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We had our engagement photos done about a week before our wedding. You may be inclined to ask, “What’s the point?” I wouldn’t blame you, because I asked the same thing. But I had been hearing murmurs on the boards about how engagement shoots really helped some of you feel comfortable with a) being the focal point of the camera, and b) your photographer. I contacted our photographer, and we decided to go for it. But it seemed silly to pose in front of his camera, when we hired him for his ability to capture the moments. So we wanted to center the shoot around something other than the two of us smiling into the lens.
Over five years ago, Mr. Husky was swept off his feet when I defeated him in a game of pool.
The next time we saw one another was over another pool table—but this time he was victorious. We love to shoot together, and have a fairly even record of wins and losses. When we were discussing what we wanted from our engagement photos, well, billiards just seemed to make sense. We decided to have a vintage feel for the shoot, inspired by the Rat Pack’s famed shot. So after work one night, Mr. Husky and I cleaned ourselves up and headed to a brewery downtown with a second-story exposed brick pool room to meet our photographer.
He won a few…
And then I won a few…
Like any good sports, we “shook hands” after each game…
When Mr. Husky was tired of racking (I kid, I kid – I lost way more games than he did), we moved onto darts…
All of the photos in this post were taken by the wonderful Mark of Mark Hayes Photography. Each photo was captured candidly, and we weren’t posing for any of these shots. In fact, we were quite surprised that he even caught them when we got the photos back!
I think this did help us to feel more comfortable with our photographer, and I’m glad we did them. It really did make the wedding day photography feel more comfortable—I haven’t seen the photos yet, but I didn’t feel awkward any time the camera was nearby. So for those of you wondering whether or not to do an engagement shoot—do it! They don’t have to be “insert couple into park, snap pictures” type of photos either. Find something you and your fiance love to do together and center it around that! It felt so easy to be comfortable when we were enjoying an activity that we’re already comfortable with. Because I’ll be honest, I don’t think Husky and I have ever sat on a park bench together. Lots of couples look adorable doing that, but it’s just not us. But these photos? These are us.
Are you having engagement photos done? Will you use your wedding photographer? What did you/will you do in your photos?
LOVE this idea! It was creative and really meant something to you as a couple! The low lighting really worked with the mood of the pictures
totally awesome! They’re beautiful, just like you and Mr. Husky.
I love it when people incorporate how they met/fell in love into their E-pics. Makes them so personal and gives them such depth. So much better than generic props!
We wound up at a pool hall when our TTD shoot went wrong (turns out the lake I was going to jump into was a popular fishing spot which meant rusty hooks and worm guts on the ground. Um, no thanks.) Plan B turned out much better. And it happened to be on a Saturday night, so people thought we really had just gotten married. The best part was that everyone was pretending not to gawk, but when we kissed the first time during the shoot, everyone collectively went “aww.” These pictures are some of my favorite, and I LOVE that yours were also done in black and white!
Cute! My husband and I had our photographer follow us around on a sunday afternoon. We went grocery shopping, wine tasting, cooked a yummpy meal at home, and played with our dog. It was like a documentary of our day.
What an amazing idea!!! I wish we had something like this to help us relax right away/ 
your pictures are so awesome!! we did ours the week before too and i am so happy that we did!
This is the best idea for e-pics ever, I SOOO wish I’d thought of this bc Mr TM and I are big game-players too, esp arcade games, etc!
Love the setting for these engagement photos. Something different!
The spot lighting is super dramatic and sexy. What a clever idea too - incorporating something unusual and also special to the two of you. Love the shots!
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Mrs. Husky, Denver Age and Occupation: 26, Systems Administrator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Mechanical Engineer, recently laid off Engagement Date: August 14, 2009 Wedding Date: October 2010 Venue: Rancho San Carlos About Me: I am planning a quirky-crafty wedding with my recently out-of-work fiancé for a (fingers crossed!) warm October afternoon. We are two self-professed nerds with an affinity for all things outdoors---be it rain, snow or shine. Recently relocated from the drizzly Northwest, we're enjoying the many sun-soaked days in the mile high city. Our day will be filled with both of our large families and friends, a self-served Cajun feast, and a Zydeco-style jazz band rocking beneath the beams of a historic red barn.
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