You're recently engaged and can't wait to
dive headfirst into planning the big event. You want to taste
all the different catering samples, you want to try on a thousand
different dresses, you want to smell every flower. Well, hold
on there, missy. You've got somewhere around a year to plan
this party, so you'll have lots of time to take care of everything.
One thing you can do right off the bat is the engagement photo.
Once you pick out your photographer, having an engagement photo
is a great way to get to know your photographer in a relaxed,
easy manner. It's also a great way to familiarize yourself with
his or her work and style. So grab your fiancé, put on some
comfortable clothes, and smile!
Hang It Up, Hand It Out
The engagement photo can be used for any number of things. Many
couples find, after they've been married and are moving into
their new home, they don't have any professional photos of themselves
to hang on the wall. (There's something to be said for a well-lit,
well-composed photo, something the best of photographers can
provide much better than the strangers you handed your Instamatic
to on your last vacation together.) The engagement photo can
be a casual photo taken at a place that means something to both
of you: maybe it's the beach where you first held hands, or
the park where you first kissed, or the restaurant where he
finally proposed. Wherever it's taken, once its framed it'll
make your new home feel warmer, cozier, and happier.
As well as a great wall hang, the engagement photo is a popular
gift for close friends and family. No doubt moms and dads would
cherish a photo of their newest addition together with their
child, and it's likely your closest friends would too, whether
it's your sister, brother, or college roommate.
Sign Here
We spoke to noted wedding photographer Robert Evans, who mentioned
that he likes to take the engagement photo, mount it on a poster-board,
laminate it, and allow guests to sign the board, sort of like
a yearbook. It makes for a great keepsake, complete with personalized
messages from all your loved ones on the day of your wedding!
You'll want to place a Sharpie or other permanent marker close
by so guests won't have to search purses or pockets for something
to write with.
Background Artist
Another common use for the engagement photo is as a background
for your wedding program, or as a background for thank you notes
or invitations. With all the great self-publishing possibilities
available today, this becomes easier than ever -- but be sure
to get the approval of your photographer first. The photos are
the intellectual property of the photographer, and publishing
their work can be a form of copyright infringement. Some photographers
might ask for a fee if you want to independently publish their
work, so be sure to discuss your options with your cameraman.
Details, Details
Evans emphasized that for him and his clients, the engagement
photo shoot is a valuable way to get to know one another. After
all, what your photographer knows about you -- your likes, dislikes,
style, and all the other intangibles -- helps your photos capture
details too often missed by less involved photographers. Evans
likes to take his clients to a location that reveals something
about them and what "makes them click," whether it's as cultural
as a museum or as simple as a home; he even had one couple fly
him out to New York for the shoot.
Many photographers are willing to include the engagement photo
as part of the whole wedding photo package, and though the photographer
who takes your engagement photos doesn't have to be the same
as your wedding day photographer, it's easy to see how helpful
this option can be. It's best to have the engagement photos
taken sooner rather than later -- Evans encourages his clients
to do it within a month after hiring him, and requires them
taken at least 90 days before the wedding date or there's an
additional fee. Otherwise, the photographers' schedules can
all too easily fill up, leaving you with fewer options.
And as you'll soon learn from organizing your big event, keeping
your options open is always a good thing.
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