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I am not photogenic. I used to be, but I haven’t been in quite a few years. So the idea of getting engagement photos is kind of terrifying to me. And for Mr. S, it’s even worse. He literally hates getting in front of a camera and can’t even smile. So it seems logical to skip an engagement-photo session.
BUT. I’d really like it if we could get some cute pics of ourselves. To this day, there really exists only one photo of us that isn’t terrible (well, not counting some very cute but very drunken photobooth pics). And that photo is totally outdated. My hair is much shorter now and his is a bit longer. We don’t look like that anymore.
We have wonderful photographers booked for our wedding, and I have total faith in their abilities, but I’m still really afraid that our photos would come out terribly awkward. I just don’t think that we’d ever look as relaxed and cute as these couples:
I just want us to look relaxed. And happy. And in love. And I’m thinking that maybe having an engagement shoot will be good practice for our wedding photos.
When I broached the subject with Mr. S, I expected that he’d say he wasn’t too thrilled with the idea but that he’d leave the decision to do them up to me. And that’s exactly what happened—yes, I know him so well!
So we’re going to do them. They might turn out to be worthy of Awkward Family Photos, but we’re going to give it a shot. What do we have to lose?
Did you get engagement photos taken? Were they worth it?
We just did our E-pics and I have to say I am really glad we did. By the end of the session Mr. Meerkat had gotten over his camera shyness and was having fun tickling me. Even if they turn out horrible (I am sooo not photogenic) I think we will be more comfortable in front of the camera on our wedding day.
Super worth it! Here are some tips: the camera is weird, just accept it. To get ourselves at ease, we planned to tell each other jokes (or bring up past jokes) to make us laugh. The shoot gets more comfortable the longer you are at it. Also, if your photogs are fab (and I’m sure they are!) they will help to ease you in. We also picked a location that we knew well and felt comfortable it. Good luck!
I also love these: http://www.guidespot.com/guides/engagement_photo_funny_wedding
We are totally having the same debate! We’re usually the ones taking all of the pictures, and because of that, we have next to no pics together. I think it’d be nice to have some couples pics of us, and of course, it’s good practice for the wedding day. Good luck, can’t wait to see how they turn out!
Although we haven’t seen our photos yet, it was important for us to do engagement photos to make sure we felt comfortable with the photographer we chose for our wedding. It took some time to get used to the idea of having someone taking our picture constantly, but once the novalty wore off, we just became relaxed and just became the silly couple we have always been. You will do marvelous! Can’t wait to see the outcome!
Yes Yes Yes!!! Please do them! Mr. Turtle and I thought the whole concept was a little weird in the beginning, but having great pictures of yourselves (not in fancy wedding clothes) is priceless. I totally treasure our engagement pictures!
We just got our e-pics back and I’m so glad we did them. We don’t have model looks, nor are we naturally photogenic. As a result, we have so few photographs of the two of us together, and even fewer *good* photographs. That is no longer the case thanks to our e-pics!
I try not to compare our e-pics to others I see on the blogs, because that’s just asking for trouble. I compare them to the other pictures we have of ourselves and like I said, they blow everything else out of the water.
I think taking them is a great idea. Even if you aren’t sure how they’ll turn out, it is also a great way to get to know your photographers. We’re not comfortable having our pictures taken. It took us an hour of the 2 hour session we had with our photographers to feel somewhat comfortable but it was so worth it!
You won’t regret it. I have to say though, we weren’t going to do it because of financial reasons. Our photographers included that in their rates which were really reasonable when we had them done. Definitely look into it.
Yes! I’m a photographer.. so I might seem biased. However, I am a newlywed who hates being photographed. Our photographer was great at making us comfortable and relaxed. Lifestyle photographers are the best at this because they want to capture your personality. You’ll have fun, and you’ll most likely have 100-200 images to choose from. I really think you won’t regret it!
We loved taking e-pics! Definitely awkward at first, but pretty soon we were both sort of *enjoying* the extra attention — I mean, we definitely stuck out in Reading Terminal Market in the middle of a week day with two professional photographers following us around.
Gotta say, though, that compared to the wedding day, I was WAY more aware of the camera and feeling like I was making forced smiles too frequently. We’d been engaged for nearly a year when we had them taken, and had just short of a year to go before the wedding, so it wasn’t nearly as genuine as the immediacy of your wedding day, you know?
I was super nervous about looking awkward too, but my props definitely helped! Good luck!
I think engagement photos are a great idea! Even if you don’t think you’re that photogenic, it is worth it to have nice pictures of you and your FI and get comfortable with your photographer and with the camera. Yes, there will definitely be some awkward moments as well as some totally cheesy shots. But it is well worth it!
Woo thanks for using our pic! I think you should def do engagement pics. Wedding day will be very busy so engagement pics is a nice relaxed time to show off your personality! xoxo and good luck!
Perhaps I am biased because 1) I myself am a wedding photographer and 2) I am obsessed with having memories in the form of photographs, but I definitely think it is worth it. A good photographer will make you feel at ease and let you be yourselves. I can’t even tell you how many clients I’ve had that have told me they weren’t photogenic or they feel awkward taking photos…before our shoot. Usually the problem is they haven’t had a real photographer there to help pose them, get the right lighting or capture your personalities. Plus, as you noted, it is a great warm up for your wedding day when everything is chaotic and a chance for you to feel comfortable in front of a camera and with your photographer. And when you look back for years to come on your photos, they won’t just be a jumble of cheesy photos, they will represent a true documentation of who you are as a couple on your journey as husband and wife.
I think you made a great choice. I’m generally fine with cameras, but I will say it really helped us both feel comfortable in front of our photographers and you can tell how much fun we had in both our engagement and wedding pics as a result. Plus, it’s great to have nice pics of you together that aren’t wedding photos and look like y’all as you always look! I made our guest book using some of the pictures as well.
I think you’ll both be fine. If you have a great photog (which it sounds like you do) then they’ll make sure you’re comfortable and relaxed and will take pictures you’ll love for a lifetime
We didn’t take e-pics so that we could cut back on photography costs. Part of me really regrets it because I am worried we will be awkward in front of the camera.
Definitely go into them thinking of them as practice for the wedding, and I think that should help you relax about them. My husband is very anxious about being in front of a camera, and the e-pics experience helped him out a lot with getting comfortable having our photographers around clicking away. It helped them get used to us, too, and better prepare themselves for taking photos of us on the big day. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that we got some amazing and adorable photos out of it, and I’m sure you will too - you could be surprised! If it comes to it, just have a couple glasses of wine beforehand and you’ll loosen right up.
E-pics were low on my list until I 1) realized we’d been together 4 years and never had any professional pictures taken & 2) actually counted up the ways we’d use them. They’ve graced our STDs, made our website look way more porfessional than it should, helped furnish our new home and been awesome for quick gifts (”Grandma wants a picture”
–>Walmart frame plus professional picture reprinted at CVS = awesomeness). Practically paid for themselves by now.
The actual process was hilarious…I laughed my way through a lot of the photos but they came out great….trust your photog and just do what they ask, even if it feels silly…one of my favourites involved us walking towards her while looking at each other and talking (four tmes for that one golden shot!), for example…one of his is him giving me a piggyback ride which I had to be talked into AT LENGTH!! LOL
The only tips I have are picking a feminine outfit that shows off your shape (ixnay the blousy tops or anything that doesn’t define your waist) and spending a little extra time on your hair and makeup as you would for a night out. My FI and I also dressed in the same general colour palette and I think this added to the overall feel, but probably isn’t necessary.
Have fun! Can’t wait to see them!
You’ve just given me a new website addiction! Hilarious! I found my E-pics helped me get to know my photographer better and therefore helped me loosen up in front of the lens. I hope you take them! I want to seeeeeeeeeeee. 
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Ms. Sloth, Philadelphia Age and Occupation: 35, Account Manager and Fashion Blogger Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Design Admin Engagement Date: December 25, 2009 Wedding Date: May 2011 Venue: Bartram's Garden About Me: I'm an internet junkie and music snob with a good eye for a bargain. I couldn't live without thrift store shopping, cheeseburgers, sushi, Coke Zero, websites devoted to silly photos of baby animals, Photoshop, and Mr. Sloth. Speaking of which, he and I are a pair of goofball homebody nerds who love our beagle (the most ridiculously adorable dog EVER) to an embarrassing degree. We're planning a low-key and intimate yet festive and quirky outdoor wedding with DIY details and deeply personal touches, and it's all taking place in the city where we fell in love and call home: Philadelphia.
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