Engagement sessions are very popular with both photographers and couples. Most couples agree to have a session prior to their wedding, so engagement photos Houston has become one of the staples for wedding photography. After a couple is engaged an engagement shoot is arranged, and usually, the photos are taken prior to the wedding. There are some photographers that sell the session separately but most will include the session as part of their overall wedding packages. No matter which approach you take, it is critical to know the basics of how to photograph couples and how to coordinate shoots involves more than one individual. Therefore, I decided I would write this guide to explain what is involved in the planning process for the engagement session.
1. The Engagement Session Is Critical
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When a client hires you to be their wedding photographer, it means they are trusting your artistic vision and our ability to provide work that they will be able to enjoy for a very long time. If you do not currently offer engagement session, I highly suggest that you look into it. Educating our clients on why an engagement session is so important can also be critical for your relationships with clients and the success of your business. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate to clients what are you able to do when you are not pressed for time.
View an engagement session as a good way to practice for the wedding that is coming up. When you meet with your clients on a consultation it provides you with tons of information about the couple, and working directly with them prior to the wedding can help you learn about their preferences which can be very helpful when you photograph the wedding. Engagement sessions also provide you with a great chance for your clients to learn how you work with the camera and provide them with the opportunity to practice being your subjects for the upcoming wedding.
Those are the major reasons why all my wedding packages offer engagement sessions. Some of the other reasons why you might want to include these sessions as part of your packages might be to provide your couples with the opportunity to use these photos as part of the “Save the Date” invitations they send out and to print and highly their favorite photo during the wedding. Those can both be quite useful from a marketing standpoint for your business since they provide you with extra opportunities for free advertising and marketing.
2. How to Approach Your Client
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Be completely open with clients about what your preferences are when it comes to the engagement session. Also, explain to them how you usually do them. Be patient with your couple and allow them to speak their minds before you make any of your own suggestions. When there is an opportunity for you to explain how you usually do things, lead them in the right direction and show them examples of some of your previous work. Make sure to ask them questions so that the session is about them instead of you. Find out if there are certain places that they like or if they have any preferences in terms of where they want to be photographed. Do they like the city or are they more of an outdoors couple?
Always project confidence in your photography and coordination skills. Keep in mind that you who will be leading the photo session and it is critical for you to subtly education your clients throughout the process. Your job is to keep the engagement session organized and make sure your clients are kept in the loop if there are any necessary changes.
3. Location and Timeline
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After you know what your clients’ preferences are, set a rough timeline so you can decide what needs to be done next. Some clients like the background to include colorful fall foliage and will wait for the perfect time to capture this. Make sure to advise your client to be smart about the season they choose and what they need to expect with the various weather changes. When the season starts to get closer, be sure to check the weather forecast so that you can figure out the best date for your shoot. Be sure there isn’t a high chance of precipitation and make sure you have the exact location picked out.
To get your location search started, ask your clients what their favorite parks or spots are. If they don’t have favorite locations, make some suggestions and provide them with some sample photographs to show advantages of places you have in mind. Or do some further research to find more places to showcase. Check out local coffee shops, bookstores, museums, downtown areas, open space, parks, and more. Another thing you can do is look at the photos from local photographers. If there is a certain location that you are interested in, get in touch with the photographer. Compliment their work and then ask about the location where the photos were taken. They will most likely provide you with a response if you compliment their work and ask nicely.
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