Tampa Wedding Photographer | Tampa Engagement Sessions
We have now made our Engagement Sessions a complimentary part of our 8 and 10 hour Wedding Packages. We have been asked a lot recently to remove the engagement session from some of our collections. Some couples view engagement sessions as “cheesy”- although some may feel that way, your session actually benefits you and us prior to your big day. For starters, how awkward is it to have someone photographing you all day? Someone that you have only met at your consult for an hour or someone you have just talked to through emails and phone because you are out of state? I hate my own photos being taken- We went 5 years without family photos because I dread being in front of the camera. There are a large amount of people this way. Your engagement session is a great way to get to know each other- by the time your wedding comes we have already worked together and it no longer feels like there is this stranger following you around all day long.
It doesn’t have to be about cheesy poses and being dressed fancy. Really, I just want to capture you and your fiance in your element. How is this done with me “posing” you for a shot? well, although I will “pose” you I take a large step back and allow you to interact. My initial “pose” is to get you into a position that is appealing for the camera- your interactions thereafter is all about the two of you. You dress in what you are comfortable with and don’t have to be themed like all of the pinterest boards you have probably seen and led you to some of the decisions not to have an engagement session.
A location that is you. You always pick the location. You know what you like- I can make suggestions, but ultimately the location needs to really be something that expresses you two. It is about the love between the both of you if you hate the beach and you pick a beach it will show. Pick a location that helps express your tastes. This shot was done at the couples family location on a lake the home was located next to.
So why did we decide to make our engagement sessions something you can use or not use but it is still in the packages we offer? Because it really benefits you in the end. Most people are not comfortable in front of a camera this gives you the opportunity to loosen up in front of it before someone is following you around on your wedding day. It’s really a great advantage. Destination couples who aren’t going to be local before their wedding won’t loose out either you can use this as a day after session (based on availability). As we stated in our move to High Resolution Downloads this is all done in an effort to not have to raise our pricing for 2014. Ultimately, the move to make it a complimentary item is so you can take advantage of working with me prior to your wedding date. We want you to be comfortable being photographed on your wedding day! A later blog post will be posted from one of our previous couples who really felt an engagement session benefited them in being ready for someone to follow them their entire wedding day.
