed-8436-809cf3ff3fd1">Re: Thoughts on engagement pics/Do them or not do them?</a>:
[QUOTE]I didn't really get the point of e-pics either, but they were only $50 extra to add them to our wedding package with our photog. We just took them this weekend, and I have to say I am really glad we did.  You find out things you do in photos (i.e. I raise my shoulders up all the time and it looks weird) that you can try to avoid doing on the big day.  It's also just really exciting to see cute photos of yourself and your sweetie. We had such a good time taking the photos - it was like a date. HTH!
Posted by debbieupper[/QUOTE]

I just was looking at yours on Britt's blog! Love the one where he is dipping you...they turned out really nice!

Steph0871

We weren't planning on doing them either, but I love the idea of getting to know the photog a little better, learning to work with each other, etc.  I'm thinking I'll also do my make up trial day of the e-pics too!  (maybe even hair)

Sara191431

Awesome, I'm sold.  Great reasons to do them and I love the idea of doing your hair and makeup trial that day, genius.  I'm still debating on wearing my hair up or down on the wedding day so this would def. help.  Oooh and I can probably put my hair up for some of the pics too, I sorta have a knack for doing hair even though I'm not a stylist.

We'll totally have our dog in some too and it will be nice to have some cute family pics.  Yay, now I'm excited for them, good deal.  Thanks again!

Brianne09

We took ours with a friend (and BM) who is going to school for photography so it was really fun and laid back. We got some cute pictures, she got some practice and a little extra cash, but we barely paid anything for them.  We are getting cute frames and just having them around the room at the reception (cake table,  entrance, etc. ). FI and I are really bad at making a point to take pictures, so we barely have any together! So its kind of nice to actually just have pictures where I'm not unsuspecting and in my pajamas or something! lol

debbieupper

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_anyone-not-engagement-pics-done?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:864cdad4-e88a-4929-b18e-6670e32da094Post:7daac637-8e3b-44d1-a79b-24591299c613">Re: Thoughts on engagement pics/Do them or not do them?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Thoughts on engagement pics/Do them or not do them? : I just was looking at yours on Britt's blog! Love the one where he is dipping you...they turned out really nice!
Posted by leggwilliams[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Thanks, Legg!</div><div>
</div><div>And good luck, Sara!</div>