Should You Do Engagement Photos With Your Wedding Photographer?
When couples book their wedding photographer, one of the next questions is often:
“Do we actually need engagement photos?”
The short answer?
No.
You don't need them.
Your wedding photographs aren't going to be bad because you skipped an engagement session.
But I think engagement sessions can be valuable for a reason that has very little to do with needing more photographs of yourselves.
It's practice.
Not practice at posing.
Practice at working together.
You get to see how I photograph.
I get to see how you naturally interact.
You learn what being photographed by me actually feels like.
And when the wedding day arrives, we've already done this once.
That's the biggest reason I recommend engagement sessions.
Engagement Photos Aren't Just About Save-the-Dates
Of course, the photographs themselves are useful.
Couples use engagement photos for:
Save-the-dates
Wedding websites
Invitations
Guest books
Social media
Wedding décor
Framed photographs
Holiday cards
But if that were the only reason to do them, I'd understand why some couples skip the session.
You probably already have hundreds of photographs together.
The difference is that an engagement session gives us a low-pressure opportunity to figure out how you photograph together before the wedding.
Most Couples Tell Me They're Awkward in Front of the Camera
This is incredibly common.
I hear some version of:
“We're terrible at taking pictures.”
Or:
“We're both awkward.”
Or:
“We don't know how to pose.”
Good.
You don't need to.
That's my job.
I'm not expecting you to arrive knowing exactly where to put your hands.
You Don't Need to Know How to Pose
When I photograph couples, I'm not looking for two professional models.
I'm looking for:
Connection
Movement
Personality
Interaction
I might tell you where to stand.
I might adjust your hands.
I might ask you to walk somewhere.
But then I want to see what happens between you.
The goal isn't:
“Hold this exact pose for 30 seconds.”
It's creating enough direction that you stop wondering what you're supposed to do.
An Engagement Session Shows You What My Direction Feels Like
Reading about a photographer's approach is one thing.
Experiencing it is another.
During an engagement session, you'll learn:
How much I direct
When I step back
How I create movement
How quickly we work
What kinds of prompts feel natural
By the end of the session, the camera usually feels considerably less intimidating.
That's useful before the wedding.
The Beginning of the Engagement Session Usually Feels Different From the End
This is normal.
The first five or ten minutes might feel strange.
You're aware of:
Your hands
Your smile
The camera
People walking nearby
Then something changes.
You start talking.
Walking.
Laughing.
You stop thinking as much about me.
That's usually when the session really starts to feel like you.
Now Imagine Learning That on Your Wedding Day
You can.
And you'll still get beautiful photographs.
But the wedding day isn't exactly a low-pressure environment.
You've got:
A timeline
Wedding party
Family
Ceremony
Guests
Reception
An engagement session gives us an hour or so where the only objective is:
Hang out and make some great photographs.
That's a much easier environment for learning how we work together.
I Learn About You Too
The engagement session isn't only practice for the couple.
It's valuable for me.
I learn things like:
How comfortable you are with direction
Whether you naturally move a lot
How affectionate you are
What makes you laugh
Whether you prefer candid or editorial photographs
Which side you naturally stand on
What kinds of images you respond to
That information comes with me to the wedding.
Every Couple Interacts Differently
Some couples are naturally very affectionate.
Others are playful.
Some are quiet.
Some never stop laughing.
Some love editorial portraits.
Others want almost everything to feel candid.
I don't want to force every couple into the exact same collection of poses.
Your engagement session gives me an opportunity to see what actually feels like you.
This Can Make Wedding-Day Portraits Faster
This is a practical benefit.
On your wedding day, I might give you a direction we've already used during the engagement session.
You immediately understand what I mean.
There's less explaining.
Less uncertainty.
Less:
“Wait, what am I supposed to do?”
That can make portrait time much more efficient.
And on a wedding day, efficiency matters.
You May Need Less Time to Get Comfortable
Without an engagement session, the wedding might be the first time we've worked together in person.
That's completely manageable.
But with an engagement session, we've already built some familiarity.
When I arrive at the wedding, I'm not simply:
The photographer.
I'm someone you've already spent time with.
That can make the beginning of the day feel much easier.
This Matters Because Your Photographer Is Around You a Lot
Your wedding photographer isn't someone who appears for 15 minutes.
Depending on your coverage, I might be around you for:
Eight hours
Ten hours
Even longer
I'm there while you're:
Getting ready
Nervous
Seeing your partner
Talking with family
Taking portraits
Celebrating
Being comfortable with that person matters.
An engagement session gives you a preview of that relationship.
Engagement Sessions Can Help If You Hate Having Your Picture Taken
If you already love cameras, great.
If you don't?
I think the engagement session becomes even more useful.
The goal isn't to make you suddenly love posing.
The goal is to prove:
You don't have to be good at posing to get good photographs.
That's a completely different mindset.
You Can Figure Out What You Like Before the Wedding
After your engagement gallery arrives, pay attention to the photographs you love most.
Maybe they're:
Close and intimate
Wide and scenic
Walking
Laughing
Looking at the camera
Completely candid
More editorial
Tell me.
That gives us useful information before the wedding.
You Can Also Figure Out What You Don't Like
Maybe there's something you realize isn't you.
That's useful too.
I'd much rather learn that during the engagement session than after your wedding.
Photography is subjective.
Communication helps me understand what matters to you.
Should Your Engagement Photographer Be Your Wedding Photographer?
I generally think there is an advantage to using the same photographer.
Not because another photographer couldn't create great engagement photographs.
They absolutely could.
But you're losing one of the biggest benefits of the session:
Learning how your wedding photographer works.
If I'm photographing your engagement session and your wedding, the two experiences connect.
What If Your Wedding Package Includes an Engagement Session?
Use it.
Seriously.
Unless you genuinely don't want engagement photographs, I'd take advantage of it.
Even if you don't need:
Save-the-dates
Wedding website photos
Printed engagement pictures
the experience itself can still be valuable.
What If Engagement Photos Cost Extra?
Then I'd think about your priorities.
Ask yourself:
Do we want professional photographs before the wedding?
Are we nervous about being photographed?
Would working with our photographer beforehand make us more comfortable?
If the answers are yes, it can be a worthwhile addition.
If none of those matter to you, you may prefer putting the money somewhere else.
You Don't Have to Do a Traditional Engagement Session
An engagement session doesn't need to mean:
Stand in a field and smile.
Make it personal.
We could photograph:
Downtown
Mountains
Your neighborhood
A park
Your favorite date location
Somewhere meaningful to your relationship
The session should feel like an extension of who you are.
Choose a Location That Actually Fits You
Don't pick a mountain location because Instagram says engagement photographs need mountains.
If you're city people, let's photograph downtown.
If you love hiking, let's go somewhere outdoors.
If you want something relaxed, choose somewhere quiet.
The location should support the photographs.
It doesn't need to become the entire point of them.
Chattanooga Gives Us a Lot of Variety
This is one reason I love engagement photography in Chattanooga.
Within the general area, we can create completely different sessions.
You have:
Mountains
Downtown streets
Riverfront
Open fields
Historic areas
Parks
Natural scenery
That means we can choose a location around your personality rather than forcing every couple into the same aesthetic.
Chickamauga Battlefield Can Be Beautiful for Engagement Photos
I've photographed engagement sessions at Chickamauga Battlefield, including Alexa and Austin's session.
What I like about the area is the visual simplicity.
Open fields.
Trees.
Natural tones.
Space to move.
For their session, the late-afternoon light worked beautifully with the landscape and gave us room to create photographs that felt relaxed rather than overly staged.
If you want to see what that kind of session can look like, I'll link their full Chickamauga Battlefield engagement session here.
Downtown Chattanooga Creates a Completely Different Look
If fields aren't your thing, that's fine.
Downtown gives us:
Architecture
Streets
Bridges
City lights
Riverfront
More editorial opportunities
That's why I don't think there's one “best” Chattanooga engagement location.
There's a best location for you.
Lookout Mountain Works for Couples Who Want Scenery
If you love Chattanooga because of the mountains, it makes sense to incorporate them.
Mountain engagement sessions can create:
Wide landscapes
Dramatic views
Sunset
Natural movement
But timing becomes important.
Mountain ridges can affect when we actually lose sunlight, so I prefer planning around the location rather than simply looking at the official sunset time.
Do Your Engagement Photos Have to Match Your Wedding?
No.
In fact, sometimes I prefer when they don't.
If you're having a formal downtown wedding, your engagement session could be relaxed and outdoors.
If you're getting married in the mountains, maybe we photograph your engagement downtown.
Now your engagement and wedding galleries give you two completely different looks.
What Should You Wear?
The most important rule:
You should still look like yourselves.
I generally prefer coordinating rather than perfectly matching.
Think about:
Neutral colors
Complementary tones
Texture
Layers
Clothing that moves well
Clothing that fits properly
You can find my full Chattanooga engagement outfit guide linked in this article if you want a deeper breakdown.
Bring Two Outfits If You Want More Variety
One casual.
One dressier.
That's an easy way to make one engagement session feel like two different experiences.
But two outfits aren't required.
I'd rather you wear one thing you love than bring three outfits you're uncertain about.
Don't Buy Something Just Because It's “Good for Photos”
If you'd never wear it normally and you feel uncomfortable in it, that's going to affect the session.
You don't need to look exactly like you do on an average Tuesday.
You can absolutely dress up.
But you should still recognize yourselves.
When Should You Schedule Engagement Photos?
If you're using the photographs for save-the-dates, schedule the session early enough to:
Photograph
Edit
Deliver
Design
Print
Mail
without rushing.
If you don't need them for stationery, we have much more flexibility.
Consider the Season
You don't have to take engagement photographs during the same season as your wedding.
In fact, choosing a different season can give you more variety.
For example:
Fall wedding?
Try spring engagement photos.
Spring wedding?
Maybe photograph in fall.
Now the two galleries don't look identical.
What Time of Day Is Best?
For outdoor engagement sessions, I generally love later-afternoon and evening light.
The exact timing depends on:
Season
Location
Mountains
Buildings
Trees
I don't blindly schedule every engagement session exactly one hour before official sunset.
The location affects the light.
What If It's Cloudy?
That's completely fine.
Cloudy conditions can give us beautiful, soft light.
You don't need an orange sunset to have great engagement photographs.
Some of my favorite conditions are overcast because we have more flexibility with where and how we photograph.
What If It Rains?
We'll make a decision based on:
Amount of rain
Location
Temperature
Your comfort
Schedule flexibility
Sometimes rescheduling makes sense.
Sometimes light rain can create something interesting.
There's no universal answer.
Can We Bring Our Dog?
Usually, yes—assuming the location permits pets.
But I recommend bringing someone who can take the dog after we've captured those photographs.
Otherwise, the entire engagement session becomes:
Where's the dog looking?
We want photographs with your pet.
We probably don't need your pet in every photograph.
Can We Bring Champagne or Props?
You can.
But don't feel like you need them.
A meaningful item can add personality.
Random props purchased specifically because you think engagement photographs require props?
Usually unnecessary.
The two of you are enough.
How Long Does an Engagement Session Take?
This varies by photographer and package, but many sessions can be completed in roughly an hour to 90 minutes.
That gives us time to:
Get comfortable
Move locations
Change outfits if desired
Create variety
without turning the session into an all-day production.
The First Ten Minutes Aren't the Whole Session
If you feel awkward immediately, don't panic.
Almost everyone needs a few minutes.
I expect that.
My job is to help you settle in.
By the end, most couples are considerably more relaxed than they were at the beginning.
And that's exactly why doing this before the wedding can be so valuable.
Engagement Photos Can Make the Wedding Day Feel More Natural
This is really the heart of it.
On your wedding day, you don't want to be thinking:
“What do we do with our hands?”
You want to be thinking:
“We're getting married.”
If we've already worked together, you understand that I'll guide you when you need it.
You don't have to manage the photographs.
You can trust the process.
Engagement Sessions Help Build Trust
Trust is one of the most important parts of wedding photography.
When something changes on the wedding day, I might say:
“The light looks incredible right now. Give me ten minutes.”
If we've already worked together and you trust me, that decision is easier.
You've seen what the process produces.
They Can Also Help You Decide Whether the Photographer Is Actually the Right Fit
Ideally, you've already done your research before signing a wedding contract.
But the engagement session gives you another layer of confirmation.
Do you feel comfortable?
Do you like the communication?
Do you enjoy the photographs?
Does the experience match what you expected?
That's valuable information.
Engagement Photography Is Also About This Season of Your Life
There's another reason to do it that has nothing to do with wedding preparation.
You're engaged once.
Your wedding photographs will document the wedding.
Your engagement photographs document the period before it.
Years from now, those images can remind you of a completely different chapter.
That's worth considering.
Engagement Photos Don't Have to Feel Like Wedding Photos
You don't need:
A bouquet
Wedding colors
Formal wedding styling
This is a chance to create photographs that feel different.
Maybe your wedding will be formal.
Your engagement session can be playful.
Maybe your wedding is outdoors.
Your engagement session can be urban.
There's freedom here.
Use it.
What If We Skip Engagement Photos?
You're going to be okay.
Seriously.
I've photographed couples without an engagement session.
We simply spend a little more time getting comfortable on the wedding day.
You are not required to do an engagement session to receive great wedding photographs.
I recommend them because I think they're useful.
Not because they're mandatory.
Who Benefits Most From an Engagement Session?
I'd especially recommend one if:
You're nervous about being photographed
You've never had professional photographs together
You want save-the-date images
You want to know your photographer better
You want practice before the wedding
You care strongly about wedding photography
You want photographs from this stage of your relationship
If several of those describe you, I think the session is worth serious consideration.
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer About Engagement Sessions
Before scheduling, ask:
Is an engagement session included in our collection?
How long is the session?
How many locations can we use?
Can we change outfits?
Do you help choose a location?
What happens if it rains?
Can we bring our pet?
When will the photographs be delivered?
Can we use them for save-the-dates?
Do you help with outfit recommendations?
The answers will help you understand what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions About Engagement Photos
Are engagement photos worth it?
For many couples, yes. Beyond receiving professional photographs, an engagement session gives you an opportunity to become comfortable with your wedding photographer and experience how they work before the wedding.
Do you need engagement photos?
No. Engagement photographs are completely optional. You can still receive beautiful wedding photographs without having an engagement session beforehand.
Should your wedding photographer take your engagement photos?
There can be a significant advantage to using the same photographer because the session allows you to learn how your wedding photographer directs and works while giving the photographer an opportunity to learn how you naturally interact.
When should you take engagement photos?
If you're using the photographs for save-the-dates, schedule them early enough for photography, editing, design, printing, and mailing. Otherwise, the timing can be based primarily on the season and look you want.
How long does an engagement session take?
Many engagement sessions last approximately one hour to 90 minutes, although exact coverage varies by photographer and package.
What should we wear for engagement photos?
Choose clothing that coordinates without perfectly matching, photographs well, fits properly, and still feels like you. Neutral and complementary colors are often easy to work with.
Where should we take engagement photos in Chattanooga?
Chattanooga offers mountain, downtown, riverfront, park, field, and historic options. Locations such as Chickamauga Battlefield, Lookout Mountain, downtown Chattanooga, and the riverfront can create very different aesthetics.
Can we bring our dog to our engagement session?
If the location allows pets, usually yes. Consider bringing someone who can take care of your dog after you've captured the photographs involving them.
So, Should You Do Engagement Photos?
You don't have to.
But if you're already investing in wedding photography, I think there's real value in working with your photographer before the wedding.
You'll learn how the process feels.
I'll learn how the two of you interact.
We'll figure out what feels natural.
You'll receive photographs from a completely different chapter of your relationship.
And when your wedding day arrives, photography won't feel like something completely new.
We've already done this.
At Spencer Purcell Films, I photograph engagements and weddings throughout Chattanooga, Nashville, and across Tennessee, along with wedding photography and videography in Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and the Smoky Mountains.
For Chattanooga couples, we can also choose an engagement location that gives you a completely different look from your wedding venue—from downtown and the riverfront to fields and mountain scenery.
Ready to plan your engagement session and wedding photography?
📅 Check your wedding date availability.
📖 Request complete wedding photography, videography, and combined photo + video collections and pricing.
📸 Already booked your wedding photography? Let's choose an engagement-session location and look that feels like you.
📞 Schedule a complimentary consultation so we can talk through your wedding, photography style, engagement session, and what matters most to you.
Popular spring and fall wedding dates can book 12–18 months in advance, so once your venue and date are secured, I recommend reserving your photographer early.