When Should We Take Engagement Photos?

Oooof. Good question, friends. Hopefully today we’ll give you a little bit of insight! You see, “when should we take engagement photos?” is one of the most frequently asked questions we get. From our couples, couples that have hired other photographers, and even couples at bridal shows that are super, super excited to get things rolling. And honestly? There’s no absolute right or wrong answer. There are, however, a few good guidelines. And that, my friends, is what we’re going to share with you today. (And a sneak peek of Vivian and Isaacs. :)) 

6-9 months before wedding day – give or take.

The most frequently suggested guideline for taking engagement pictures is anywhere from 6-9 months before wedding day. I know, I know. This still seems like a pretty big timespan. But when you think about it, it makes the most sense. Couples who really value their wedding photographer typically book them 12-15 months prior to wedding day. This means that anytime within that first 3 months of hiring your photographer is a good time to get your engagement photos on the calendar. And since most save the dates go out 6-9 months before the wedding day? That means that as soon as you get those pretty photos back you can get your save the dates sent out. 

Having a long engagement?

Are you one of those couples who’s giving yourself alllll the time to plan? That’s cool. In that case, we recommend taking engagement photos anywhere from 9-12 months before wedding day. Often times the whole first few months of wedding planning are all about researching and booking your vendors, paying retainers, and making lists. We often hear that having engagement photos taken is the first thing a couple does that really makes the whole process feel real. And it’s a fun thing to do. And if you’re planning for over a year and a half? Friends. You need something super fun to do early on in your engagement to keep you excited. 

The added bonus of a long engagement? You’ve got your pick of the seasons to have your engagement photos taken in!

How about a short engagement? 

If you get engaged and set a wedding date within 6 months, we recommend that you schedule your engagement photos as soon as you can. Why should you jump on it? Well, to be honest? Your photographer wants to get to know you and your honey before wedding day rolls around and your engagement session is the perfect way to do that. That, and you want to make sure to get photos done before your wedding day, right? 

Things to consider when scheduling your engagement session: 

• What are you going to do with your photos? | Do you need time to print a guestbook or piece of wall art to display at your wedding? Do you need to get save the dates out ASAP and need photos by x date? All photographer turnaround times are different. Make sure you know what to expect from yours, and that you fill them in on any deadlines you’re trying to meet. 

• Your Photography Experience | Okay, we get it. this is a little random, but hear us out. We like to do engagement sessions with our couples right around that 6 month mark. Then we get to do their reveal and ordering meeting a few weeks after that. Why does that matter? We specifically like for our clients to have a good idea of what to expect after their wedding day when they’re making all kinds of big decisions during their album design meeting. Ensuring our clients go through our whole engagement session experience from start to finish is how we set expectations and standards early on in our relationship to help keep things clear later on in the process. 

• Your Photographer’s Availability | A lot of photographers are only a 1-2 man team. Which means at certain times of year? Their calendar is super, super tight. If you really, really want fall photos? Get on their calendar early. The earlier the better that way you’re not working around 500 other couples or families that also want a piece of your photographer’s time. (Side note: Often during busy season aka fall, a photographer’s turn around time can go up because they’re shooting so much. Keep this in mind and communicate openly with them about expectations on each side.) 

Vivian and Isaacs – thank you both so much for such a fun, laughter filled evening on Sunday!! We have so many favorites from our time together and we’re so excited to share more with you so soon! Friends and family – feel free to pre-register to see their gallery when we release it in a few short weeks!