Should You Do Engagement Photos?

Hey friends! Let’s talk engagement photos.

Maybe you’ve seen couples laughing on a foggy Nova Scotia cliff or holding hands in a cozy downtown café and thought, “Do we really need to do this?”

Short answer: yes… if it feels right for you. But you don’t have to do anything you’re not into.

Engagement photos aren’t just for pretty Instagram posts (though they are really pretty). They’re for you. For this moment. For the kind of photos you’ll actually look at and smile years later. 

I’m an elopement and wedding photographer from the Annapolis Valley and Halifax, Nova Scotia, so I know exactly why I highly prefer to do engagement sessions with each of my clients before their wedding! Here are 4 reasons why! 

1. You’ll Feel More Comfortable in Front of the Camera

Let’s be honest: being photographed can feel weird at first. Totally normal.

An engagement session is like a little practice run. You’ll figure out how to move, how to laugh without thinking too hard, and what really feels like you.

And here’s the best part: that confidence shows up in your wedding photos. Couples who do engagement sessions usually feel more relaxed on their wedding day — they’ve already done a “trial run” with me, and it just clicks.

2. We Get to Know Each Other

Your wedding photographer isn’t just someone taking photos. I’m someone you trust to capture some of the biggest, most meaningful moments of your life.

Engagement sessions are a mini hangout. We chat, we laugh, maybe get a little silly. By the time your wedding day comes, it doesn’t feel like work — it feels like hanging out with a friend who also happens to take photos that make you stop and breathe.

3. You’ll Have Photos You Actually Use

Engagement photos aren’t just for save-the-dates (though they’re perfect for that).

They’re for your walls. Your fridge. Your phone lock screen. That framed photo on your desk that reminds you of a time when it was just the two of you.

You’re documenting a season in your life — and that’s always worth it.

4. It’s Fun (I Promise)

You get to dress up (or stay cozy). Explore a location you love — a beach at sunrise, a forest trail, a favorite coffee shop. Just be together. Laugh. Move. Be yourselves.

I guide you the whole way so nothing feels forced. The best photos happen when you’re not trying too hard — when you’re just living in the moment.

My Take

Engagement photos aren’t required. You can skip them if you want.

But here’s the truth: they’re a chance to slow down, laugh, connect, and create photos that actually feel like you. And when your wedding day comes? You’ll already know how this works, and it feels effortless.

So yes — I think you should do them. But more importantly: do them in a way that feels honest, fun, and totally yours.